Sam Adams Rebel Raw Double IPA

So this is pretty good, but it's a beer for 2010 not now in terms of trends. It reminds of the first time RuinTen was released, just crushingly bitter.

If you like bitter IPAs, this will be your jam. If not look elsewhere.

 

I can't get enough bitter iPas , thanks for the honest opinion

 

Too much hype? Are they trying to make up for the rebel IPA ?

 

It malts over a little with some time. Pretty drinkable for 10%

 

Not much of a malt balance? I found it exceedingly malty. Given the heft of being at 10% ABV, my go to comparison (fairly or not) was Other Half's All Green Everything and this isn't even close. I acknowledge that this costs nearly half as much, but I ask what this was released to compete with (particularly as it's packaged in 16oz cans).

I found this beer too sweet, too boozy, and not hoppy enough. I picked up the 4 pack, drank one, gave one to a friend, retried another before pouring it out, and I have the fourth sitting in the fridge.

As someone who would pay 16-20 per 4 pack at the store, I wish they had made more of an effort to be on that level.

 

So, some people found it too bitter, and other people too malty. Ok. I guess no matter what Sam does people will find ways to not like their stuff.

 

Sam Adams beers IMO have always been a little heavy on the malt.

 

Sam is pretty notorious for being heavy handed with the caramel malts. It's a cardinal sin of brewing IPAs, in my opinion.

 

Idk. Heady is pretty malt tasting, also very hoppy obviously. And thats a solid beer. Harpoon IPA is pretty malty. Great beer.

 

My dad brought in a 12 pk of Hop Hunter and it's pretty good, probably right on par with Pure Hoppiness at maybe half the price. It's not sexy because it's common, not over priced and made by SN, but in the glass it's a great beer, I like it a bit better than Torpedo.

 

The label reminds me of Faction Brewing graphics.

 

I agree with you even with criticism they still use too much. Ipas at Sam Adams have always been 2nd choice

 

I only had one can, perhaps I'll give it another shot to refine my view of this beer. But it is a 10% abv 100 IBU IPA, with 6 lbs. of hops per barrel. Granted IBUs don't tell the entire story in terms of hop perception/flavor, I don't think it would be far fetched to find the beer too bitter.

Too much caramel malt, perhaps. But caramel malt can work quite well in an IPA, see Celebration Ale. The balance from the malt profile, specifically the sweetness from the caramel malts used, are a hallmark of this IPA in my opinion.

This isn't the case with Rebel Raw because of how fresh it's being consumed, but I also enjoy the caramel malt character in Boston Lager. But with a bit of age on it, when the Noble hops begin to fade, too much of that caramel malt pulls through and it becomes too sweet for me personally.

 

I'm not a fan of malty IPAs. Celebration included. That's just my opinion. If you're trying to create a beer that competes with the great breweries in New England, I'd recommend you just use a touch of C-15, if any caramel malt at all. Most of those New England breweries use little to no crystal malts.

 

As I continue to drink IPAs my preference has changed away from fruit juice and more towards IPAs that have crystal malts. I preferred celebration this fall/winter to the Treehouse, trillium Juice bombs. When I drink them, I keep thinking that it does not taste that much like beer. They are nice sometimes, especially heady topper, but the all mosaic, citra, or Galaxy IPAs are too juicy if they have no specialty malts.

However, it seems the masses disagree with my assessment and me as little as 1 year ago would disagree with current me as well. Around the end of summer after drinking a lot of juice bombs, I started to tire of them...

 

I thought it was good, but not great. If it was always at the store I'd buy it every so often.

 

Not sure what Sam Adams focuses on , I guess something for Everyone's taste preference. Cool

 

I bought a pint at bottle shop in Manhattan on Friday and then had to return it because it was already a week beyond enjoy by. I've become an epic freshness snob but I really didn't want my first try at this to be when it wasn't at it's best.

 

I was thinking the same thing after having a pint of Hop Hands last week. It was really good but I enjoy a little bitterness from my beers which is exactly why I started drinking IPAs to begin with. As long as there is a good mix of both then there are no complaints from me.

 

I would be willing to bet that from September - December that waaaay more Sierra Nevada Celebration was consumed vs. the beers of Trillium, Tree House, ....

IMO the masses agree with the new you!!

Cheers!

P.S. The past weekend I bought my second 12-pack of Celebration (bottle 10/26/15). I really like this beer!!

P.S.S. The only thing that would make Celebration better would be if this beer was available in cans. Bill (@sierranevadabill), has their ever been any discussion to can Celebration?