The Hop Concept Tropical & Juicy IPA

Beer Name: Tropical and Juicy IPA
Brewery: The Hop Concept and Port Brewing Co. (San Marcos, CA)
ABV: 8.5%
How sold: 22 oz bottles; on draft
Where bought: Craft Shack (San Diego, CA)  ****bought online
Price: $6.99 for 22 oz. bottle

Date Bought: December 6, 2016
Date Received: December 9, 2016
Date Opened: December 12, 2016
When brewed/released? Seasonal beer. Part of its "Hop Freshener" series. Available in November.

What's on the Bottle: "Our Hop Freshener series simplifies your choice of which beer to enjoy right now. Just read the name and you'll know exactly what to expect. After all, those dank and piney notes you enjoy so much? That's really just your nose doing its job, and proof you should trust your senses.

Each season, we release a limited edition using different aromatic and flavorful hop combinations to bring out a specific character. Four IPAs, each available just once a year, and all crafted by The Hop Concept, the same team of lifelong brewers behind Port Brewing Company. It's that simple. Honest, hoppy beers, from the people who know how to make them. So slow down, inhale, and drink fresh."

What's on the Website: "Aromas of floral citrus and mango dominate this release. While the flavor leads with a burst of bright papaya, pineapple and tangerine, and finishes with hints of spice from the hops and a clean, sweet malt undertone." Read more here!

Where distributed: Unknown, but can at least be found in California.

REVIEW:

Appearance (5%): Poured clear golden into a pint glass. Frothy off-white head and wonderful lacing on the glass. 4.5/5

Smell (25%): Tropical and juicy, as advertised. Papaya, grapefruit, passion fruit, tangerine, and orange. 4.75/5

Taste (40%): Hop-forward and slightly dank to start, then an intense eruption of grapefruit, papaya, tangerine, and other tropical flavors. Bitterness kept somewhat in check. Extremely dangerous. This is the type of experience I want in an IPA. Magically delicious. 5/5

Mouthfeel (10%): Medium-bodied, some carbonation. Juicy, no trace of a dry tongue for me. 4.75/5

Overall (20%): A world-class IPA. The Hop Concept focuses on four seasonal IPAs, and this is the autumn/winter edition. After scanning their other three IPAs, this may very well be my favorite due to the grapefruit juice and juicy features that this beer brings to the table. Tropical and Juicy IPA is what I generally look for in an IPA, and if this were a year-round beer, many bottles would be found in my fridge. I'd gladly pay $6.99 and shipping for this again. 5/5

Final Weighted Rating: 4.888/5