Review of Breckenridge Small Batch 471 IPA
Posted By Ken Thursday, 28 January 2010 21:53
In the spirit of Zach returning to reviews, and because before his none had been posted for 2 months (I will blame the holidays, how's that?) I decided to get down a review of something I have wanted to review for awhile: Breckenridge 471 IPA. I got my first taste of this at Shallo's, a way cool bar on the southside of town (also reviewed under Bar Reviews), and was able to partake the last time we were there for an Upland event. This was my second Breckenridge selection ever, with the first being the Avalanche (review also coming soon). Read on and see how this one stacked up.
Ken's Review
Taste: A Breckenridge 471 IPA is like heaven in a glass (I had draft). While you would expect a beer like this to have a lot of hop taste to it, it is surprisingly smooth. There is a nice sweetness to the taste that is not overpowering at all. Combined with the hops, the taste of this is really hard to stop drinking. I found myself continuously reaching for my glass, as this is one that once you get a taste you just keep wanting more. A dangerous thing, as you'll read later.
Packaging: B- While some of Breckenridge's packaging is a little more detailed, the 471 is rather plain. Not much really needs to be said in the packaging, I suppose, and that does add to the surprisingly nice taste. However, I think it should "show off" a little more, as it is a higher-priced selection from them, and having a pretty plain dark bottle with "Small 471 Batch" being its primary labeling is not getting it done for me. But that isn't the most important part, so I won't hate too much in this area.
Value: B 471 is not cheap. It's not near cheap. But it's not "expensive" either. The draft I had, which was 2 of them, and I later found out, was $8.50 each. A sixer of this will run you in the vicinity of $18-$19. I'm not kidding. Why the good rating? If you are looking for a kick ass beer, and willing to drop a little extra coin to get it, then this is right up your alley. Not something I would buy often, but that makes the chance to drink it all the more enjoyable. And, with the alcohol content, you aren't missing anything in the price there, either.
Drunkeness: A Along with the price, I also found out after 2 of them and wondering why I felt like shit the next morning, 471 comes in at 9.2%. It is marketed as a double IPA, which I also didn't know at the time, which explains the high content. After a few Sierra Nevadas later than night, needless to say I had to trade in the morning coffee for some Gatorade. It's tough to do, but take caution with this one.
Overall: A This is hands-down one of the most enjoyable beers I have ever had in my life. The taste being the main factor; obviously pricing is not a highlight. If you are a fan of IPAs, you may or may not enjoy the lack of hoppiness in exchange for sweetness. And even if you don't like IPAs, you might be surprised to find you would like this one. Overall this beer is just kick ass!