He’Brew Hop Manna
Shmaltz Brewing, makers of the He’Brew brand of beers, is out with a new year-round release in the form of Hop Manna. This IPA is brewed with five varieties of malt (Specialty 2-Row, Wheat, Munich, Vienna and CaraMunich 40) as well as six hop varieties in the form of Warrior, Cascade, Citra, Amarillo, Crystal and Centennial. But that’s not all. The brew is further dry-hopped with more Centennial, Cascade and Citra. The result is a biting 65 IBUs 6.8% ABV.
If you’re in the mood for a solid bit of astringency or if you feel like punishing your palate a bit with a healthy dose of piny, citrusy hops, then Hop Manna is the beer for you. At it’s moderate alcohol level, it doesn’t hit quite like some of the more potent Imperial/Double IPAs, but still packs a solid hop presence all the same.
Appearance
Hop Manna pours a rich, golden amber in color with a decent amount of white foam capping it off.
Aroma
Loads of pine resin and citrusy grapefruit dominate the floral nose as hints of toasted bread, orange peel and lemon are also in the mix. Due to the amount of pine character, the nose has an earthy quality.
Taste
While there’s a good amount of tropical fruit citrus in the nose, it takes a back seat to the pine component of the hops. There’s still plenty of grapefruit in the mix, but I pick up a good deal more pine resin than fruit in a layered hop profile. The astringent bitterness is fairly aggressive and sticks with you for a bit in the finish. There’s also a touch of earthy honey in the tail end, as well. The beer is medium bodied and crisp on the palate.
Overall
Hop Manna isn’t for everyone. It’s an aggressively hopped beer that packs a palate biting punch. Even if you are fan of the amped up hoppy IPAs, this one still packs a more astringent bitterness than most that still may not be for you. But if you’re up for a solid helping of grapefruit and pine resin, then this one’s for you. I enjoyed it thoroughly and found it both biting and refreshing.
Rating: 3.75/5
This is a review of a promotional sample received from the brewery.