Review of Anderson Valley Hop Ottin’ IPA

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Review of Anderson Valley Hop Ottin’ IPA

07 May

Tonight’s review is of another West Coast IPA. This brew comes from the Anderson Valley Brewing Company located in Boonville, California.

I have had a few Anderson Valley brews and they are all very solid, well made and good. The beer I want to profile tonight is their version of an Imperial Pale Ale called the Hop Ottin’.

The website, avbc.com, has plenty of information regarding all of the beers they brew and the description of the Hop Ottin’ is pretty alluring.

Hop Ottin’ IPA is as hoppy as they come. The name means “hard working hops,” in Boontling, and that tells it all. Generous additions of high-alpha Pacific Northwest hops added during a vigorous boil, plus traditional dry hopping, with whole hop cones, give this ale a delicious citrus aroma, and an intense hoppy bite. This IPA is a hop lover’s dream.

Hop Ottin’ IPA received a Silver Medal from the 2001 World Beer Championships, in the India Pale Ale category, and has several other medals as well.

As with all of our products, Hop Ottin’ IPA is never sterile filtered nor heat pasteurized, and should be stored in refrigeration.

Let’s see how it is.

This Anderson Valley effort comes in a 12 oz. bottle with an ABV of 7.0%

The brew had a very nice copper/amber color. Semi-clear with a creamy, off white head that had decent magnitude and adequate retention. The froth had a texture and hue that reminded me of eggnog. The cap dissipated to leave some spotty lacing clinging to the sides.

As I brought the glass to my nose, I found a very nice, solid aroma of grapefruit citrus combined with some cracker and a dry, bready malt. A caramel sweetness really starts to become the front runner as the beer settles and warms. Floral and piny notes add to the overall complexity as a good IPA should.

The taste revealed less of the grapefruit citrus and more of the cracker and dry, bready flavors. A good amount of bitterness is there, although it seems to be a touch relaxed, therefore the malt paces the development of flavor. The caramel glides through in a relaxed way to coax some of the sweetness out. A small tinge of alcohol graces the tone, however it does not distract and is only “felt” at the end of the drink in the form of a subtle warmth. A resinous undertone compliments the complexion and helps finish off the flavor profile.

A sturdy, medium mouthfeel is felt on the palate along with plenty of zest to warrant another sip. It’s a bit sticky, refreshing and crisp. It starts smooth, but gains a pleasant sharpness at the swallow. Again, the alcohol warmth sneaks in to make a statement.

This beer is satisfactory and genuine. Easy drinking and could be enjoyed at any point during the year regardless of the season. I could easily put a couple of these back and if someone offered up a bottle, I wouldn’t hesitate. It’s worth a try if you favor IPA’s. It might not be the best out there, but it sure needs to be reckoned with and not overlooked when beer shopping.

Thanks for reading and I hope you guys are enjoying some “good” beer tonight. Please leave a comment if you feel the need. Any suggestions or critiques are welcome.

Score: 4.0 out of 5
Grade: B+