Hoptologist

Knee Deep Brewing Co.

Lincoln, CA

Hoptologist is a double India pale ale brewed with a blend of malts from Canada, Germany, Chile and the United States, and hopped with Cascade, Citra, Columbus, Magnum and Hersbrucker hops.

ABV: 9

ABW: 7.2

COLOR: 6.7

BITTERNESS: 102

ORIGINAL GRAVITY: 1079

AVAILABLE: AZ, CA, NV

IT’S ALIVE! A gripping brew of strength and flavor. This double IPA delivers a near-full spectrum of hop flavors, from pine and resin to citrus and tropical fruit,  spice and floral. Big and chewy, it’s an ale that is actually quite refreshing despite its boozy backbone. And by the way, I do love all the clever play-on-words hoppy beer names that brewers are coming up with—this was no exception—and this particular label made me smile.
- John Holl

Apparently what Knee Deep Brewing didn’t spend on designing the label of this bronze-hued ale they did spent on hops to put in it, giving it a positively heady aroma that mixes spicy spruce, limoncello, overripe and dried berries, cooked caramel and alcohol. Yet for all the apparent hoppiness, it hits the palate with plentiful rich, darkly fruity malt before allowing the hop bitterness to slowly rise to the surface, ultimately finishing in a satisfying crescendo of tongue-tingling hops and booze. A bold yet curiously nuanced brew.
- Stephen Beaumont

John Holl
John is the editor of All About Beer Magazine, the host of The Beer Briefing on iHeart Radio, and the author of three books, including The American Craft Beer Cookbook. Find him on Twitter @John_Holl.

Stephen Beaumont
Co-author of both The World Atlas of Beer and The Pocket Beer Guide (with Tim Webb), Stephen travels the world sampling beer, hosting dinners and tastings, and eating too much airport food.