Name: HopBrother
Brewer: HideOut Craft Brewery (Philippines)
Style: Specialty IPA: New England IPA
ABV: 7% ABV
Review Year: 2020
HideOut Craft Brewery head brewer and reigning A Half Baked JamBEERee People’s Beer Champion, Tatz Ang may have just released a magnum opus with the hoppy and assertive Hazy/ New England IPA, HopBrother.
Read More: A Half Baked JamBEERee: Round Two
STYLE GUIDELINES
This beer is being evaluated as a Specialty IPA: New England IPA (21B) in the context of the provisional guidelines of the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) for the said beer style. The most current version of the guidelines can be found on the BJCP website.
“Juicy or Hazy Pale Ale,” “Juicy or Hazy IPA,” and “Juicy or Hazy Double IPA” are beer styles from the 2020 Brewers Association (BA) Beer Style Guidelines. These styles are noted to represent what enthusiasts and brewers refer to as New England IPAs or Hazy IPAs.
Recommended Reading: ‘Juicy or Hazy’ Ales Debut in BA Beer Style Guide, Representing New England IPAs (CraftBeer.com, 2018)
TASTING NOTES
HopBrother is a hazy pale yellow-orange beer with a white-colored head. The aroma is slightly muted, of lemon peel and lime citrus. The flavor balance is prominently citrus (e.g., lemon peel and pineapples). Bitterness is distinct and hop-forward. Hints of spices reminiscent of black peppers and star anise are also noted. Meanwhile, a medium-low bready-like presence exists in the background. On the palate, HopBrother is medium-bodied with moderate carbonation and a somewhat dry mouthfeel. The aftertaste lingers with lemon peel and a low spice-like (e.g., black peppers and star anise) character.
THE VERDICT
HopBrother is a hop-forward and assertive New England IPA that resonates well with the “haze craze” aficionados in the Philippines. The flavor and palate are reminiscent of the earlier NEIPAs from the East Coast created before “milkshakes” and the “smoothies” became cults of their own.
The next versions could have more intense and defining aromas and maybe less of the spice-like characters. Regardless, very good.
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