Beer of the Weekend #901: Hopzeit Autumn IPA
It is still autumn despite the unseasonably cold temperatures and dusting of snow we received Thursday night, so the beer of the weekend—Hopzeit Autumn IPA, brewed by the Deschutes Brewery of Bend, Oregon—is still in season.
The color is medium honey amber. A finger of bubbly, dense, beige-colored head dissipates slowly and unevenly, leaving foam stuck to the glass as it settles. It’s kind of like a “high-foam” mark.
The aroma is mostly malty and sweet. It smells a lot like Scotch ale with scents of caramel, molasses, and cherry licorice. It also has an intriguing bouquet of spice, which is much more prominent when drinking out of a pint glass (I used my Becker glass for the first beer).
The spice is very noticeable in the flavor, though, dominating each sip and lingering on the taste buds and tonsils. The spice is part arboreal and part festive; it’s hard to pin down exactly, but I get notes of pine and peppermint. The malt is noticeable underneath the spice with flavors of caramel, light molasses, toasted malt, and fruit. Overall, this is a spice bomb! It reminds me a lot of a winter warmer and is akin to Winterhook. Honey is also present. The higher-than-average ABV is noticeable and warming but does not distract from the other flavors. Paired with the honey, it provides a Hot Toddy character.
Fun facts about Hopzeit Autumn IPA:
• Style: It’s a hybrid märzen and American IPA.
• Price: $9.99 for a six-pack of 12-ounce bottles at the New Pioneer Food Co-op in Iowa City.
• Alcohol content: 7 percent ABV.
• IBU: 60.
• Calories: 230 per 12-ounce bottle. This is not an estimate but a (hopefully) precise number provided on the beer’s webpage.
• Hopzeit Autumn IPA is available from August to October—though some of it lingers longer on beer shelves obviously.
• Here’s the description on the beer’s webpage:
The Quiet Man’s grade: B+.
The color is medium honey amber. A finger of bubbly, dense, beige-colored head dissipates slowly and unevenly, leaving foam stuck to the glass as it settles. It’s kind of like a “high-foam” mark.
The aroma is mostly malty and sweet. It smells a lot like Scotch ale with scents of caramel, molasses, and cherry licorice. It also has an intriguing bouquet of spice, which is much more prominent when drinking out of a pint glass (I used my Becker glass for the first beer).
The spice is very noticeable in the flavor, though, dominating each sip and lingering on the taste buds and tonsils. The spice is part arboreal and part festive; it’s hard to pin down exactly, but I get notes of pine and peppermint. The malt is noticeable underneath the spice with flavors of caramel, light molasses, toasted malt, and fruit. Overall, this is a spice bomb! It reminds me a lot of a winter warmer and is akin to Winterhook. Honey is also present. The higher-than-average ABV is noticeable and warming but does not distract from the other flavors. Paired with the honey, it provides a Hot Toddy character.
Fun facts about Hopzeit Autumn IPA:
• Style: It’s a hybrid märzen and American IPA.
• Price: $9.99 for a six-pack of 12-ounce bottles at the New Pioneer Food Co-op in Iowa City.
• Alcohol content: 7 percent ABV.
• IBU: 60.
• Calories: 230 per 12-ounce bottle. This is not an estimate but a (hopefully) precise number provided on the beer’s webpage.
• Hopzeit Autumn IPA is available from August to October—though some of it lingers longer on beer shelves obviously.
• Here’s the description on the beer’s webpage:
If you’re looking for a traditional Oktoberfest, head to Munich. This modern ale inspired by the time-honored flavors of a Märzenbier combines classic malts with the latest hop varietals from Germany to deliver an herbal and balanced Autumn IPA that’s as at home in your backyard as the biergarten. Celebrate the season by sharing with friends, and skip the lederhosen- your friends will thank you.
The Quiet Man’s grade: B+.
