Susquehanna Brewing – Hopfive IPA Sampling

We were the first to bring you a peek at the label for the long awaited Susquehanna Brewing Co Hopfive IPA.  We were also honored to be the first to sample this new and unique IPA on the air when we did our WILK Friday BeerBuzz Holiday Show on Dec 1st….so it’s only fitting to follow up and sample some of the actual bottles of SBC Hopfive IPA.  I stopped over to visit Jaime, Mark & Guy at SBC, and they were nice enough to share some Hopfive IPA draft and bottles….so it’s time to sample.

Susquehanna Hopfive IPA is unique among IPAs, and for several reasons.  At the very beginning of the brew process, Hopfive IPA starts with SBC’s unique endosperm milling system.  As I’ve highlighted before, this process allows the husks to be separated and then added back as part of the mash in a more controlled manner.  Next up, SBC specifically avoided all of the hop varieties specifically known for their grapefruit or citrusy flavors…instead opting for Progress hops known for what Jaime describes as Sylvan or woodsy hop notes.  This beer is not trying to be a big citrusy west-coast IPA instead opting for a more drinkable and approachable IPA that has all of the flavor and hop of an IPA but with a more balanced approach to the malt/hop equation.

To add an even more unique flavor and mouthfeel to Hopfive, the scalding wort is run through their hopjack, imparting that last bit of hop character into the wort before chilling and fermenting.  A little know fact about Hopfive is that it is not pasteurized and is actually bottle and keg conditioned.  As Jaime describes it, fresh wort and yeast are added back to filtered IPA in the brite tank at which point they allow the carbonation level to rise naturally.  This contributes to a wonderful “feel” to the beer as you drink it.

In the end this is a very drinkable and approachable IPA that comes in at 55 IBU and under 6% ABV.  For my palate, it threads the needle nicely between a west-coast IPA and a more malty British IPA, but I actually hate to mention either.  This beer is unique and stands well on it’s own and Hopfive IPA is of course an IPA worthy of being called a “People Beer for Beer People.”
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