Sonoran IPA

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

A very good beer, served at the Sonora Brewhouse Pub and Restaurant, Phoenix. Trooper IPA (as per beer menu and accompanying coaster) on tap at the brewhouse. Copper in color with a short white foam head. Thin line of lace, not much retention. Smells of citrus hops. Taste was well balanced, and not as bitter as some other IPA hop bombs. Medium body and carbonation. Looked to be the local favorite. All in all, a pretty fine beer. Went very well with my chili, could stand up to the heat.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Labeled as Victorian IPA

A solid pour produces a three-finger thick, light tan colored head in my 25cl tulip glass. The beer is a brilliantly clear, nicely red-tinged, dark copper hue that shows a stunningly brilliantly clear, full copper color when held up to the light. The aroma is nice and hoppy, but more herbal focused than the typical American IPA; light garlic chives, a touch of hemp oil, concentrated pine needles and lots of green, freshly cut herbal notes (nettle perhaps). There is a backdrop of fruity hop notes that can be quite drowned out by the more herbaceous notes at times; when noticeable I get note so lychee, ruby-red grapefruit, and orange zest. There is also just a hint of toasty malt noticeable in the finish.

Fairly light bodied as it first hits my tongue, but it does pick up a bit of malt heft as it flows past. Some chewy, biscuit-like malt notes provide a nice, though soft grain character, but this beer is all about the hops. The herbal notes once again are the most dominant note, but this time the fruity hop notes play a much bigger role. Flavors of , sharply bitter herbs, pine needles and a touch of chive mix with fruity notes of lychee, apricot, ruby-red grapefruit and tangelo up front, while the finish has a hemp like oily character to it that lingers along with a decent, but biting bitterness. This is a bit sweet, both from the malt as well as a boost from the fruity hop notes.

I like that the malt character provides a distinct note to the finish of this beer, that toasty, biscuit-like note is a welcome addition. Definitely on the pungent side, though the flavor is more balanced with fruity hop notes. Not bad and in fact this is definitely enjoyable.

Purchased: Plaza Liquors, Tucson AZ

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

Well, I must say that my Beer Radar must have been out-of-whack with this one. Why so? Well, while I was raiding the local Trader Joes this week (picking up lots of singles, both rare and routine), I had a good feeling about this one, and grabbed not one but two bottles.

"What's the problem?" you ask? Let me count the ways that this beer doesn't appeal to me. Extrermly rugged and unworkable hop profile, for starters. Seems like the brewer really didn't have much of a vision on how this should end up, since it tastes to me like all of the hops were added at one time in the boil. Cascade, Columbus, Saaz, Pride Of Ringwood, maybe Willamette..., whatever odd collection was chosen for this brew, it just does not mesh together at all.

Aside from the hop problems with this beer (which, for an IPA, is a major fault IMO), the beer itself seems awfully thin and fragile in body, in the aroma, and overall mouthfeel/drinkability.

Very unappealing -- almost akin to accidentally drinking rusty water -- that I don't plan on buying again. Of course, the problem is that I still have one more of these in my `fridge. Possible re-review in the future, but don't bet on it! ;)

9/15/03 Re-review: Broke out the second bottle for the hell of it, along with a chunk of Smoked Cheddar. This beer does improve with food, but not enough to rescue the rather middling-poor scores I gave this the first time. Adjusted the taste score to a still-paltry 5, just to even things out a little. As I said before, this is a very unappealing IPA, IMHO.
//TB

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 7

Medium brown color. Small head. A hoppy, malty IPA. Good flavor, not a lot if bitterness in the aftertaste. Hearty but mellow.

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

I don't like IPA, so bare with me. My girlfriend, Miss IPA, concures this is an average IPA. A hint of malt, and hops, but nothing to rave about hop flavor. The body is good, aroma fine, with an ok flavor, would drink it any day over a stale ale, but I drink mineral water over those every time. Not up to the standard of the high octane brews from Sonora, average IPA at best.

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

Having tried both the draught and bottled version again in the last few weeks, appears to have been "De-hopped", which is an irritation to this "Hop Head". Nice malty nose and a clean middle that ends in a mild hop somewhat dry finish. the carbonation is average, the head small, the lace adequate. A decent beer, but give me a "Big Daddy" or Stones anyday.

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

amber colour, no head, very hoppy, lemon/orange aroma, bitter