Southampton Publick House - Southampton IPA

Pours golden with a slight bit of copper coloring, head was one finger that stuck around quite a while and leaves ample lacing. Smell is initially yeasts and cakey aromas, followed by some citrus and banana notes. Tastes cakey, with the banana following, some citrus and pine notes. Big feel with light carbonation, oiliness on the finish. Very drinkable, very enjoyable, nice balance.

Rating: Better

ABV: 6.5%

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company - Anniversary Ale (2007-2009)

Darker in color than some IPA's, pours a copper/golden/amber color with ample tan head of about 3 fingers, laces nicely on my snifter. Faint notes of pine on the nose, not overly aromatic. Taste is again pine, with some malty presence following, almost caramel. Feel is crisp on the front and oily on the finish. Nice sessionable beer, not super bold on the aromas or the flavors, but enough to keep it good.

Rating: Good

ABV: 5.9%

Bear Republic Brewing Co. - Racer 5 India Pale Ale

Poured a hazy(bottle conditioned) golden color, with little head, and not any retention past about a second. Great aromas of hops, specifically citrus and pine did not notice a strong malt presence. Taste is crisp pine notes, with grapefruit finish. Crisp feel, little carbonation, some oiliness. Enjoyable, and very drinkable. Nothing keeping me from downing a sixer of these.

Rating: Best

ABV: 7.0%

Lagunitas Brewing Company - 2009 Correction Ale

Pours a golden, slightly amber clear, with an ample head that dissipates slowly to a nice off white crown. Aromas of pine, florals and grapefruit hardly a hint of alcohol. Taste has crisp pine notes with some florals on the finish. Feel is tight, and light with strong carbonation that gives way to the oiliness on the finish. Overall bold, but not overpowering, strong and flavorful.

Rating: Better

ABV: 6.33%

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. - Harvest Wet Hop Ale

Initial appearance is a deep amber copper color, with a nice "glow". Ample thick tan head that dissipates to a nice crown. Smell has nice pine and pineapple notes with some alcohol and malts creeping in on the back end. Taste has crisp pine flavors with gentle sugar sweetness on the back. Light oily feel, with crisp light carbonation, nice warming from the alcohol. Greatly drinkable, could easily drink 3 or 4 not overpowering in any aspect but nicely flavorful in most.

Rating: Better

ABV: 6.7%

Breckenridge Brewery - Lucky U IPA

On tap at Breckenridge Oktoberfest...pours a nice deep copper color with ample head. Smell oozes pine on the nose, crisp and bitter. Taste has great pine crispness and quite dry and bitter. Good feel, really light on the carbonation, some oiliness on the finish, light aftertaste. Nice beer very drinkable and enjoyable, could have kept going on this all day....

Rating: Better

ABV: 6.2%

Bear Republic Brewing Company - Hop Rod Rye

Pours a deep dark amber color with slightly off white head. Initial malts note followed by dry crisp smell of hops. Definitely hoppy on the front, coffee notes in the finish. Feel is light, lazy carbonation some oiliness. Good beer, medium drinkability due to ABV.

Rating: Better

ABV: 8.0%

Alaskan Brewing Co. - Alaskan IPA

Pours an orangish copper color without the "glow" I associate with the best ipas, two finger head that laces nicely. Smell is rather yeasty intially with some grapefruity citrus notes following. Taste is much like the smell, with a yeastiness and a dryness to the flavorings, some pine and citrus mixed in. Feel is dry, medium bodied, with generous carbonation. Overall an average abv and decent taste make it drinkable.

As a fan of most of the Alaskan offerings this left me somewhat disappointed.

Rating: Good

ABV: 6.2%

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company - Southern Hemisphere Harvest Fresh Hop Ale

Pours a deep copper color with an off-white two finger head. Smell is not a powerful aroma, some piney and alcohol notes initially with some slight floral notes following. Not an overpoweringly hoppy beer, piney notes initially with what seems to be a grapefruity finish. Great feel, some slight oilyness with a powerful but light carbonation. Very enjoyable and drinkable beer, good taste, feel and moderate ABV.

Rating: Better

ABV: 6.7%

Green Flash Brewing Company - West Coast IPA

Pours a gentle golden/copper color with a white head. Smell is very strong pine notes initially then some more floral notes that follow. Taste is very bold hop flavors, pine followed by floral notes. Nice light tight carbonation with ample all the way through even on a slow drink. Good, the only thing keeping this from being an all night beer is the ABV.

Rating: Better

ABV: 7.3%

Ska Brewing Company - Modus Hoperandi

Poured nice clear copper color, one finger off white head. Smell notes of pine, definite bitterness, some malty hints on the tail end. Smell more aggressive than taste, though similar. Hops present piney tastes, with the aftertaste presenting the malts. Carbonation is light, but tight small bubble feel on the tongue. Good flavor, enjoyable and not killer amount of alcohol all lead to a very drinkable beer.

This is one I really miss after my move from Colorado to Alabama. Will be keeping an eye out for it whenever possible.

Rating: Best

ABV: 6.8%

Terrapin Brewing Company - So Fresh & So Green, Green

Poured from the bottle into a pint glass a nice deep orange color. Good citrus notes on the nose, some sweetness present. Taste is balanced with an initial tinge of hoppy citrus bitterness. Feels amply carbonated with some hop oil and a medium body. Overall a good representation of an IPA with a fresh hop flavor.

Rating: Better

ABV:6.6%

Victory Brewing Company - HopDevil Ale

Pours deeper color than some IPA's, on the darker side of copper with an of white head. Smells on the drier side with piney tones and bitterness. Very crisp with some dryness, piney flavors with citrus notes on the back end. Feel carbonation on the lighter side with definite crispness. Very sessionable in my opinion, I could put away a few of these easily. Overall a good offering in the style.

Rating: Better

ABV: 6.7%

Harpoon Brewery - Harpoon IPA

Poured from the bottle into a snifter with a nice amber-golden color and a white head that dissipates quickly. Little lacing. Smell is floral with a hint of citrus. Taste is more of the floral notes, balance is nice. Feel is smooth and medium bodied with a nice, oily finish. Overall a good beer and a tasty IPA.

Rating: Good

ABV: 5.9%

Good People Brewing - IPA

Tonights reviews are some of the enjoyable brews I have had to taste since moving to Alabama. These are some that are readily available in the Birmingham area, though not exclusive to to Alabama. With the new laws in place it should open up to a better selection of both local and regional beers. Enjoy.


Poured from the can into a snifter a cloudy orangish copper color with an off white head that lingered and laced nicely. Smell is more piney and floral with ample bitterness. Not so much on the citrus side in this one. Taste is similar with pine leading the charge of a pretty balanced taste. Feel has a good carbonation and body with a slightly dry finish. Overall a good IPA and a beer that has become one of my favorites from the area.

Rating: Better

ABV: 6.0%

SweetWater Brewing Company - SweetWater IPA

Poured from the bottle into a snifter, color is a good coppery-golden hue with an off white head that laces nicely. Smell is primarily hops with citrus leading the way and some pine following. Taste is very similar with a little more pine. Feel is very nice and smooth, with an oily finish. Overall a great representation of an IPA and a very good beer.

Rating: Better

ABV: 6.7%

Cigar City Brewing - Jai Alai IPA

Poured from the bottle into a snifter a nice orangy copper color with ample offwhite head that laced nicely. Smell is of pine with some citrusy grapefruit background. Taste is citrusy with some caramel malt notes. Good smooth, medium bodied feel with a slightly bitter aftertaste. Overall a great IPA that has quickly become one of my new favorites.

Rating: Better

ABV: 7.5%

Russian River Brewing Company - Blind Pig IPA

Poured from the bottle a golden color with ample bright white head, dissipates quickly but laces nicely. Aroma is floral with citrus notes consistent with many India Pale Ale. Taste is very similar to smell, hoppy bitterness and citrus notes. Felt good with ample carbonation and an oily finish. Overall very drinkable and enjoyable.

Rating: Best

ABV: 6.1%

Port Brewing Company/Pizza Port - High Tide Fresh Hop IPA

Poured from the bottle into a snifter a nice clear golden brown with a slight orange tint and a white head of about two fingers that lingered nicely and left some slight lacing. Aroma was a pretty well balanced hop profile with some definite pine and citrus notes prevailing. Taste was much the same with the ctirus taking a little bit more of a forward position than in the aroma. Feel was smooth with some oiliness on the finish for this medium bodied India Pale Ale. Extremely drinkable and enjoyable, this will be making its way back into my beer fridge soon.

Rating: Good

ABV: 6.5%

Bells Brewery - Two Hearted Ale

Poured a nice orangish golden from the bottle into a tumbler. Head was ample, though it laced minimally. Smell was citrus in nature with a nice malt backbone. Taste was orangy and grapefruity with some bitterness. Malts played a strong part. Feel was average with a nice crispness. Overall a better than average Imperial Pale Ale.

Rating: Better

ABV: 7.1%