Hoplanta

When I cracked my 355mL can of Hoplanta, it blew its top--beer explosion. No idea why, since I'd just taken it out of the fridge. Oh well. Once I got most of the beer in a glass, all was well.

Hoplanta comes from Atlanta, Georgia. It's brewed by Red Brick Brewing Co. An IPA, it's a swampy brown-orange brew that pours with an off-white head. At 6.8%, there is a bit of heft, but also some evidence of moderation. According to the can, it's brewed using eight varieties of hops, but these are unlisted.

With a sticky, resinous bouquet and considerable sweetness, Hoplanta was a blast to the olfactory sense. It's flavour proved almost as murky as its colour--dank and sweet, mostly, with lots of hops toward the back. The initial mouthfeel was oddly thin, but as bitterness entered the scene, it built rapidly into a lingering aftertaste.

Unfortunately, Hoplanta wasn't totally my cup of tea. In the world of IPAs, my favourites tend to be the ones that scream bitterly in a single direction: bright and citrusy; piney and crisp; resinous and gloomy. This one seemed to have too many cooks in the kitchen, leaving it a bit rudderless. Good strength, though, and certainly not a bad beer. Just a little busy.

Rating: 5.5 out of 10.