SKA Modus Hoperandi IPA

Brewed By: SKA Brewing in Durango, Colorado

Purchased: Single CAN (12oz) from SKA mix pack bought at Binny's in IL; 2011

Style/ABV: India Pale Ale (IPA), 6.8%

 

So here we are...

 

Despite two disappointing brews in SKA Brewing's mix pack, I have pretty high hopes for their Modus Hoperandi IPA. I have high hopes for two simple reasons: First, I've already had this beer three times now. It was good. Second, SKA's Euphoria (an American Pale Ale) was "da bomb." 

At this point we all are familiar with what an IPA is, and I've already introduced and talked up SKA brewing in my review of their True Blonde Ale. So with further ado, let's dive in. 

This beer is on the darker spectrum of IPAs, but still pours about what you would expect. This beer is filtered, transparent, and pours with a dark copper-brown body that has moderate-low carbonation. There is a nice one-finger head that is slightly off white. The head isn't super thick or creamy, and has the consistency of dish soap bubbles. I'll report back on lacing at the end.

Finally, we have a canned SKA beer from this mix pack that has a serious personality. This beer is off the charts aromatic, with huge hop notes punching the air. I'm smelling huge pine notes, oranges, sweet tangerine, and grapefruit (the citrus trio; niiiiice), subtle hints of melon and bubblegum, and a nice earthy component almost approaching hemp or tobacco. This is a mean nose; this is a nose with attitude; this is a ska nose.

SKA Modus Hoperandi IPA

This beer advertises 65 IBUs, or right about what you want for an IPA. I'm happy to report this beer is quite bitter, but in a good way. And there is malt coming along for the ride. This tastes really assertive and nice, so let's break it down. For starters, I'm picking up a really nice orange-malt flavor. It's like the orange and the malt are tangoing it out. I'm getting an orange liquor note, which is accompanied by an almost syrupy or resiny mouthfeel. There is quite a bit of pine and floral flavors in here, as well as a healthy amount of caramel and sweet malts. I'm really impressed with how punchy, assertive, and fresh this beer tastes. This is quite the lively IPA. In fact, some of the pulls in the flavor almost lean towards Double IPA status, with huge sweet tangerine notes coming and going. The nose of this also reminds me of some Double IPAs.

For me, this is a medium to full-bodied beer. This is not cloying, but the mouthfeel is quite thick and almost resiny or syrupy. There seems to be some alcohol in the body (and at almost 7% ABV it seems to be expected). The alcohol that is in the body actually helps cut through the syrupy/resiny body - and it also contributes towards intoxication - so I say cheers to that. This is fairly complex, if not approaching very complex. And this has great depth and is not remotely watery or thin. 

The front end features carbonation, big punchy hops, and sweet caramel malts. The middle rolls into more malt, surprisingly, and the back end dominates with more sweet hop notes and a bitter, drying finish. This is surprisingly drinkable, despite clocking in at near-7% and having such a thick complexion. Lastly, there is not a ton of lacing, but that could be due to the glass I am using...I may need to investigate this further. 

Rating: Above-Average

Score: 86%

 

I've had a lot of IPAs in my short beer-drinking career: and this is definitely one of the better ones. Hell, I'd wager that this might be the best available IPA in a can? I mean, how many IPAs are available in cans these days?

 

This is not just good, this is a beer taking the IPA style and dominating it. This has huge hop notes, and huge aromatics. More than once I think this beer pushed the aromas and flavors into Double IPA territory, and that is awesome! The big punchy hops are balanced near perfectly with the caramel-malt backbone, and there is enough alcohol and bitterness to cut through the slightly sticky and thick mouthfeel this beer has. 

This is redemption. The SKA Brewing mix pack would be a total wash without this beer. I still think the SKA Brewing mix pack is totally worth picking up, even though two of the three beers in it are not so great. The whole "craft beer in a can" gimmick is actually legitimately intriguing, and you also get a kick ass IPA to boot. 

Right now, I'm inclined to believe that SKA Brewing know how to craft a hop-forward ale. Both their Euphoria (Pale Ale) and Modus Hoperandi (IPA) are top-notch beers. I plan to hunt down some more of their beer in the future, but definitely check their Modus Hoperandi out, and definitely consider picking up their mix pack if you see it. You'll get a macro-equivalent Golden Ale, an average but astringent Bitter, and a kick ass IPA.