Judge’s Review: 88 Rating – Philly Special by Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant

Specialty IPA | Seasonal | United States

By Jim Koebel

Judges Rating: 88
Aroma: 21
Appearance: 6
Flavor: 35
Mouthfeel: 10
Overall Impression: 16

Philly Special by Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant is a New England IPA brewed by Iron Hill Brewing, judged as BJCP Category 21B. Classic West Coast hops make up the aroma of this beer and include pine, lemon and resin. There’s a note of passion fruit as well. The aroma overall is subdued. It pours with a low white head and a yellow-orange color. Its flavor is assertively bitter with a biting, spicy hop taste. High carbonation and full mouthfeel fill out this beer’s major characteristics. This NE IPA is tasty, but largely comes off as a standard issue American IPA.