Hoppy Xmas is a festive IPA and it's very lively so it took me a couple of pours to fit it all in my 330ml glass. It pours a slightly hazy golden yellow with a tight, thick, robust off-white head that lasts and laces.
The aroma is deliciously fruity with notes of lemon, orange and tropical fruit as well as the expected blast of hops. It tastes like it smells with a lovely blend of citrus and tropical fruits and hops that give it a lovely dry/bitter finish. The pineapple and papaya flavours add a note of sweetness that takes the pithy bitter edge off the citrus.
It has a good medium body and it’s very well carbonated, as you can see from the head, but the bubbles aren't harsh and they give the tongue a nice tickling.
I don't think there's anything particularly festive about it apart from the name, but it's a lovely IPA that's just the right level of bitterness for me. Ale Be Seeing You again!
Brewed by BrewDog, Ellon, Aberdeenshire
6% ABVMy rating: