Hop Jack Ale
Free State Brewing Co.

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From:
Free State Brewing Co.
 
Kansas, United States
Style:
American Pale Ale
ABV:
Not listed
Score:
85
Avg:
3.67 | pDev: 11.17%
Reviews:
3
Ratings:
11
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 17, 2016
Added:
Mar 01, 2005
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  2
Hop jacks (or hop backs as they are also called) are pieces of traditional brewing equipment that are used to add fresh hop flavors and aromas to the hot wort as it is transferred from the brew kettle to the heat exchanger. Fresh hop flowers are placed in the hop jack for the very freshest hop character.

This beer is one of a series that showcases the diversity of hop varieties available. Each batch of Hop Jack Ale has the same malt recipe, but differs in the hops used. The IBUs remain the same as well, allowing the drinker to appreciate the differences between hop varieties. The malt profile for this beer is very simple, using only pale ale malt and a very light caramel malt. Served unfiltered.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 4.05 by Groenebeor from California

Feb 17, 2016
 
Rated: 3.75 by 22Blue from Kansas

Mar 31, 2015
 
Rated: 3 by Hellpop65 from Kansas

Sep 22, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by kguyty from Missouri

Nov 07, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by valkyre65 from Texas

Jul 25, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by LambicPentameter from Nebraska

Dec 27, 2012
 
Rated: 3.25 by Chuck_25 from Kansas

Dec 01, 2012
 
Rated: 3.75 by sammo from Kansas

Jun 25, 2012
Photo of Goliath
Reviewed by Goliath from Illinois

2.96/5  rDev -19.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
American Perle

It pours really pretty actually. It's a hazy orange color with pale yellow edges. A thin half inch off white head forms on top and lingers with decent retention leaving some whispy lace behind.

The aroma is ok, but pretty weak. A sweet pale malt, almost wheat like, dominates the nose. A bit of citrus shows up too.

The taste is ok. A slight hop presence is there, but rather indistinct. It's only real hop quality is the presence of bitterness on the finish, but it lacks any sort of flavor profiles which is pretty lame. A big malt profile brings in notes of biscuit and bread. I just can't help but feeling like I've had this beer from Free State before (I haven't). By that I mean, every beer from Free State seems to have the exact same malt profile that dominates the palate. A very subtle difference here or there earns the beer a new name and a story, but it's indistinct and not that great. I'm tired of the lack of variation between their beers.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied and lightly carbonated.

Drinkability is low to moderate. It's not bad, but boring and repetitive like I was saying. They brew so many small batch beers, and they're all so indistinct.
Nov 18, 2008
Photo of ChainGangGuy
Reviewed by ChainGangGuy from Georgia

3.89/5  rDev +6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Ahtanum version.

Appearance: Pours a hazy, dark gold body with a small, creamy white head.

Smell: Heady aroma of grass and lemon zest citrus notes as well as some sugar-encrusted pale malts.

Taste: Pale malts start with a taste of sweetened lemon juice. Grass follows quickly with a medium bitterness. The bitterness ends abruptly allowing some subtle hints of sweetened citrus to return for the finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium carbonation. Very slight stickiness to the mouthfeel.

Drinkability: It's hard to be smarmy with a beer like this in your hand.
Jan 26, 2008
Photo of Mebuzzard
Reviewed by Mebuzzard from Colorado

4.22/5  rDev +15%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A friend of mine had the growler, but i don't know how long she had it before we popped it open.
A fairly deep gold color, poured into pint glass. Head was nice inch and tiny foam bubbles. Hints of citrus and malt in the aroma. Some biscuit and pine as well
Taste was a quick hit of fruit, then malt and then hops. A nice balance, but the alcohol came out at the end..perhaps due to the length of storage.
Feb 05, 2006
Hop Jack Ale from Free State Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 85 out of 100 with 11 ratings