A few years ago, I visited Asheville, North Carolina and stopped in at a Catawba Brewing Pub. There are a few of these, and they’re sort of like a tied house from England. That’s a pub owned by a brewery that features that brewery’s beers. Anyway, I had several beers there from Catawba and enjoyed them.

Last year, Catawba began selling its beer in Georgia, which I was happy to see. I’ve picked some up in cans from time to time, but tonight at Taco Mac I came across the first draft Catawba beer I’ve seen in Georgia: Hopness Monster India Pale Ale.

Catawba has this to say about Hopness Monster India Pale Ale:

Our Blue Ridge Mountains harbor their own Nessie: Hoppius Heddius, The HOPness Monster. She lurks in the cold, fresh waters of Western North Carolina, rising to terrorize poor, hop-shy souls. As the locals say, “Bless their hearts, they don’t know any better.” With an abundance of fresh Citra and Cascade, this IPA boasts a big biting hop profile with notes of tropical fruit, juicy citrus, and pine. Embrace her beastly charms!

Ingredients from the website:

Hops: Citra / Cascade

Malt: 2 Row Pale / Caramalt / Flaked Wheat

Catawba Hopness Monster India Pale Ale has an alcohol content of 6.5% by volume with 60 IBUs. I paid $5.75 for a 23-ounce mug at Taco mac, and it runs $9.99 a six-pack at Total Wine.

My mug of Catawba Hopness Monster India Pale Ale arrived a beautiful orange amber color with a moderate sized head of creamy foam and a hearty passion fruit nose. Taking a sip, I got medium caramel malt, pineapple, passion fruit, grapefruit rind and pine, and a long dry bitter finish.

Quite tasty actually, a solid and complex IPA at a fair price.

 And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.

*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.

(B)=Bottled

(D)=Draft

(G)=Growler

 

 

 



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