Hermitage Hoptopia

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

A dark orange golden colored beer with a big sudsy textured white head rising above. There's good hang time in the head. A thick cap is left. The sweetness in the nose is a bit disconcerting. The hops seem to be an afterthought. The tasting is better. Still more sweet than hoppy but this fill bodied, slick beer is drinkable.

Aroma: 10 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

A rich and deep amber colored brew with a thin off white head. The nose is massive grapefruit and sweet peanuts. There is also some toast and a pleasant floral character. This tastes of fairly bitter piney, especially in the finish. The hop resin lingers for a long time. Strong notes of wood are certainly present along with hints of ash. The taste of the bitter hops absolutely overwhelms the malt character. After a little more drinking, bits of citrus begin to shine through. This is a very bitter brew, but somehow it comes across as more refined and balanced than most IIPA’s. This is very well done.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 6

Light pine and fruit, a little too much biscuity cardboard malt for my taste. Not expecting greatness from these guys... Maybe hoping for a surprise here and there. This one was just as expected.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Love the label! This was a gift from a friend last summer and I hope he brings me more beer. It pours a slightly cloudy golden orange, big white head. Alcohol is detectable in the aroma along with citrus hops, some pine, and weak cereal malts. The flavour isn't as hoppy as other DIPAs but the citrus is still detectable along with sweet malty hints.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Sampled on 11/26/2010. This Imperial IPA pours a dark copper brown color from a 22oz bottle. Small to medium sized white foamy head with decent lacing and nice retention. The aroma is fruity, sweet, juicy with some piney and citrusy hops. A medium bodied Imperial IPA. The malts are fruity and sweet. The hops are herbal and citrusy. The hops are kind of juicy even. Not a lot of bitterness. Touch of ice tea and perhaps some peat and/or smoke going on here as well. Interesting 2xIPA. Hides the alcohol well. Mouthfeel is full. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly bitter.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 6

22 oz bottle -

Aroma - tons of pitted fruit aroma (peach, apricot), heavy grapefruit, alcohol and old orange juice.

Appearance - clear, orange/amber body with a fluffy merengue white head

Taste - sweetness is suprisingly kept well in check, but not ravaging the beer. Nice bitterness, lingering. Caramel, pine resin, light pineapple/grapefruit.

Overall - a pretty nice find for a DIPA @ $3.50 a bottle. Far from fantastic but it filled the fix.