Drake's Brewing Hopocalypse (White Label)

Beer Name: Hopocalypse (White Label)
Brewery: Drake's Brewing Co. (San Leandro, CA)
ABV: 8.4% or 9.0% (two different numbers on the bottle)
How sold: 22 oz bottles; on draft
Where bought: Belmont Station (Portland, OR)
Price: $9.35 for 22 oz bottle

Date Bottled: February 3, 2017
Date Purchased: March 11, 2017
Date Opened: March 30, 2017
IBU: 83
When brewed? Limited-time beer. Drake's says to enjoy within 60 days of bottling.

Says 9% ABV here...

....but says 8.4% here

What's on the Bottle: "Representing Conquest and the Third Horsemen of the Hopocalypse, White Label is a triumphant Double IPA is brewed with American wheat malt and massive additions of hops spanning three continents. Hops include New Zealand Motueka, German Hallertau Blanc and US Amarillo. Unfiltered, juicy and distinctly aromatic, White Label heralds notes of lemon zest, stonefruit and sauvignon blanc grapes.

"This beer should be refrigerated at all times and is best consumed within 60 days of bottling. Enjoy as freshly as possible and DO NOT AGE."

Where distributed: Drake's Brewing ships to select states. It can at least be found on the West Coast. Check to see if Drake's ships your area!

REVIEW:

Appearance (5%): Poured hazy light golden into a pint glass. Unfiltered. Frothy white head, good lacing on the glass. Sediment collects at the bottom of the bottle, so the final pour will have a lot of it. 4.5/5

Smell (25%): Lots of tropical passion fruit, grapefruit, stone fruit, and lemon. Very inviting. 4.75/5

Taste (40%): Follows the nose almost exactly to start. Drinks easier than Hopocalypse Green Label, but the flavor seems more abruptly cut off on this one. Also getting a bit more octane on this beer than the Green Label, despite a lower ABV. 4.25/5

Mouthfeel (10%): Medium-bodied, good carbonation. Juicy, almost no dry tongue. More of a lemony slight bitterness lingering on the tongue. 4.5/5

Overall (20%): An excellent Double IPA. As I figured, the White Label had the virtually impossible task of even remotely living up to the Green Label's expectations. While the White was still very good - and the more lemony kick provided a wonderful refreshing kick to the experience - the more abrupt end on the flavor seemingly sealed its fate. I don't know if they meant 8.4% or 9% ABV, but the drinking experience leans toward the former number. Pretty obvious that I'm preferring the Green Label here, but this is still one that deserves an IPA fan's attention. 4.25/5

Final Weighted Rating: 4.413/5