Hoperation Ivy (Local Series #22)
Ska Brewing Co.

 

 

 

 

 

Very clear, copper-ish body topped off with a thick, sticky white head. An odd, old citrus (tangerine) and stale, earthy scent with hints of light malt in the background. Nicely balanced malt flavors with a smooth yet pleasant hop bitterness bite. Mouthfeel is glass-smooth, crisp, clean, and dry.

A very strange aroma struck me when I sniffed this beer. I can't say it's bad, but I don't find it very appealing either. I liken it to day-old grass cuttings left out in the hot sun to cook. Otherwise, the taste was decent, the looks very appealing, and the mouthfeel rather exceptional. Not the best balanced beer, yet an oddly acceptable beer. I'd have another...

 

Very unique IPA color. It's bronze with very nice clarity. HUGE, foamy, off-white, head that has great staying power with nice sticky foam that stays behind.

Nice light citrus with some nice roasty, tart (ish) aroma. Again, very unique.

Smooth, nicely hopped, and well balanced IPA. It's lacking a bit of hop, but it's still well done... Creamy, medium bodied, medium carbonation, and no heat. Sweetness is detectable, but nowhere near over powering.

Fantastic IPA. Highly recommended as an easy drinking IPA. Nice job, SKA.

 

 

 

i look insanely forward to fresh/wet hop beers each fall. last year this really impressed me, #20. i am confident the recipe has been tweaked this year, because the hops are much more prominent than i remember them being, and the color is much darker. its a dark copper color, perfectly clear, with lazy rising bubbles and a foamy half inch head after it settles. the smell is a richness of hop i have never before smelled. it reminds me of smahsing hops between my fingers at the magic hat brewery, but with less intensity and more depth and mystery. i cant describe it any more than that, its totally foreign. also there is some malt weight to this version, not english, but in that vein. coppery. the flavor is mellow like an old scotch, with that unique hoppy vibe really slowly evolving. i taste fermented apples and some bright ale yeast as well. this is an amazingly balanced brew. i wonder what hop varieties are giving it this flavor? if anyone knows please share. feel is relaxed on the carbonation, and bigger on the body. this is a highly refined and perfectly flavorful brew, i think the best ive had from ska. do not miss this years incarnation.