Holy Hops! You better like bitter beer if you are going to sip this one. I knew this beer would be hoppy as the label says, “A complex malt and hop theme park in your mouth” but I didn’t know it would that hoppy. Then again, I shouldn’t be surprised because the name of the beer comes from the Humulus Lupulus plant where hops come from.

The smell was very nice with a hint of citrus – mostly grapefruit. You can smell the abundance of hops but it is not unbalanced or overwhelming. I was disappointed at first that none of that come through in the taste. I loved the hops but that is about all I tasted the first few sips. As I continued to drink this beer, it really grew on me as more of the citrus flavors came through. My wife took a sip and said, “It’s like bitter but citrus.” A good summery if you ask me. This beer goes down easy but I would encourage you to take your time to allow all the flavors to come out. The finish is very dry and the bitterness lingers on your tongue.

I’m a big fan of IPAs but this one wasn’t very unique. It was a good beer but there are better IPAs out there. Short’s Brewing Co. beers are not available out of the state of Michigan but if you come for a visit to the Mitten State, you would enjoy this beer if hops are your top criteria for choosing beer.

ABV: 6.5%

Grade: B+