Hop Nosh IPA

The great thing about sampling a lot of different beers is once in awhile you happen to stumble upon one that is truly exceptional. When this happens, every bad beer you have tried up until that point seems worth it. And every good beer you have had seems like it built your palate to appreciate this very moment. This was the feeling I had when I first tasted Hop Nosh IPA(formerly Hop Notch) from Uinta Brewing Company.

Brewed in Salt Lake City, Utah, Hop Nosh IPA pours a slightly hazy golden amber with a finger thick white head. The strong citrus aroma with a hint of malt sweetness seemed to jump right out of the glass promising a bold flavor. Upon tasting this medium-bodied IPA, I was immediately hit with the bitterness of grapefruit and the sweetness of pineapple. That sweetness fades abruptly into a dry, bitter finish that lingers until the next sip. And I found myself looking forward to the next sip until my foam-laced glass was empty.

Some beer drinkers do not like IPAs because they feel they are too bitter. And while this is a bitter beer, it still feels properly balanced. The pineapple sweetness, although brief seems to go a long way into balancing the bitterness of the hops. That being said I would’ve liked to have seen that pineapple flavor stick around a little longer into the finish, but that’s a very small gripe when enjoying a beer this well-crafted.

Hop Nosh IPA has an ABV of 7.3%. While it is slightly present in the dry finish, it is mostly hidden in the bold flavor which makes this beer deceptively delicious, and seem lighter than it really is. It might not be as light as a session IPA but it does feel lighter than other IPAs. Basically it’s a great beer to compliment the warm weather, but if you are going to enjoy a few be careful when you get up out of the lawn chair.

Overall I give Hop Nosh IPA a 4/5. This is a fantastic beer and a great example of an IPA.

Rating Scale:
1 - Repugnant and undrinkable
2 - Acceptable but forgettable
3 - Good, worth a purchase
4 - Excellent, a step above the norm
5 - Truly exceptional　

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Thanks for reading. Sláinte!