Hop JuJu By Fat Head’s Brewery
As we head out of winter, we may be tempted to look forward to spring seasonal craft beer offerings. But don’t get ahead of yourself, late winter means Imperial / Double IPA release from many breweries. Once that you should put on your list to pick up is Fat Head’s Hop JuJu.
While there are a lot our Imperial IPAs to choose from; I think this is one that you’ve got to get your hands on. But act quickly as it often sells out in just a matter of days of hitting store shelves.
This award winning beer is the pride of Northern Ohio craft beer fans and many will buy cases of it to ensure they get their fill while they can.
Review Of Fat Head’s Hop JuJu
Imperial (aka Double) IPAs are historically my favorite style of beer. While Sam Adam’s Cherry Wheat was my gateway craft beer, I quickly moved to this big, powerful, hoppy, malty sweet flavor of Double IPAs.
And I rarely pass up the opportunity to drink one. But there are also a ton of them out so many get lost in the mix. And last year, I realized I had never tried Hop JuJu.
No real reason . . . it just never happened. I’m glad I fixed that last year and am positive I’ll be seeking it out each and every year from this point on.
Hop JuJu is 9% ABV and 100 IBUs. It can be found in 4 packs of cans for around $12 and is released in mid to late February of each year.
Here is how Fat Head’s describes Hop JuJu:
A supernatural beer with a powerhouse of hops creating aromas and flavors of citrus, pine and tropical fruit with a juicy resiny hop finish. Special thanks to our loyal fans for the cult-like following.
It’s worth noting that this is an award winning beer:
- Gold – World Beer Cup 2016
- Bronze – Great American Beer Festival 2016
- Gold – Great American Beer Festival 2015
- Gold- Great American Beer Festival 2013
But the real proof in how great this beer is comes from the passion that so many have for it. Many in Ohio list this as their favorite beer – that’s high praise.
Initial Thoughts
Since I’ve had so many Double IPAs, there are certain elements that I am looking for in this style. But the flavor is heavily impacted by the hops the brewery decides to use. This makes each one a new adventure.
On top of that, a few friends had really hyped this beer up to me for a while so my expectations were really high.
It was very cold when I pulled it from my refrigerator and poured it into a snifter glass. The color was a yellowish-orange that was nearly opaque once in the glass.
It produced little to no head at all. The aroma was big, piney, citrus and a touch dank.
Tasting Notes
The first sip was a little too cold but that didn’t take away from the onslaught of hops.
It it all hops up front as you get a lot of earthy, resin hop flavor followed by some citrus flavors. It ends sweet as the malt profile asserts itself.
The body is much thicker, stickier than other Double IPAs. It has a texture to it that seems to coat the tongue and make the flavor linger a little bit longer than other beers.
I don’t get a biting bitterness but rather a rounded, strong hop flavor throughout.
Final Thoughts
I waited way too long to try Fat Head’s Hop JuJu. It’s worthy of the hype, awards and cult-like obsession that many have over it.
And considering the ABV and heavy body, it isn’t a filling beer. While this can be deceiving and a little dangerous, you can have a few without feeling like you’ve over done it.
Conculsion
Fat Head’s Hop JuJu is without a doubt one of the better Imperial/Double IPAs I’ve had. And that’s saying a lot because it’s a style I intentionally seek out.
It’s a good thing that I finally got around to trying it but it makes me wonder how many other beers are out there that I’ve never taken the time to try.
Is there a well-known beer that you’ve never tried but is always on your list? Shoot me a message and let me know which beer it is and why you haven’t tried it yet.