{"id":12481,"date":"2013-10-25T09:00:35","date_gmt":"2013-10-25T14:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.guysdrinkingbeer.com\/?p=12481"},"modified":"2021-08-31T08:57:17","modified_gmt":"2021-08-31T13:57:17","slug":"widmer-brothers-hopside-down","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.guysdrinkingbeer.com\/widmer-brothers-hopside-down\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Widmer Brothers Hopside Down India Style Pale Lager"},"content":{"rendered":"

Widmer Brothers says:<\/p>\n

We’re turning things deliciously upside down with this aggressively hopped, cold-fermented brew that brings together the clean, crisp finish of a lager with the hoppy aroma and character of an IPA. Hopside Down is our take on an India Pale Lager — or IPL. This second release in our Rotator IPA Series in 2013 offers a big floral hop aroma and a refreshing dry, mildly bitter finish perfect for the warmer summer months. Prost! to turning convention on its head.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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\nWidmer Brothers Hopside Down India Style Pale Lager<\/em>
\nAmerican Pale Lager, 6.7% ABV<\/em><\/p>\n

*This beer was provided by the brewer for the purpose of a review.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Did you know the India Pale Lager is a thing now?\u00a0Draft Magazine<\/a> published a top ten for the style recently, which was news to me because I couldn’t come close to naming 10 different IPL’s. In fact, I can only name two: Metropolitan’s one-off IPL<\/a> from a couple of years ago and this beer. Despite my lack of institutional knowledge on the IPL craze, they’re out there in the wild — ready to be consumed. Is this one worth your time?<\/p>\n

Before we get the skinny on this beer let’s break down the style. The idea is simple: brew a beer that has the clean, crisp finish of a lager with the hop presence of an IPA. And while some may think it’s gimmicky or perpetuates the over-abundance of hops<\/a> in beer today — I think it’s genius. Who hasn’t sipped a lager and wanted just a little<\/em> something more? Or perhaps there’s some who want their IPA’s to be a bit cleaner and less enamel scraping? If you fall into either camp then maybe an IPL would be right up your alley. And Widmer Brothers Hopside Down wouldn’t be a bad place to start.<\/p>\n

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\nThe Hopside Down pours out bright, vibrant and golden with a nice bit of fluffy white head that settles atop the beer leaving a decent amount of silk lacing in its wake as it recedes. The nose gives off aromas of crisp apples, honey, black pepper and a sharp bit of floral hops.<\/p>\n

On the palate the lager element is distinct and upfront with notes of basil, honey and orange peel. The IPA aspect brings up the rear with a pleasant amount of grassy hops that settle comfortably in the back of your throat — like sinking in to a bean bag chair — before finishing crisp and dry.<\/p>\n

There was nothing surprising about this beer. It was 100-percent as advertised. And while not overwhelming, it drank very well and quite easily. Besides, I doubt overwhelming is what you want in the style that I didn’t know was really<\/em> a style until now. Style-awareness aside, the Hopside Down blends the best of what a lager and an IPA have to offer.<\/p>\n