Judge’s Review: 85 Rating – Hop Lei IPA by Aloha Beer Co.

American IPA | Year-Round | USA

By Randy Scorby

Judges Rating: 85.00
Aroma: 22.00
Appearance: 6.00
Flavor: 34.00
Mouthfeel: 8.00
Overall Impression: 15.00

Hop Lei IPA, from Aloha Beer Company, is being evaluated as an American IPA (Category 21A) from the 2021 BJCP Style Guidelines.
Hop Lei IPA pours bright, medium gold color with a very light haze, and the long lasting creamy white head forms a low, thick stand of fine bubbles on the beer. The beer has a very inviting appearance. The aroma features a prominent citrus and tropical fruit hop aroma, with orange zest and light ripe pineapple. There is a light background note of bready malt character with a light hit of cookie dough. Very light floral alcohol and light, buttery diacetyl emerge as the beer warms and vents. No fermentation esters are noted behind the hop character.
The flavor greets your with moderate citrus and tropical fruit hop character of fresh mango, with a hit of fresh orange. The hops are followed by a moderate bready maltiness that tends to balance out the hop flavor. Light buttery diacetyl and very high hop bitterness emerge mid-palate, with the hop bitterness turning aggressive, growing harsh and lingering through the fairly dry finish. The bitterness is strong enough to dominate the palate. No fermentation esters are noted in the flavor. The medium body, light creaminess on the palate, and moderate carbonation offer structure to the beer. A very light alcohol warming rounds out the profile.
This is an American IPA with a lot of promise, but the hop bitterness tends to dominate this beer with a harshness that lingers through the finish into the aftertaste. The hop flavor needs to be more in the forefront and is overshadowed by the balancing malt character and light buttery diacetyl. A more fresh and bright hop flavor with smooth bitterness would make this beer shine.