Kelso IPA
Greenpoint Beerworks / Kelso of Brooklyn

Davepoolesque from Massachusetts

3.72/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Burnt orange in color. Hazy in appearance. Melon, pine and grapefruit pith. Fairly malt forward. Dry and bitter finish. Not bad, but a bit too malty for my preference.

Jan 19, 2018

Act25 from New Jersey

3.91/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Bought, enjoyed and made in Brooklyn.
a) Pours a hazy, copper orange color with an inch of head, moderate carbonation, and sticky lace.
s) Aromas of citrus hops, lots of oranges, pine hops, and grassy, fruity hops. Ample, pot like.
t) Intense and sharply citric & piney hops, with base of fruity malts, and a nice long bitterness in the finale.
f) Medium body with low carbonation, with bright, drying. sharp, peppery bitterness.
o) Overall a nice puckering IPA. Try 6.

Sep 07, 2017

scootny from New York

3.84/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A light burnt gold with a sizeable head and good lacing. Smell is more like an English IPA. Taste is too. Light caramel malt and earthy, leafy hops. Smooth carbonation and great weight. Clean finish super drinkable. Ole this one a lot.

Oct 20, 2014

clayrock81 from Florida

3.63/5  rDev -4%

Poured a cloudy gold body with minimal head and decent lace patches.
Aroma is standard citric hops and not much else.
Body is light and smooth with a dirty citric hop proifle that doesn't have much balance from malts and comes off a little dry/bitter.

Aug 20, 2014

dar482 from New York

3.77/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

The color is a hazy orange color.

The aroma has some citrus and tropical fruity hops.

The flavor is a bit one note. There is a kick of grapefruit bitterness with a bit of pine. There's a bit of sweetness in the middle.

The finish has big dry grapefruit and orange rind and pith. The strongest thing that stands out is the huge bitter finish. This is for hop heads that are interested in big bitterness.

The beer lacks a bit of body and complexity other than its huge dryness. It's still quite good though.

May 27, 2013

PicoPapa from Connecticut

3.66/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

32oz mini growler from Whole Foods. Pours a translucent amber color with a small head. Some lacing. The aroma is sweet malts and pine with some citrus notes and caramel. The taste is more of the sweet malts with some pine and sweet citrus hops. Moderate amount of bitterness. Piney and flowery at the end. This one tastes a bit like a mix of a Pale Ale and an IPA to me. Medium bodied and quite drinkable. Overall, decent beer that I'd have again but don't need to.

Mar 23, 2013

Hopdaemon39 from New York

4.52/5  rDev +19.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 64 oz growler into a nonic tumbler- pours a hazy golden color with about a finger of head that dissipates quickly, leaving very little lacing.

Smell's good- a good dose of pine and citrus hop goodness. Some pale malt in there as well. Not a blast to the face but you don't have to search for it.

Hot damn that is a good taste! Now there is a blast of hops. As soon as it hits your mouth you know what you're in for- lots of resiny hop flavors up front, followed by a meagre malt profile (no complaints here), then back in it again for some serious hops to finish out strong and bitter.

Mouthfeel is also great- light to medium body, moderate carbonation, moderate resiny feeling. This is a fantastic single IPA- well balanced, hoppy as hell, drinkable. If you're in New York, this should be your go-to IPA (yes get it instead of DFH 60 minute- buy local!).

Sep 19, 2012

mdfb79 from New York

3.8/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From 8/25/12 notes. Had this on tap at the Waterfront Alehouse on 2nd Ave. in NYC. Served in a pint glass.

a - Pours a hazy, murky orange color with one inch of white head and moderate carbonation evident.

s - Smells of citrus hops, oranges, pine hops, grapefruit, and some fruity hops. Lots of hops and citrus; very nice nose.

t - Tastes of citrus hops, fruity malts, bready malts, light pine hops. Not quite as hoppy as the nose, and some moderate bitterness in the taste.

m - Medium body and low to moderate carbonation, with some moderate bitterness.

o - Overall a pretty nice IPA. Nose had a lot of oranges and citrus and was very hoppy. Would certainly have it again.

Aug 26, 2012

rodlavers from Maryland

3.87/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served on tap at Matchless in Brooklyn

A. Light orange/amber coloring. Thin white head, minimal lacing.

S. Citrus hops, light flower aromas.

T. Grapefruit and other light/muted rind favors. Aftertaste is all grapefruit and light hops. Perhaps a little bit of pine involved.

M. Light and dry, with a little sweetness and syrup. Slight carbonation that disappears as it warms.

O. Decent beer, not spectacular, but an ok IPA that I'm glad I tried.

Jun 30, 2012

axeman9182 from New Jersey

3.67/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served in a pint glass at Standings NYC.

Kelso IPA pours tangerine with a little bit of haze. There's maybe a finger of white foam, and the head has a little bit of staying power. Lacing is fairly spotty. The nose is all hops, with some nice floral and citrusy aromas. The flavor starts out with a bit of honey and bread sweetness. The bitterness that follows is appropriately firm, and attention grabbing. The finish follows the nose, with citrus and floral notes. It's far too delicate for an IPA though, those hoppy notes should be leaping out at me and creating a potent, memorable finish. The body is on the dry side for an IPA, and paired with a nice bubbly carbonation. Kelso IPA is a decent, if a little subdued IPA.

May 08, 2012

DrinkSlurm from New York

2.48/5  rDev -34.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

On tap at Brooklyn Bowl. Poured into pint glass. Hazy to clear chestnut brown/ orangey. Little head. Grassy, bitter hop aroma.
I love IPAs, but this was bad...really bad. Sweet malts, followed by bitter hops and grassy/earthy flavor. I finished it only because it cost $6. Maybe I got a bad batch or something, but I would never get again.

Dec 21, 2011

CliffBrake from New Hampshire

3.98/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Laguardia.

Medium amber with good clarity. Tight off-white head with good retention.

Pronounced aroma with grass and herbs blending with sweet short bread. The tate starts with mango but is quickly overwhelmed with a mouth-coating buscuity malt. The malt lends a sweetness to the middle that dries out with a pleasant bitterness at the finish.

The hint of tropical fruit seems like a nod to American IPAs, but otherwise a solid British style offering. Thanks to US Airways for the chance to try this- Manchester to Phili to Laguardia to Roanoke. I'll get there yet, maybe.

Sep 18, 2011

TurdFurgison from Ohio

4.03/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I bought this growler at BierKraft, opened it at the hotel after a delicious meal in Manhattan, a gluttonous day. This pours a light gold color, clear, with a thick foam that laces in dry wisps on the glass. Strong tropical fruits in the aroma, mango and pineapple. It tastes well hopped, very bitter aftertaste. I'm glad this is fresh as this tastes like it could go south quickly, the bitterness threatening to be the defining note. But fresh this is excellent. Well carbonated, medium body, a nice tasty IPA.

EDIT: Day 2 of the growler was even better than day 1! We had 1/2 a growler left, opened it about 22 hours later, and it was sublime. A little less carbonation suits it very well. Excellent IPA!!

Aug 21, 2011

JizackFH from New York

3.7/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Had on-tap tonight at Matchless Bar in Brooklyn, NY.

Review taken from notes.

A - This beer pours a nice slightly hazy golden yellow color. It has a decent 1-finger white head on it. The head has okay retention, and leaves some lacing behind on the glass.

S - There is a big grapefruit hop presence in the nose, as well as some sweet caramel maltiness. I am also getting some citrus and some light fruit notes as well.

T - There is a sweet malty backbone, and a big juicy bitter hop presence. I am also getting quite a bit of peppery notes, as well as some light fruit notes. The finish leaves some lingering hop bitterness and pepper flavors on the palate.

M - This has a medium body and medium carbonation. It goes down smooth, and the flavor is nice. There is some strong hop bitterness that sticks to the palate and lingers for a while.

O - This has pretty good drinkability. It is easy to drink, and I could easily have a few glasses in a single sitting. Overall, I thought it was a pretty good IPA. The only thing I wasn't too keen on was the strong peppery notes. If I saw this beer out at a bar again, I would give it another shot.

May 16, 2011

Fikash from California

4/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

After growing accustomed to more bitter IPAs like Smuttynose or something from Stone, this IPA struck me as a bit on the weaker side because I didn't get much of a bitter bite at all. By the end of my first glass though, I really took to its strong flavors - grapefruit, citrus, grass. The aftertaste stays with you for quite some time as well. It's a very sweet, pleasant drink.

EDIT: After revisiting Stone IPA and having the Kelso immediately after, I have to comment on the strong grassy flavors that dominate this beer. They are not as pleasant as the Stone, but they are distinct. A very, very grassy beer.

Apr 27, 2011

socon67 from New York

4.09/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours orange with a yellow to orange head. the first smell is floral and citrusy sweet. Very nice balance. The flavor prfile follows suit but with a good kick of Simcoe hops to give it a dry and slightly bitter finish. While a bit raspy it is crisp and refreshing. A good drinker, and what one would call a "session beer" while walking the town in Brooklyn.

Apr 10, 2011

myatomicpolygon from New York

3.9/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance- pours an opaque coppery orange color into my snifter with a slight haze. Nice white head when fresh out of growler with good lacing left on the glass.

Smell- malt sweetness balanced with floral, bright fruit, and grassy hop profile with a bit of pine undertones

Taste- the pine is much more dominant in the taste than in the nose...the floral and fruit take a backseat but are detectable...overall it is well balanced between the sweet malt and bitter hops....and leaves a nice bitter pine finish

Mouthfeel- light to medium body...very crisp

Drinkability- easy to drink..very refreshing..could put down several in a sitting and the 6% ABV makes it a pretty moderate IPA

Feb 10, 2011

albertjr21 from New York

4.32/5  rDev +14.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a growler on 1.29.11. into a pint glass.

A: A semi-clear and dull yellow golden color under a nicely sustained bubbly head.

S: a fragrant and alluring sour citrus nose with notes of grapefruit and orange.

M/T: Everything harmonizes very well here between sweet and bitter with a complex representation of hops from start to a resonating zesty finish. I pick up on big bitter hop notes of orange, peach and grapefruit citrus.

D: Smooooth and delicious sailing for the IPA drinker...This is the first beer I've tried from Kelso and I look forward to trying their other brews and enjoying this one again in particular...

Jan 30, 2011

rtepiak from Poland

4.15/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

a particularly bright ipa with a nice body and feel. Rather brisk lemon manderin orange nose. A nice head of two and a half fingers of white on a body of yellow orange with some cloudiness. Great if fresh. Nice sun tea sweet with with lemon and honey. Pine floral bitter back end. Nice dry sweet finish.

Oct 27, 2010

metter98 from New York

4.1/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is cloudy dark yellow in color and has lacy patterns of bubbles floating on the surface.
S: There is a strong aroma of fresh hops in the nose, which is very unique.
T: Like the smell, flavors of hops dominate the taste, which has some notes of citrus. There is a good balance among the flavors.
M: It feels medium-bodied and smooth on the palate.
D: The beer has good drinkability and I will definitely try this one again if I can find it.

Sep 26, 2010

david18 from New York

3.5/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I had a sixteen ounce draft of this at the Amsterdam Ale House on Manhattan's upper west side. It was not my favorite ipa and suffers from what I believe a lot of east coast versions suffer from; not enough hops. I would rate this as a decent pale ale but not much more than that. OK aroma, again not hoppy enough. Light in color, low carbonation. Worth a try but don't be surprised if you don't fall in love with it.

Sep 01, 2010

wyattshotmaker from Ohio

4.32/5  rDev +14.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

poured from a growler that i obtained from brooklyn beer and soda. nice store, good selection, nice employees.

nose is very reminiscent of grape fruit rind, but really intense. has a soft white wine fruitiness in the backround. really love the smell of this beer.

big grapefruit hop flavor upfront, intense pungent herbal hop flavor. just really really intense hop flavor, faint caramel sweetness in the backround. finishes bitter and fairly dry.

light-medium bodied, fairly lean in body though. really drinkable.

probably the best ipa i've had since mayflower ipa.

Jul 27, 2010

m1ked from California

4.12/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Yet another growler from WF Bowery beer room.

A- Pours a medium;light golden yellow, clear with a touch of cloudiness. Huge white fluffy head with a pourous top, some lacing. Afew tiny streamers in there too. Looks a little darker and a touch cloudier than your typical macro.

S- Wow, I get a tropical grapefruity strong nose upfront that gets the salivary glands pumping right away. With deeper whiffs I get some resiny pine and rubber glove like rubber. Definately not your macre aroma here.

T- The taste isn't quite like the nose. I get the piney (strong)/rubbery (weak) flavor up front, with subtle tropical after notes that are practically overwhelmed by the pine-ness. The malt/grain is hard to find in here. This reminds me of a west coast IPA for sure with this kind of ratio.

M- A little resiny finish, no prob with me though. Otherwise has a medium IPA body, good carbonation.

D- This is by far my favorite offering I have had from Kelso thus far. Yeah local beer! I heard that this may have been an accidental batch though....what I had heard was....halfway through making this batch, the filter broke allowing alot of the hops into the final product. Whatever happend, I hope that they can reproduce this.

Apr 10, 2010

plaid75 from New York

4/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On draft at The Waterfront, Brooklyn, New York.

Poured a slightly hazy medium copper hue with a two finger foamy white head. There was good retention and lacing.

The smell was dominated by a piney resinous hop.

The taste consisted of a spicy balmy pine hop with essences of sweet oranges. A touch of malt sweetness as well.

The mouthfeel was typical of the style.

Overall a very nice, tasty IPA.

Apr 07, 2010