This Week On Tap: St. John Malt Bro’s Hoperidium IPA

I had heard and read aboutSt. John Malt Brothers a lot recently, but I had not sampled their offerings yet, so when I saw a bottle of Hoperidium on the shelf at the liquor store I grabbed it. I didn’t look up the beer because I don’t like to have preconceived notions about something before I try it. If I read or hear something about a beer it is more likely I could have a bias which is unfair to me and the beer. I may not, but it is my process. All I knew was the bottle said it was an Extensively Dry Hopped IPA. That was enough for this hophead!

I poured the dark amber liquid into a 10 oz snifter to drink. I tried it right away and determined it was too cold. If the “Mountains are Blue” on your craft beer, give it a minute to warm up and try it again. The change in flavors and aromas a beer goes through as it warms up always amazes me. By letting Hoperidium warm up I was able to get more of the malt in the nose, which was a deceiving. The hops where there but the malt was prominent. On the tongue it is nearly all hops from front to back. Right in the middle there is a malty sweetness that tries to balance this beer, but it is quickly taken over by a grapefruit zest type of bitterness that lingers on the back of the tongue. This made me wish I had bought more!