Did Hop Drop n Roll Change?

When I had it pre gold medal win I thought it was delicious and a total citrus funky dank brew. I've had it a couple times after and even got a single to try again 2 weeks ago. I've always had it fresh. It is not the same beer anymore at all.

 

Seems consistent enough to me, I don't get any off flavors at all. Theyre far enough away from their new brewing equipment to knock out variations. At least imo, it's so bad that 80 cases sell in a week in Greensboro when it's available, so people don't sgree at all.

 

I hope my comments aren't being taken as criticism. I'm just discussing what I taste, not trying to call NoDa out or anything like that. I brew at home and I know from experience that yeast are a living organism and they don't cooperate 100% of the time. It's very easy to have a few off batches, especially when you introduce a new variable into your system.

I had a Jam Session and Coco Loco last night and they were as good as ever.

 

11/24 batch is awesome.

 

HD&R is a beer that I keep in my rotation very regularly, I also drink it fairly regularly when out at local drinking establishments and restaurants. I have never noticed any drop off in quality or any off or burnt flavors in the beer, whether canned or kegged. This is definitely a west coast style IPA and thus is not overly malt heavy or particularly balanced. It is a hop bomb that has just the right amount of pale maltyness to give it a little sweetness to counter the hopiness.

I am also quite impressed with both Jam Session & Coco Loco. I think their packaged lineup is fairly strong, even if it is fairly limited.

 

I know this thread is somewhat older, but I just wanted to add my two cents. First off, I have fallen in love with HDR! I had it for the first time this past fall sometime. I bought a 4 pack and have no clue what the can date was at the time. The second time, I bought 2 4 packs that I believe we're canned on 11-3-14. They were amazing! The next time, I bought a case that was canned on 12-11-14. The first can that I opened seemed to lack that citrusy finish I was accustomed to. I decided it could be palate fatigue, so I waited a few days and tried another can. It seemed a little better but not quite what I remembered. It seemed to get better after it had about a week of age on it. Maybe that was just my perception and wasn't reality. I finished the last can of that case a few days ago. I am in no way saying the beer was bad, but it just lacked that strong citra hop finish I remembered. Otherwise, the beer tasted the exact same.

Yesterday, I picked up 28 cans (yes, for my own consumption ha) canned on 1-7-14. I just opened a can tonight, and it is exactly what I remember from the November canning date. I could tell a big difference. The citra hop finish was back!!! I know there could be a lot of reasons, but I would venture to say that the difference may be due to the citra hop source. Since NoDa is having to source the citra hops from different places, then the source difference and freshness of the hops could play a big roll in the variations tasted. I still love HDR, and it will continue to be my go to beer!!!

 

Am bumping this thread instead of starting a new one because my friend just traded for fresh HDR, which we have had a few times before and fucking love, and it was a total mess. Heavy diacetyl, different, darker color, really unpleasant taste. Something really wrong with it, couldn't even finish a glass. Subsequent cans were all the same.

Anyone else notice this? Has there been any word from NODA?

 

What was the canning date?

 

I assume it was the recent batch that has been floating around NC for the last two weeks. 2/11/15

 

Don't remember. Will find out and post @doomXsaloon

 

Completely agree. I've loved HDR and have had my fair share the past couple years. I bought a 4 pack recently and the diacetyl was overwhelming. I really hate this as there are few better things than having a fridge full of HDR & Coco Loco. I'm drinking much more Coco right now due to the season, I hope they dial in HDR again before Spring.

What causes the buttery smell/flavor?

 

I haven't had a can lately, so I can't comment on whether or not this issue has returned, but diacetyl is a byproduct of fermentation. I've had it in my homebrew when I've tried to rush a beer off the yeast too quickly (normally it is absorbed by the yeast after fermentation is complete.) It can also be caused by infection, but that has not been the case with NoDa in the past.

 

I loved HDR from the minute I tried it and was very excited when I saw it recently at Tasty Beverage. My brother was here visiting and I was so excited for him to try it. We were definitely disappointed. No off flavors or bad tastes...but not the beautiful vibrant beer I remembered. I will definitely pick some up next time I see it, I'm hoping this was just one off batch.

 

The last time I had a four pack, it was fresh and awesome. 1/26 batch. They did.seem to have a month or so where it was average but now better than ever to me

 

Similar experience for me. Had a single from a Dec. batch and 4 pack from 1-13. All have been less than stellar - diacetyl and nowhere near the hop intensity I'm used to. I have noticed their cans can get sticky - wonder if it's the quality of the cans (Crown cans are shitty) or the canning process (still use mobile canning). I still think its the actual beer, not the cans, but who knows. I imagine Chad and team taste test batches - makes me think it could be the canning process or cans. I'm hesitant to buy more at the moment. Maybe I need it on draft to bring back the love.

 

BTW- Chad, Todd, Suzie, NoDa team, whoever pays attention on here - when you install your own canning line in the new brewery, please switch to Ball Corp. cans. Rexam is good as well. Crown is not. A top quality beer deserves top quality packaging. I'll tell you in person when I can to give you that feedback. Love what y'all are doing.

 

Agreed. Most batches are darker now, with what I describe as a more burnt malt profile. I first had a dark batch back in September or October and it seems now a lot of batches are like that. Not necessarily bad, just different. I took a picture a while back of one that was on the verge of being mistaken as a brown ale.

 

I think mine was from the same batch because I bought it back in November. It tasted fine to me.

 

I might be able to explain the change in color. Previously the beer was hazier due to dry hopping. Obviously the beer is still dry hopped but currently they use a centrifuge to extract more beer from the hops. This acts as a second filter of sorts, which changes the appearance. Hazier beer will always appear lighter.

 

Ahhh that makes sense thanks for responding. Love me some noda.