Hop Hog India Pale Ale | Lancaster Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Lancaster Brewing Company
Pennsylvania, United States
lancasterbrewing.com
Style: American IPA
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 7.00%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
This formidable India Pale Ale has a hop aroma that demands attention. The bold, citrus hop flavor is balanced by a dry malt character making this refreshing ale a true classic.
Added by woodychandler on 12-29-2004
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Ratings: 814 | Reviews: 369
Reviews by yuenglingade:
3/5 rDev -11.8%
yuenglingade, May 01, 2014
More User Reviews:
3.13/5 rDev -7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Appearance This is very dark for an IPA, almost brown, and the head is light brownish-white and explosive. This looks like a yeast bomb.
Smell The leafy hops are mixed with some spicy yeast, as was my presumption. The aroma is very bitter, and the grain is faint but identifiable.
Taste Ah, the leafy hops pick things up nicely at the taste. The malts are sweet and toasty, and that yeast is here in spades. The spices here are dark and sharp.
Mouthfeel This medium-bodied AIPA is overly carbonated but feels goon on the palate.
Drinkability I enjoyed sucking down this Hop Hog, but I think the yeast is a problem and needs to be addressed by the brewer. Nice beer, though.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Appearance This is very dark for an IPA, almost brown, and the head is light brownish-white and explosive. This looks like a yeast bomb.
Smell The leafy hops are mixed with some spicy yeast, as was my presumption. The aroma is very bitter, and the grain is faint but identifiable.
Taste Ah, the leafy hops pick things up nicely at the taste. The malts are sweet and toasty, and that yeast is here in spades. The spices here are dark and sharp.
Mouthfeel This medium-bodied AIPA is overly carbonated but feels goon on the palate.
Drinkability I enjoyed sucking down this Hop Hog, but I think the yeast is a problem and needs to be addressed by the brewer. Nice beer, though.
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3.7/5 rDev +8.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Two plus fingers of foamy, sticky off-white head over a clear orange-amber body. Head retention (1/4") and lacing are very impressive. I'm knocked over by the thick, clean, resiny aroma of citrus, pastry and light fruit.
Taste is heavy on the bitterness, with strawberry and light fruit notes, but overall unbalanced towards the hops. Sligtly metallic aftertaste.
Mouthfeel is OK, fairly dry, and drinkability is really pretty good for an 8% beer. Not bad overall.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Two plus fingers of foamy, sticky off-white head over a clear orange-amber body. Head retention (1/4") and lacing are very impressive. I'm knocked over by the thick, clean, resiny aroma of citrus, pastry and light fruit.
Taste is heavy on the bitterness, with strawberry and light fruit notes, but overall unbalanced towards the hops. Sligtly metallic aftertaste.
Mouthfeel is OK, fairly dry, and drinkability is really pretty good for an 8% beer. Not bad overall.
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3/5 rDev -11.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
From BeerAdvocate Magazine Volume II, Issue V:
"Our hoppiest beer to date!" claims the brewery, at 55 IBUs.
Bright, rich copper-amber color with a slightly off-white foamy head. Nice retention and stick as the head settles. Fruity nose, hint of floral, with a slight note of citrus, soft herbal qualty and malty grain. Fairly light-bodied and easy on the palate with a pleasing smoothness. Malty up front with a bready, caramel center and a good amount of sweetness. Hop character is a bit rough, leafy and very oily. Flash of lemony-grassy bitterness, but it's rather dull. Finish is sweet, moving toward dry with a lingering maltiness.
Is this really an IPA? Not a modern one. It's so restrained, too malty and the alcohol content is begging for more hops to back the sweetness, which dominates. This is more of a strong ale, certainly not an IPA--from either side of the pond.
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look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
From BeerAdvocate Magazine Volume II, Issue V:
"Our hoppiest beer to date!" claims the brewery, at 55 IBUs.
Bright, rich copper-amber color with a slightly off-white foamy head. Nice retention and stick as the head settles. Fruity nose, hint of floral, with a slight note of citrus, soft herbal qualty and malty grain. Fairly light-bodied and easy on the palate with a pleasing smoothness. Malty up front with a bready, caramel center and a good amount of sweetness. Hop character is a bit rough, leafy and very oily. Flash of lemony-grassy bitterness, but it's rather dull. Finish is sweet, moving toward dry with a lingering maltiness.
Is this really an IPA? Not a modern one. It's so restrained, too malty and the alcohol content is begging for more hops to back the sweetness, which dominates. This is more of a strong ale, certainly not an IPA--from either side of the pond.
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3.93/5 rDev +15.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours from the 12oz warthog labeled bottle into my tulip glass a deep red hue with some amber highlights. A healthy half inch off white head lingers above the brew. Aromas of herbal, earthy, floral hops hit me right off the bat...green and leafy with citric tones. A sturdy malt backbone that has some caramel notes is there as well.
First sip brings a slightly sweet, somewhat biscuity malt from the get go with some caramel tones. Green, herbal, bitter hops make their way in with a mix of floral and citrus flavors. Definetly some Cascades at work here. Flows down with a nice lingering leafy, earthy hop flavor and a solid bitterness.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied with a nice punchy carbonation. Goes down all too easily. I could see myself polishing off a large quantity of this brew given the opportunity, too bad this is the only bottle I have. Thanks to woodychandler for leaving this one behind for me to sample. Lancaster brews some good beers!
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours from the 12oz warthog labeled bottle into my tulip glass a deep red hue with some amber highlights. A healthy half inch off white head lingers above the brew. Aromas of herbal, earthy, floral hops hit me right off the bat...green and leafy with citric tones. A sturdy malt backbone that has some caramel notes is there as well.
First sip brings a slightly sweet, somewhat biscuity malt from the get go with some caramel tones. Green, herbal, bitter hops make their way in with a mix of floral and citrus flavors. Definetly some Cascades at work here. Flows down with a nice lingering leafy, earthy hop flavor and a solid bitterness.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied with a nice punchy carbonation. Goes down all too easily. I could see myself polishing off a large quantity of this brew given the opportunity, too bad this is the only bottle I have. Thanks to woodychandler for leaving this one behind for me to sample. Lancaster brews some good beers!
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3.53/5 rDev +3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Presentation: It was poured from a brown 12 oz bottle into a pint glass.
Appearance: It has a straight up amber body with a tall just off white head. It’s head fades quickly to just a thin wispy layer and lacing is minimal.
Smell: The aroma has a sweet honey and bread like grain character with a touch of candy like sweetness and hint of orange blossom.
Taste / Palate: It’s flavor leans more on the sweet malty side and it matches the aroma note for note. As an IPA this is way out of character. To me it feels more like a nice easy drinking pale ale.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Presentation: It was poured from a brown 12 oz bottle into a pint glass.
Appearance: It has a straight up amber body with a tall just off white head. It’s head fades quickly to just a thin wispy layer and lacing is minimal.
Smell: The aroma has a sweet honey and bread like grain character with a touch of candy like sweetness and hint of orange blossom.
Taste / Palate: It’s flavor leans more on the sweet malty side and it matches the aroma note for note. As an IPA this is way out of character. To me it feels more like a nice easy drinking pale ale.
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4.06/5 rDev +19.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Last night, I had a chance to drink some out of a really good cask cooler system that LBC is looking at. Paul, from the local homebrewers club, is a distributor of the "Caskerator" and lots of his compadres were there to try some. The Hog poured out cloudy but it settled from the bottom up after a while. The frothy head lasted for a bit but dissipated into a nice lace. This is an entirely different beer when dispensed through the hand pump. The aggressive notes are muted into an extremely smooth, drinkable beer with a rich, full taste. Hopefully LBC will revisit this combination in the future.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Last night, I had a chance to drink some out of a really good cask cooler system that LBC is looking at. Paul, from the local homebrewers club, is a distributor of the "Caskerator" and lots of his compadres were there to try some. The Hog poured out cloudy but it settled from the bottom up after a while. The frothy head lasted for a bit but dissipated into a nice lace. This is an entirely different beer when dispensed through the hand pump. The aggressive notes are muted into an extremely smooth, drinkable beer with a rich, full taste. Hopefully LBC will revisit this combination in the future.
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3.85/5 rDev +13.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
poured from a 12oz. bottle
A-Rusty orange copper color, small head that recedes quickly and left a patch in the middle and some foam around the edge of the glass.
S-Toasty, bready aroma with citrus hops
T- Same as the smell, malty, caramel, toasty, earthy, and citrus hops
M- Medium bodied, very smooth, good medium carbonation
D- Very drinkable, not the best IPA out there but I can see myself buying this again
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
poured from a 12oz. bottle
A-Rusty orange copper color, small head that recedes quickly and left a patch in the middle and some foam around the edge of the glass.
S-Toasty, bready aroma with citrus hops
T- Same as the smell, malty, caramel, toasty, earthy, and citrus hops
M- Medium bodied, very smooth, good medium carbonation
D- Very drinkable, not the best IPA out there but I can see myself buying this again
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4.05/5 rDev +19.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
Sampled a 12 ounce bottle, brown in color, w/o any freshenss dating present. NIce smiling hog art work on the label. This liquid pours a rich shade of dark honey/maple, pretty clear, lifting a tannish head, that shows respectable retention and leaves some puffy and stringy lacing. Nose is sweet maple syrup and resiny hops. I read a review where it wass noted that this is a fairly sweet brew for an "IPA", I agree. While the hops are quite present, I'm still waiting for that strong hop crunch that I hoped to find in a brew named such as this one. Its a nice full bodied, flavorfull ale, but the hops arrive here fairly late in the finish and not as much up front as I'd like. None the less this is a smooth, flavorful ale,big and bold, with sweet maple syrup malts and balancing pine/resin/grapefuit hops late. NIce stuff, I'd just toss in more hops.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
Sampled a 12 ounce bottle, brown in color, w/o any freshenss dating present. NIce smiling hog art work on the label. This liquid pours a rich shade of dark honey/maple, pretty clear, lifting a tannish head, that shows respectable retention and leaves some puffy and stringy lacing. Nose is sweet maple syrup and resiny hops. I read a review where it wass noted that this is a fairly sweet brew for an "IPA", I agree. While the hops are quite present, I'm still waiting for that strong hop crunch that I hoped to find in a brew named such as this one. Its a nice full bodied, flavorfull ale, but the hops arrive here fairly late in the finish and not as much up front as I'd like. None the less this is a smooth, flavorful ale,big and bold, with sweet maple syrup malts and balancing pine/resin/grapefuit hops late. NIce stuff, I'd just toss in more hops.
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4.3/5 rDev +26.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
I was real excited to see Lancaster Brewing finally introduce their IPA, being that I spent 10 yrs. in the area and always enjoyed visiting this place.
Pours a clear, orange-rust color w/ a full finger of creamy, sudsy, off-white head. The lacing is thick and has very impressive cling.
Fruity hops hit the nose, followed by caramel and vanilla...pleasant.
Taste is more typical of a highly hopped English IPA...not the west coast style, however, the finish is a tad sweet w/ plenty of malt to keep this one beautifully balanced.
Carbonation is perfect, bitterness is right where it should be and the mouthfeel is nice...not thin at all.
Drinkability is extremely high...very surprised to see this at almost 8% ABV...very well hidden.
A great offering from LBC...one more reason to return to Lancaster, PA.
Thanks to weeare138 for a sixer of this gem...I will savor the rest for the next couple months.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
I was real excited to see Lancaster Brewing finally introduce their IPA, being that I spent 10 yrs. in the area and always enjoyed visiting this place.
Pours a clear, orange-rust color w/ a full finger of creamy, sudsy, off-white head. The lacing is thick and has very impressive cling.
Fruity hops hit the nose, followed by caramel and vanilla...pleasant.
Taste is more typical of a highly hopped English IPA...not the west coast style, however, the finish is a tad sweet w/ plenty of malt to keep this one beautifully balanced.
Carbonation is perfect, bitterness is right where it should be and the mouthfeel is nice...not thin at all.
Drinkability is extremely high...very surprised to see this at almost 8% ABV...very well hidden.
A great offering from LBC...one more reason to return to Lancaster, PA.
Thanks to weeare138 for a sixer of this gem...I will savor the rest for the next couple months.
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2.77/5 rDev -18.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5
Appearance: 1/3 inch head, clear, orange/brown in color, high carbonation
Smell: toffee, pine, and earth
Taste: toffee, caramel, toasted malt, and light pine hops
Mouthfeel: medium-light bodied, high carbonation, really sweet for an IPA
Drinkability: I like this beer and could see myself having a six. That being said this is really not what I expect when I see the label IPA. I expect some bitterness and bite. This is more of a malty brew reminding me of a marzen. If you want an American IPA by style guidelines, look elsewhere. If you are a malt person looking to find the IPA for you--this is your beer.
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look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5
Appearance: 1/3 inch head, clear, orange/brown in color, high carbonation
Smell: toffee, pine, and earth
Taste: toffee, caramel, toasted malt, and light pine hops
Mouthfeel: medium-light bodied, high carbonation, really sweet for an IPA
Drinkability: I like this beer and could see myself having a six. That being said this is really not what I expect when I see the label IPA. I expect some bitterness and bite. This is more of a malty brew reminding me of a marzen. If you want an American IPA by style guidelines, look elsewhere. If you are a malt person looking to find the IPA for you--this is your beer.
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3.02/5 rDev -11.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5
I had this beer on tap at the brewery.
The beer is a nice, orangey, clear color, with a cream colored head that drops off in about 1 minute, leaving a trace of foam on the top. I would describe the carbonation level as soft. The first smell I got was of piney, citrusy hops, very pleasant. Malt aroma was there in the background, sort of muted by the hops. Didn't really pick up any alcohol until later as it warmed.
I am a hop head, and couldn't wait to taste this baby, but the predominant flavor was sweetness. There was some hop flavor, and some bitterness, but I just couldn't get past the almost cloying sweetness. Victory Hopdevil has a good deal of malt for a base, but is not sweet like this.
I liked the mouthfeel; the carbonation was good for this style. The hops (or something) left a pleasant resiny feeling on your tongue.
Overall, the drinkability wasn't awful, and I guess I could drink another, but I was just expecting more. More bitterness, more hop flavor, more malt impact, and certainly LESS sweetness.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5
I had this beer on tap at the brewery.
The beer is a nice, orangey, clear color, with a cream colored head that drops off in about 1 minute, leaving a trace of foam on the top. I would describe the carbonation level as soft. The first smell I got was of piney, citrusy hops, very pleasant. Malt aroma was there in the background, sort of muted by the hops. Didn't really pick up any alcohol until later as it warmed.
I am a hop head, and couldn't wait to taste this baby, but the predominant flavor was sweetness. There was some hop flavor, and some bitterness, but I just couldn't get past the almost cloying sweetness. Victory Hopdevil has a good deal of malt for a base, but is not sweet like this.
I liked the mouthfeel; the carbonation was good for this style. The hops (or something) left a pleasant resiny feeling on your tongue.
Overall, the drinkability wasn't awful, and I guess I could drink another, but I was just expecting more. More bitterness, more hop flavor, more malt impact, and certainly LESS sweetness.
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3.33/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Reviewed from notes 5/16/09
Poured from a standard 12 oz bottle in a 16oz pint glass. Firm pour evokes a 1/4 inch of bright white head that falls fairly quickly, leaving a nice lace. Color is a slightly orange amber.
Nose- Soapy, fragrant, spicy orange citrus. Notes of over ripe orange and caramel.
Palate- Pleasant orange mixed with caramel. Some bready notes faint spice. Faint sweetness leading to a nice bitter bite. Moderately bitter finish.
Mouthfeel- Moderately carbonated, mildly cloying.
Drinkability- Good. Nothing overly special, but a solid IPA.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Reviewed from notes 5/16/09
Poured from a standard 12 oz bottle in a 16oz pint glass. Firm pour evokes a 1/4 inch of bright white head that falls fairly quickly, leaving a nice lace. Color is a slightly orange amber.
Nose- Soapy, fragrant, spicy orange citrus. Notes of over ripe orange and caramel.
Palate- Pleasant orange mixed with caramel. Some bready notes faint spice. Faint sweetness leading to a nice bitter bite. Moderately bitter finish.
Mouthfeel- Moderately carbonated, mildly cloying.
Drinkability- Good. Nothing overly special, but a solid IPA.
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3.7/5 rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Appears clouded with yeast sediment and has a deep amber body forms a nice sized tan head leave broad bands of lacing down my glass. Aroma has some malted barley sweetness with a big hop aroma citrus and pine tones blended nicely. Taste: Fruit and bready malts sturdy bitterness with a citrus leafy hop presence to it seems rough and unrefined. Mouthfeel is medium in body evenly carbonated slightly resinous. Drinkability: Quaffable and quite enjoyable not the best IPA I have tasted lately but pretty good offering.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Appears clouded with yeast sediment and has a deep amber body forms a nice sized tan head leave broad bands of lacing down my glass. Aroma has some malted barley sweetness with a big hop aroma citrus and pine tones blended nicely. Taste: Fruit and bready malts sturdy bitterness with a citrus leafy hop presence to it seems rough and unrefined. Mouthfeel is medium in body evenly carbonated slightly resinous. Drinkability: Quaffable and quite enjoyable not the best IPA I have tasted lately but pretty good offering.
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Hop Hog India Pale Ale from Lancaster Brewing Company
Beer rating:
28.9% out of
100 with
814 ratings