First off, thanks to my friends Keith and Cherish for the case of mixed New Glarus beers I received for my birthday – one of them being Hop Hearty, their IPA – and if I’m not mistaken, their only beer that boasts a “hearty” amount of hops.
BAM! Thank you New Glarus, I knew you could do it! An aroma of earthy, interesting hops – not the typical piney-citrusy grapefruit aroma we all talk about at the PHM. They say they dry hop this brew with Cascade and East Kent Goldings – I definitely feel the Goldings win out in this one, which, like I said, is different and refreshing. I love cascades, but I can get them in damn near any beer on the shelf and this change is welcome. Wow, I haven’t even written one thing about the taste of this beer and its half gone ☺.
Poured a burnt orange color with a fluffy head. Lots of tiny bubbles making their upward pilgrimage to the surface – a film that forms a faint layer on the top then transitions further upward to some intricate lacing all around the sites of the pint glass. I enjoy the whole package with this beer. The unique, hoppy aroma, the fuller body, and the crisp, slightly spicy finish. Carbonation is perfect, just enough to make you desire another sip, before you’ve hardly put down the last. The flavor of the beer is pretty plain, some caramel maltiness, balanced well by the bitter, hoppy finish. Nothing too remarkable- but very solid. Like many Midwesterners, its kind of a given that New Glarus makes good beer. Being a frequent drinker of IPA’s I’m happy to report that their Hop Hearty doesn’t disappoint. Not the best IPA I’ve had but @ $7.49/sixer this is a well crafted beer, with a unique , but not weird overall taste. Thanks once again for confirming what I already knew: you make consistently good beer. Worth crossing the IL border to get.
ABV: 6.1%
Grade: A-
Sidenote: called the brewery today and found out that they actually discontinued Hop Hearty for 2010, not sure if or when it will be back. That makes me sad. They said they are brewing a pale ale though, available March 15th. Nice.