Hop Project #25
Yazoo Brewing Company

Poured a deep orange amber, great two inch head formed on top and left a ton of lace down the glass once it finally decided to let go. Nice carbonation, great overall look, just like an IPA should.

Huge citrus hops, and a ton of pine. Some sticky sweet notes as well. Very fresh taste, lots of resiny aromas. Really great smell. Perfect. Just a phenomonal fresh, sticky, resin hoppy bomb of delight. Such a sticky pine fresh taste, lots of fresh cut grass and orange peel. Some light sugar, but a bomb al the way Super smooth and very very sticky. A bit thick. Very nice carbonation, could put this down all night long with ease,- Damn near perfect. Not strong enough to be a sipper, a little heavy though to throw down a ton, but otherwise just about perfect. I would love to try this one on tap, seems like it would be perfect.

Overall this totally lived up to my expectations. It was just great. I would love to have this again and again. I am glad I have a couple more bottles. Just a damn fine IPA if I have ever had one.

Pours a hazy, amber/brown color. One inch head of an off-white color. Great retention and great lacing. Smells of floral hops, sweet malt, and citrus. Fits the style of an American IPA. Mouth feel is smooth and crisp with an average carbonation level. Tastes of sweet malt, floral hops, and citrus (pomegranate). Overall, an average American IPA.

Poured into a shaker pint. Less robust head than some previous Hop Projects. Also, as others noted, a bit deeper amber color. Fine, but not as nice of an appearance as previous HPs.

Smell is also much more muted than previous HPs (which I've just loved!). A bit of citrus, but more like an APA than an IPA. Some nice malt aroma, but not enough hop-forward.

Hop bitterness is much more present in the taste than hop flavor or aroma. I haven't been able to find the hopping details for this Hop Project online like I could for previous HPs, but there's a non-stereotypic IPA hop in here -- something that isn't the usual C hop. There's a little bit of spice & a little bit of astringency to the bitterness. Interesting but not my favorite.

A bit less sweetness than some previous HPs, less full mouthfeel, decent carbonation but less than prior batches. Nice drinking beer with more distinct bitterness but less hop flavor & aroma than previous HPs.

A - Pours a nice deep amber color with an off-white foamy head. Nice retention and decent lacing.

S - Whiffs of piney hops hit first but are overpowered by the strong yeasty smell. Also a fruity smell of some sort that I can't quite place. Maybe dried apricots or peaches. Very intriguing.

T - More hops than you'd expect from the smell. Piney, bitter, but not anywhere near being a hop bomb. There's a smooth undercurrent of yeasty goodness. Hard to really pick out the malts but they're there. Finishes dry and a bit bitter.

M - Decent but a little thin. Smooth and pleasant overall.

D - Good. A pretty smooth IPA. Would be good for a few glasses.

Notes - Glad to have a local brewery putting out something as unique as this, and would love to try it on tap. Haven't tried any of the previous Hop Projects, but I'll sure be looking for them from here on out.

edit: Just wanted to note that I'm having another one a few nights after my original review. I've poured it into a different pint glass of mine this time - it's an older glass that belonged to someone dear to me. And for some reason, the lacing and head retention this time is simply incredible.

12 oz bottle, bottled the last week of December '09, into a Duvel tulip.

A: Clear reddish-amber body with two fingers of fine ecru foam. Average retention and good lacing. Excellent looking IPA, if a bit darker than usual.

S: Yeast. Tons of yeast. Way more yeasty than hoppy. A vigorous swirl of the tulip yields a bit of floral/piney hops, but generally this smells far more like a BSPA than an IPA. Light spiciness and a generous dose of fruity esters outweigh any and all hop aromas. I'm torn here, because it smells amazing in its own right, but is miles off for the style. I'll err on the side of assuming that brewers meant this to be a Belgian pale, and that it just got entered as an American out of habit.

T: Maybe I was wrong, as it tastes more like an IPA than a Belgian - supremely bitter from start to finish. Some of the fruitiness comes through up front, but it's outweighed by piney hops. The finish is an absolute jackhammer of bitter hops, with the delicacy of the nose left far behind. This would be better if the memory of complex yeastiness didn't persist in the aftertaste.

M: Medium body with rich, mouth-filling carbonation. Terrific.

D: Not too bad here, but a bit over the top with the sheer bitterness of the finish, even for an IPA.

Notes: I picked this up on a whim when last down south, without having any idea about the ongoing series of Yazoo IPAs. Even with such limited familiarity, though, I can say that this is a unique and interesting entry in the project. There's no denying the distinct Belgian pedigree of the nose, and that's in no way a detriment to the beer as a whole if you ask me. Quite bitter and quite tasty, I just wish that I'd been privy to all of its predecessors.

Cheers!

12oz bottle. bottled the last week of Dec. 09

A- a slightly darker amber than the last Hop Project. almost 2 fingers of white head, heavy lacing.

S- typical citrus notes and pale malts but this beer has twist to it. I can't really pick out what it is. almost reminds me of a rye beer or possibly even a saison like the guy below me said. interesting but it seems a little off.

T- this beer is a really big change from the previous Hop Projects. I hope when they come to six packs they will print a little info with each one, as this is a rather unique IPA. far from a hop bomb. it reminds of Terrapin's Rye pale ale. mellow with a mellow dry finish. maybe even a little tart/sourness in the finish. nothing is unpleasant, though. a lighter refreshing IPA

M- slightly thin, ample carbonation. makes for a crisp, slightly dry finish.

D- a very easy drinking IPA. the Hop Projects are a deal at around $1.50 per bottle.

Brewed the last week of December so this should be fresh and delicious...

Pours a darker than normal almost deep golden with a nice fluffy head... Almost looks like an amber...

Hmmm... Its hoppy on the aroma but much less so than previous efforts... I'm getting almost a saison-like aroma here as well... Yeasty and maybe even a little bit funky...not a bad thing but not expected for this style...

Wow... If I didn't know any better, I would guess this is a hoppy saison for sure... Its got a lot of that farmhouse funkiness with a mean hop bite on the finish... Its a very interesting brew.... I wasn't sure if I liked it at first but its definitely growing on me.. Like a piney farmhouse ale...

The mouthfeel is too thin and that's my main detraction here... Would like a little more fullness..

Overall, not the best Hop Project but an interesting take on an IPA... Almosy like a Belgian IPA if you will..