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

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

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By Charlie Sasse for Indiana On Tap

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! 


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The mouth feel is creamier than expected, which added to the great experience I had drinking Hoperidium. If I was to knit pick this beer I would say there could be slightly more hops in the nose. Since I have no idea how long the beer had sat on the shelf before I purchased it, that critique might not be accurate. 

My experience with Hoperidium will cause me to keep my eye out for more St. John Malt Brothers’ offerings to try. Maybe I just need to schedule a trip to NW Indiana to visit all of the new breweries and stop in at the some old favorites as well. Maybe there is something in the water they are using to brew causing everyone to brew such great beer!  Or maybe it is as simple as Indiana is a great craft beer state!

Keep drinking great beer and talking about it, I know I will!



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