Hop 15

Port Brewing Co.
San Marcos, CA

Available: CA, WA, CO, AZ, PA, MA, IL

The beer won a silver medal at the GABF in 2003 and 2005. It was the Alpha King winner in 2004 and 2008

ABV: 10.5
ABW: 8.36
Color: 15
Bitterness: 75
Original gravity: 1088

Handsome spun golden palette with slight amber highlights. Bright head dissipates quickly. Lovely nose of grapefruit, honeydew melon and asparagus. Omnipresent bitter hop flavor on the palate overwhelms proving the adage: more is not necessarily better! A rich malt character on the back of the tongue is slightly redeeming. Hoppy aftertaste lasts forever and ever! Too bitter for most dishes, we enjoyed it with spicy vegetarian couscous and fiery harissa.
- Charles Finkel

This beer fits the style called “HopAss Ale.” Golden-hued and hop-hazed. Citrus hop aroma of Cascade and/or its kin, backed with ballsy malt aroma (that’s “ballsy” as in ”round ball” for the censors). Huge sweet malt is subdued by an unmerciful hop bomb of flavor and bitterness. All is okay in mellow-land; any perceived aggression is quietly subdued at 10 percent ABV, one sip at a time. Some say hops and salt don’t mix, but I’m craving good blue or stilton cheese to accompany my digressing attitude. Thanks for the experience, Port!
- Charlie Papazian

Charles Finkel
Founder of Merchant du Vin and the Pike Brewing Co., Charles Finkel is a pioneer in the marketing of craft beers in America.

Charlie Papazian
Author of the New Complete Joy of Homebrewing, founder of the Great American Beer Festival and a Beer Examiner at www.examiner.com, Papazian is a leading voice in beer and brewing.

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