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Midwest IPA
Back Road Brewery
- From:
- Back Road Brewery
- Indiana, United States
- Style:
- American IPA
- ABV:
- 7.2%
- Score:
- 78
- Avg:
- 3.25 | pDev: 12.62%
- Reviews:
- 21
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Mar 17, 2017
- Added:
- Sep 13, 2002
- Wants:
- 3
- Gots:
- 2
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by alleykatking from Indiana
2.97/5 rDev -8.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
2.97/5 rDev -8.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Had on tap.
A- Poured a semi-hazed golden orange color. One finger white head shows medium retention. Light specks of lace on the sides of the glass.
S- Light citrus notes in the front of the aroma are overtaken by a strong bready malt backbone. There is a light pine aroma in the ending of the nose ut not much else.
T- Citrus hops in the front once again kind of jump out at first but then get covered by a dominate caramel malt base. This malt base runs straight to the ending of the beer where it is lightened by a faint pine hop but mostly hot alcohol heat.
M- Light mouthfeel. Carbonation was good for the style. Caramel malts and a hint of hops are left on the palate. Aftertaste is mostly hot alcohol heat, caramel malts, and hint of piney hops. Flavors were underbalanced for the style with hops acting as a secondary flavor support. No off flavors except for huge alcohol heat at times. Medium heavy alcohol drying on the palate.
O- This beer was had a couple things lacking to make it a IPA. First off the hops in it didn't really play any sort of dominate flavor in the profile at all. Second the alcohol heat was that of a barleywine or fresh imperial stout. Oh well can't win them all. this should have been tagged as a pale ale and I would have been more willing to grade it higher.
May 31, 2011A- Poured a semi-hazed golden orange color. One finger white head shows medium retention. Light specks of lace on the sides of the glass.
S- Light citrus notes in the front of the aroma are overtaken by a strong bready malt backbone. There is a light pine aroma in the ending of the nose ut not much else.
T- Citrus hops in the front once again kind of jump out at first but then get covered by a dominate caramel malt base. This malt base runs straight to the ending of the beer where it is lightened by a faint pine hop but mostly hot alcohol heat.
M- Light mouthfeel. Carbonation was good for the style. Caramel malts and a hint of hops are left on the palate. Aftertaste is mostly hot alcohol heat, caramel malts, and hint of piney hops. Flavors were underbalanced for the style with hops acting as a secondary flavor support. No off flavors except for huge alcohol heat at times. Medium heavy alcohol drying on the palate.
O- This beer was had a couple things lacking to make it a IPA. First off the hops in it didn't really play any sort of dominate flavor in the profile at all. Second the alcohol heat was that of a barleywine or fresh imperial stout. Oh well can't win them all. this should have been tagged as a pale ale and I would have been more willing to grade it higher.
Reviewed by roadhouse from Florida
3.4/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
3.4/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
12 oz. bottle into a pint glass
Pours a slightly hazy orange-amber with a half inch off-white head. Falls to a skim and leaves some spotty lace.
Aroma is citrusy with a fairly prominent piney hop character. There's also a lot of spiciness, no doubt a trait from the Columbus and Chinook hops.
Taste is similar to the aroma, very strong spicy character with heavy piney flavors. Citrus is more of a background tone in this IPA. Finish is bitter and slightly harsh.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied, not a bad feel overall but the harshness of the hops isn't exactly pleasant. Results in it being quite hard to drink.
I didn't really find any flaws in this necessarily, but this is just not the kind of IPA that I prefer. I'll take the heavy citrus and floral over the pine and spicy. If you are into the latter, you might enjoy this one. Reminded me a lot of the hop character of the 2008 Long Shot DIPA.
May 09, 2009Pours a slightly hazy orange-amber with a half inch off-white head. Falls to a skim and leaves some spotty lace.
Aroma is citrusy with a fairly prominent piney hop character. There's also a lot of spiciness, no doubt a trait from the Columbus and Chinook hops.
Taste is similar to the aroma, very strong spicy character with heavy piney flavors. Citrus is more of a background tone in this IPA. Finish is bitter and slightly harsh.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied, not a bad feel overall but the harshness of the hops isn't exactly pleasant. Results in it being quite hard to drink.
I didn't really find any flaws in this necessarily, but this is just not the kind of IPA that I prefer. I'll take the heavy citrus and floral over the pine and spicy. If you are into the latter, you might enjoy this one. Reminded me a lot of the hop character of the 2008 Long Shot DIPA.
Reviewed by Vonerichs from Colorado
3.3/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.3/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Hazy orange color with thick, frothy head. Heavy lacing throughout.
Typical piney hops smell, but there are also heavy sweet and fruity smells.
Very average. Hops are present, but not overwhelming. The presence of the malt takes away from the hop bitterness, which isn't that bold to begin with. Not a bad taste, it just does nothing to separate itself from the pack.
Full body and decent carbonation. Leaves a slightly sweet aftertaste.
It goes down easy, but it really doesn't keep my attention to consider driking more than one.
Overall, a very average IPA. I couldn't tell where they were going with it. It's a decent beer, but with so many other options out there I doubt I will be giving this one another try.
Feb 28, 2009Typical piney hops smell, but there are also heavy sweet and fruity smells.
Very average. Hops are present, but not overwhelming. The presence of the malt takes away from the hop bitterness, which isn't that bold to begin with. Not a bad taste, it just does nothing to separate itself from the pack.
Full body and decent carbonation. Leaves a slightly sweet aftertaste.
It goes down easy, but it really doesn't keep my attention to consider driking more than one.
Overall, a very average IPA. I couldn't tell where they were going with it. It's a decent beer, but with so many other options out there I doubt I will be giving this one another try.
Reviewed by tmoneyba from Ohio
3.5/5 rDev +7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.5/5 rDev +7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Draft sample at IBGF 06.
Poured a hazy copper color with a large fizzy off-white head that diminished slowly with good lacing. Moderate hoppy citrus aroma. Medium body with a slick texture and soft carbonation. Medium balanced sweet flavor with a sweet finish of moderate duration.
Solid drinkable breer.
Jan 05, 2009Poured a hazy copper color with a large fizzy off-white head that diminished slowly with good lacing. Moderate hoppy citrus aroma. Medium body with a slick texture and soft carbonation. Medium balanced sweet flavor with a sweet finish of moderate duration.
Solid drinkable breer.
Reviewed by beveritt from Ohio
3.58/5 rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.58/5 rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Presentation: Poured from a 12 oz brown bottle into a standard pint glass. The label is a red version of the standard back Road Brewery label. The only thinkg that seems to change on these is the color and the name of the beer typed onto the banner. No discernible freshness date.
Appearance: Pours with 3 fingers of thick and luxurious head. A very pale tan, this settles very slowly, leaving behind tons of lacing as it falls to a half finger coating. The beer itself is reddish orange with just a little cloudiness. Appears to be bottle conditioned, because the last pour throws some floaties into the mix.
Smell: Spicy pine aromas upfront, with a hint of bubble-gum like sweetness.
Taste: Flavorful hops throughout, from start to finish. Spicy and citrusy at first, but finishes with a long lingering bitterness. Solid malt backbone. Comewhat caramelly, with just a hint of sweetness to balance out the hops.
Mouthfeel: Carbonation is average. Excellent body.
Drinkability: A great brew. I can't believe I lived in Indiana for several years and am just trying my first back Road beer.
Taste:
Jun 30, 2008Appearance: Pours with 3 fingers of thick and luxurious head. A very pale tan, this settles very slowly, leaving behind tons of lacing as it falls to a half finger coating. The beer itself is reddish orange with just a little cloudiness. Appears to be bottle conditioned, because the last pour throws some floaties into the mix.
Smell: Spicy pine aromas upfront, with a hint of bubble-gum like sweetness.
Taste: Flavorful hops throughout, from start to finish. Spicy and citrusy at first, but finishes with a long lingering bitterness. Solid malt backbone. Comewhat caramelly, with just a hint of sweetness to balance out the hops.
Mouthfeel: Carbonation is average. Excellent body.
Drinkability: A great brew. I can't believe I lived in Indiana for several years and am just trying my first back Road beer.
Taste:
Reviewed by mdm46410 from Indiana
2.86/5 rDev -12%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
2.86/5 rDev -12%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
Poured from a 12oz bottle into a shaker. This IPA poured a slightly hazy orange color with a thick foamy tan head that slowly faded away. Some light lacing was left behind. The aroma of this beer was of very sweet caramel, yeast, and some light pine and citrus. Seems to be more malty than hoppy. The flavor started of with a sweet, buttery, rich, caramel malt taste that was followed by a bitter citrus hop punch. The mouthfeel is medium to full-bodied with a decent amount of carbonation. Slightly risiny. Overall, this beer seemed to have a strange aroma for an IPA, but turned out to have decent balance and flavor. The aroma seemed to be more along the lines of a sweet ESB. A different twist on an IPA.
Jun 28, 2007Reviewed by Duster72 from Indiana
2.93/5 rDev -9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5
2.93/5 rDev -9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5
Pours a very dark amber, with extreme cloudiness. Aroma is piney hops with some grapefruit lurking. Taste is much more pine and grass with none of the citrus. Sort of like a homebrew version of GD's Titan IPA. Very homebrew tasting. Hops are overpowering and out of balance. Beer isn't bad, but it isn't good. I left it sitting on the counter for an hour and forgot about it -- not a good sign. Hopefully some of their other brews are better, I will try them as well.
Apr 08, 2007Reviewed by kdmorse from California
2.82/5 rDev -13.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2
2.82/5 rDev -13.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2
A: Cloudy glowing auburn beer topped with a thin film of off-white head.
S: Sweet! Candy-sweet ruby red grapefruit(?) hops. Smells like fruit juice concentrate. Almost smells like a bitter Welch's grape juice.
T: Starts out balanced and then the hops kick the door in. Gets fruity and sweet, then finishes unpleasantly bitter (like chewing rubber bands, which I have done). Malt is there throughout but does not make an impression.
M: Good mouthfeel. Appropriate carbonation and enough body without being obnoxiously syrupy.
D: One is enough for me. The finish and aftertaste make it hard to pick back up. The smell and initial flavor are interesting, but not enough to over what follows.
Jul 12, 2006S: Sweet! Candy-sweet ruby red grapefruit(?) hops. Smells like fruit juice concentrate. Almost smells like a bitter Welch's grape juice.
T: Starts out balanced and then the hops kick the door in. Gets fruity and sweet, then finishes unpleasantly bitter (like chewing rubber bands, which I have done). Malt is there throughout but does not make an impression.
M: Good mouthfeel. Appropriate carbonation and enough body without being obnoxiously syrupy.
D: One is enough for me. The finish and aftertaste make it hard to pick back up. The smell and initial flavor are interesting, but not enough to over what follows.
Reviewed by Pegasus from Texas
2.55/5 rDev -21.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
2.55/5 rDev -21.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
Appearance: Cloudy copper in color, with a small head, excellent broken lace, and slight carbonation.
Aroma: Pine tar hops dominate, with a faint note of coriande and black cherries.
Taste: Begins with quite overpowering grapefruit and pinr tar hops, and a quite subdued sweet malt presence. The hops utterly dominate the taste from start to finish; at the close there is a lingering metallic bitterness in the back of the mouth.
Mouth feel: Smooth, fairly full, pleasing.
Drinkability/notes: Severely overhopped, to the point of being overwhelming.
Jun 21, 2006Aroma: Pine tar hops dominate, with a faint note of coriande and black cherries.
Taste: Begins with quite overpowering grapefruit and pinr tar hops, and a quite subdued sweet malt presence. The hops utterly dominate the taste from start to finish; at the close there is a lingering metallic bitterness in the back of the mouth.
Mouth feel: Smooth, fairly full, pleasing.
Drinkability/notes: Severely overhopped, to the point of being overwhelming.
Reviewed by CRJMellor from Arkansas
3.53/5 rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.53/5 rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a clear amber and orange brew with minimal off-white lace on the glass.
Aroma of has some caramel and a sour citrus shot which is not unpleasant just a little bit out of place.
Flavor of some caramel, grapefruit and a grass/hay note.
Mouthfeel is really gritty which is cut just enough by the maly sweetness. Little bit one-dimensional but rounds out a bit as it warmed up.
Drinkability is OK, nothing too outstanding but no fatal flaws and pretty drinkable.
Jun 05, 2006Aroma of has some caramel and a sour citrus shot which is not unpleasant just a little bit out of place.
Flavor of some caramel, grapefruit and a grass/hay note.
Mouthfeel is really gritty which is cut just enough by the maly sweetness. Little bit one-dimensional but rounds out a bit as it warmed up.
Drinkability is OK, nothing too outstanding but no fatal flaws and pretty drinkable.
Reviewed by ppoitras from Massachusetts
2.67/5 rDev -17.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
2.67/5 rDev -17.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
12oz bottle obtained via trade with CRJMellor. Thanks for the opportunity...
Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a very frothy 1 1/4" light tan head over the pretty clear orangey amber brew. Head is not going anywhere fast, and leaves plenty of bubbly lace wherever it goes. Aroma is kind of sour grains, with a citrus tinge to it. Taste finds that same somewhat off malt flavor, but it's shouted down by the grassy citrus hoppiness. Mouthfeel and drinkability suffer likewise. Not something I'd head back for.
May 05, 2006Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a very frothy 1 1/4" light tan head over the pretty clear orangey amber brew. Head is not going anywhere fast, and leaves plenty of bubbly lace wherever it goes. Aroma is kind of sour grains, with a citrus tinge to it. Taste finds that same somewhat off malt flavor, but it's shouted down by the grassy citrus hoppiness. Mouthfeel and drinkability suffer likewise. Not something I'd head back for.
Midwest IPA from Back Road Brewery
Beer rating:
78 out of
100 with
30 ratings
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