Customer Reviews

Solid! Review by Ted Nugent

Rating

Great Stuff! I was going to give it a 4 star rating 2 weeks after bottling because it just didn’t have the hop punch I like in an IPA. I’m glad I waited another week to review because it was dramatically better after 3 weeks! The flavorful hops come out and the result is a very well balanced brew. Everyone I fed it to gave it rave reviews. Went 2 ½ weeks in the primary 2 ½ weeks in the secondary, dry hopped for 10 days. If you have the willpower, try not to drink it until 3 weeks later and you will not be disappointed. (Posted on 5/14/13)

"I'd choose this if I could pick one last beer in earth" Review by Benjamin

Rating

Quote from my father who typically sticks to drinking domestic lagers and Michelob Amber Bock. We LOVE this brew, and I can't wait to do it again. The aroma from this beer is as good as it gets. (Posted on 4/9/13)

Good brew Review by ben

Rating

This was a good brew. I look forward to brewing this again though new time I will try brewing it all grain. Let this one again the bottles for a month for the best flavor. (Posted on 4/1/13)

Great IPA (with some changes) Review by Casey

Rating

Brewed this a few months ago and dry hopped 2 oz. of Cascade to add a bit more citrus to the profile. This beer turned out very well and the blend of pine and citrus has been a big hit with the neighbors and my friends. Strongly recommend buying this kit! (Posted on 3/11/13)

great IPA Review by jeff

Rating

my first IPA and dry hopping and all went great! only did the dry hopping for one week, the flavor was great and the wife even likes it. (Posted on 3/3/13)

Great IPA Review by GW

Rating

I've been brewing Black IPA's and Porters this winter. Thought I'd try something lighter in anticipation of warmer weather. This is very good. Brewed as per the recipe, then 9 days in primary, 28 days in secondary with dry hopping the last 5 days. Bottled a week ago. Had to try it and just opened a bottle. Nice lacing, good head retention. Floral aroma with a nice dry, hoppy finish. Should improve with age. Everything I expected. I'll brew this again. (Posted on 2/28/13)

very good Review by Ben

Rating

Very pleased with the results. To me it was more like a pale ale than an ipa but a fantastic, very enjoyable ale none the less. Took it to my brew club where it also recieved flying colors. Excellent head retention and lacing. (Posted on 2/17/13)

Great First Brew Review by Ncorroy@gmail.com

Rating

This was my first-ever brew. The brew process was simple and easy to follow, and the results are delicious. I did 1 week in primary and 2 weeks in secondary with dry-hopping for the last 6 days. I doubled the dry hop to 2 ounces as I am a hophead. This is a very light-bodied IPA, so don't expect too much malt flavor. In an effort to develop my tastes for the brew process, I tasted this brew at every stage (brew day, racking to secondary, dry-hopping, racking to bottling). I also opened one beer every day starting on the 5th day after bottling. It started out flat and watery, but after a good week of bottle conditioning the final product is well-carbed, lots of head & lacing, and has a nice hoppy punch with a clean finish. Great beer! (Posted on 2/11/13)

Great all-around IPA Review by Jeremy

Rating

This a a pretty straight forward IPA... cant go wrong with this one! It has a medium to medium-heavy body that is balanced with the crisp citrus hop flavor and a floral and citrusy aroma. The sweetness and the bitterness battle back and forth ... ending palate is long but crisp. Imagine as if you added hops to a dreamsicle. Not exactly smooth, but I don't always want a smooth beer. (Posted on 2/2/13)

I'm impressed Review by David

Rating

I know there is always a bit of a "love your own" when it comes to homebrewing, but the Chinook IPA is definitely one that will be regular rotation in the kegerator. Really nice floral and citrus aroma, without being overwhelming. And the perfect amount of bitter that you'd expect from an IPA. If I wasn't a homebrewer, I'd definitely be looking for a similar IPA in the store. (Posted on 10/27/12)

Tasty and refreshing, my favorite thus far Review by Stephen

Rating

I'm a new home brewer. This was my third-ever batch. and it turned out incredibly well. A week in the primary, two weeks in the secondary, and ready to drink after six days. Super tasty, has a nice citrus vibe. Of the three I've brewed so far (Irish Red and Shining Star were the others) this is by far my favorite. A winner. (Posted on 10/12/12)

fabulous Review by jerry

Rating

I will be making this brew again. I got nothing but rave reviews from my friends. (Posted on 10/7/12)

Weak, lackluster Review by Mark

Rating

Had a little more than recommended water, but followed instructions and got a really lame, weak, 5% beer w/o much complexity to the flavor. Only bottled around 11 days ago; if flavor improves, I'll change rating if I can.

M (Posted on 9/17/12)

Weak, somewhat bland Review by Mark

Rating

I'm finding my first Chinook IPA beer very boring & would score it lower, but I likely had a little excess water (why can't they put gallon marks on ALL carboys?), and it's only been bottled around 10 days ago. If it improves, I'll change my review. (Posted on 9/17/12)

2nd Brew Review by BaileyCT

Rating

This was my 2nd batch. I bypassed the secondary fermentation and just added an extra week in the primary. In my opinion it came out perfect, though I entered it in a local contest and the reviews said 'not hoppy enough'. Another great recipe here at NB. (Posted on 8/15/12)

Sometimes simple is really good. Review by pjhalifax

Rating

This turned out very well. It's a nice break from the super-hopped recipes out there. I used some WLP001 I had on hand and followed a 2 week primary / 1 week dry hop plan. After a week in bottles the beer tasted great. Definitely some nice grapefruit/citrus notes coming through. (Posted on 7/30/12)

Best brew yet !! Review by CobiaTower

Rating

I've only been homebrewing for about a year and have brewed 5 extract brews so far. This is the best brew i've done so far and hands down one of the best IPA's i've ever had. Followed instructions that came with kit. Left in Primary for two weeks . Transfered to secondary for an additional two weeks dry hopped for 6 days before bottling. I did use store bought distilled water for this brew. Was fully carbonated in 6 days @ 65 degrees. This one will stay in my rotation !! Thanks northernbrewer (Posted on 7/29/12)

Easy, Simple Drinker Review by volrath99

Rating

A light malty beer with some hop touch. Best tasting after about 4 weeks in the bottle. The hop taste is barley noticeable but just enough to keep it from being to malty. Not an excellent beer but it works for any mood or time of year. (Posted on 7/25/12)

I stand corrected! Review by Chris

Rating

Correction for my previous post.... I let it age/condition in the keg for another 2 weeks and it now tastes like and IPA! Very impressed with this brew. Good job NB and sorry for being inpatient! (Posted on 6/26/12)

out standing kit Review by dan

Rating

added 2 oz simcoe in place of the last two chinnok additions then dry hopped with the replaced chinnok. very citrus grapefruit flavor and aroma. placing an order for a double batch now! (Posted on 6/19/12)

Mmmmm Review by William

Rating

Good IPA here.
This was the first batch I was proud to call my own.
Deliciously hoppy and a little bold if I say so myself.
Of course it's all relative to your taste but if your an IPA fan check this baby out! (Posted on 6/15/12)

East Brew for a Newby Review by cnelson9277

Rating

Over all this was a fun beer to brew. Im new to brewing.... I added 1 can of Apricot Puree to secondary, 4oz corn sugar at 10 mins, and a total of 4 oz of Citra ( 2 oz at flame out and 2 oz in the dry hop.) 2 weeks in primary with a 1000 ml starter and then 4 weeks in secondary.... Just kegged and carbed yesterday. 4 stars because the body is super light(almost watered down) for an IPA. Im used to west coast IPA's. But over all this was a fun brew and Im looking forward to my next 2 brew kits from NB. (Posted on 6/13/12)

this is a great beer! Review by wskee

Rating

Perfect balance of body and hops. Very drinkable and clean. This one sneaks under the rope and into IPA land only to hold it's own there. I am glad that I decided to brew this one, it was my 4th beer and by far the best! This is a beer that when brewed properly, will inspire you to grow your skills. (Posted on 5/22/12)

Fast carbonating!! Review by HopTop

Rating

This is an excellent IPA kit, great price and not too much waiting. Carbonated 6 days after bottling @ 68 degrees. Resinous and piney leaving excellent lacing on the glass. Dont see this one lasting too long, you might as well order 2 kits because you will be wishing you didn't share it with friends! (Posted on 5/17/12)

First timer perfection Review by drahodo

Rating

Brewed this a couple months ago as my first batch ever. Was absolutely amazed that my first time could turn out so well. And not just better than expected, but that it would end up being one of my favorite beers I've ever tasted. My beer-loving friends said it was fantastic and tasted like it could be bought in the craft beer section of the local beer/wine/liquor warehouse. I made a personal addition to the recipe and dissolved 1 lb. of orange blossom honey in 16 oz. of water then added it to the wort at flameout. The result was the perfect amount of slightly citrusy honey smell and taste; not too powerful, but just enough to be able to appreciate the honey. It also mellowed out some of the harshness of the Chinook hops. I'll probably add some Cascade hops to the recipe the next time I brew it for a little added citrusy bitterness to complement the malty finish. (Posted on 5/15/12)

Wow! Review by Rand

Rating

This was my 9th batch. Wow, this is great! This beer is so much better than the commercial beer I drank while brewing and bottling it. I can't believe it. This is what I was thinking of when I took up this hobby. Excellent! Tho only thing I did different from the instructions was to use a yeast starter. I made my own stir plate and it works perfectly! This is a blast! Ein prosit! Stolatch! Kompai! Cheers! my friends! (Posted on 5/9/12)

Awesome Review by Brian Hardin

Rating

After brewing beer for a year now, I look back at all the kits I brewed, and this has to be one of my favorites. Great hop flavor, really easy to drink and refreshing on a hot day. It didn't last long amongst our friends. I have another batch in process for the beginning of this summer. Can't wait to revisit this awesome beer! (Posted on 5/9/12)

Great IPA Review by Smetzger

Rating

This has become my go to beer to play with, oaked one batch and now I have an addition of smoked malt with the specialty grain in the fermentor. I know this one will turn out very tasty. Such a easy and versatile recipe to play with. I have brewed this 5 out of the last 9 batches, and I plan to keep it going at this rate as all my friends keep asking for it. (Posted on 5/3/12)

Will post more later... Review by william

Rating

Got my kit in the mail in a great amount of time. I was real excited about this one with all its great reviews and the price on it. opened it up and its missing my DME....ugh! i called up and guy said it was a mistake and are shipping me some right now. kinda wish they would give me something for the trouble but oh well. no questions asked sent and on its way. cant wait to get started. (Posted on 5/1/12)

My favorite Review by Bunkhouse Brewery

Rating

This is a must on tap always! My tast for hops n bitter, a really good IPA! (Posted on 4/26/12)

Three for Three, Thanks NB Review by Steve

Rating

This IPA is my third batch and it turned out great! Three weeks in the primary plus another week in the primary for dry hopping. Used a hop sack to help keep the beer clear. Had to try one 9 days after bottling. I was suprised at how much I could pour out of the bottle before hitting the sediment compared to my other beers, and it was clearer in the glass than I thought it would be at nine days. The taste is fantastic. Bold fruity taste, clean, not real bitter. ABV of 5.4%. Now after three weeks conditioning it is great tasting and great color in the glass. Good job Hank. Man, I'm getting thirsty. (Posted on 4/18/12)

Excellent IPA! Review by Bubs

Rating

Friends all loved it and some couldn't believe I made it myself - others said they would pay for a beer like this if they could find it in the stores. Noticed that the "piney" flavors really came out if drunk cool instead of refrigerator-cold. Will make this one again! (Posted on 4/15/12)

Excellent IPA Review by Bailey

Rating

My 2nd homemade beer - 48 bottles almost all gone. After snooping around, I decided to dryhopped in primary after two weeks fermentation then waited another week before bottling. Came out excellent!! I will make this again in the future.
(Posted on 4/13/12)

Wonderful, clean IPA Review by Brandon

Rating

I am drinking this beer as I type this. I left it in primary for two weeks and then racked to a secondary for a week to dry hop. After two weeks in the bottle, I could not be happier. Use the Wyeast option and get a nice, clean tasting IPA! Highly recommended. (Posted on 3/31/12)

Excellent IPA Review by kevin

Rating

This beer was great. I am a hop head but was slightly hesitant on a single hop IPA. This beer went above and beyond what I had expected. The aroma was great, nice and hoppy. The beer was bitter but was very well balanced. It poured a nice golden rod color with bright white head. The head was extremely dense and lasted the entire beer with strong lacing down the entire glass. I would brew this anytime of the year and will likely become part of the standard brewing rotation. (Posted on 3/9/12)

Big Hit Review by Ron

Rating

This was a great kit! All those who tasted my Chinook IPA batch were very impressed – most importantly me (as I will be drinking most of it). I will definitely be doing this one again. (Posted on 3/5/12)

Solid IPA Review by Wayne Pleasant

Rating

This was my first brew ever, but my dad has been brewing for 15 yrs so he helped. I dumped 2 oz. of Chinooks in for the 60 min boil and skipped the dry hopping. Still turned out great, a lingering semi-bitterness on the tongue, not much of a nose. Not real complex, but just continues to get better with age. I suggest drinking one a week after bottling to really appreciate it's maturation. (Posted on 3/5/12)

Great first beer Review by isaac

Rating

This was my first brew and it turned out excellent. I was worried my house was a bit cold, so I decided to do a yeast starter and give it every advantage I could. Great idea, after a day I had to install a blowoff tube and it fermented like a champ for 4 days, all but stopped after another week and a few days later I moved it to secondary. Bottled 2 weeks later (i used the oxygen absorbing caps). Bottle conditioned for 10 days and tried one.

Perfectly carbonated and very well balanced. The hops come through in the nose wonderfully (I get floral and citrus notes, bit of pine) and gives the impression it could be a bit too bitter, but it's not, it's very smooth throughout with just enough bite to let you know you're drinking a nice IPA. My O.G/F.G. gave me a beer at 5.5% abv. (Posted on 2/23/12)

Anyone ever consider oak chips? Review by karlblackcoffee

Rating

This is my 3rd kit I have brewed from NB and was considering adding 1 oz. of bourbon soaked oak chips into the secondary. I was wondering if anyone had any pointers for doing this.
(Posted on 2/23/12)

Tasty Beer, Good kit for Beginners Review by Peter

Rating

I received a homebrew starter kit from my wife for Christmas. I ordered this beer kit the next day, and by mid-February I was drinking tasty bottled brew. I felt this was a great kit for beginners. The hop taste was pretty sharp at first but has mellowed out well after a few weeks. This is a pretty low alcohol beer, though - mine finished around 4%. Probably should save a few for those yardwork days. (Posted on 2/22/12)

Definition for tasty: chinook ipa Review by Cogar

Rating

Mmmmm, this is a good beer. I hope to make my own recipe this good. Fruity, bitter, great aroma. I'll be right back.....I gotta pour another. (Posted on 2/18/12)

My First Beer Review by Randall

Rating

My first homebrew. Came out amazing. 48 bottles of a nice and balanced IPA. I was never hopped out. Chinook hops have a nice flavor, less pine like than some others. Average gravity and alcohol content. (Posted on 1/23/12)

Great IPA! Review by Jeffrey

Rating

Really liked the grapefruit flavors! Drank most of it after two weeks in the bottles, I've held two back to age, been about 8 months now. I'll open them when it hits a year, and add another review! (Posted on 1/15/12)

This is a good beer!!! Review by Eric

Rating

Followed this recipe to the T. But only came out at 5% ABV:-( Bottled this and cracked one open after a week...way too soon, which I knew it would be...the longer it sits the better it is. First time w/ NB and will be back. (Posted on 1/9/12)

Perfect brew Review by p6bguy

Rating

for the first time brewer as this ale will leave you thinking it was all worth it. Awesome smelll and taste and not too heavy. Even some of my non hoppy friends liked this one. I will brew this kit more than any other kit available. (Posted on 1/6/12)

Currently Fermenting Review by Spence

Rating

First brew I made in about 2 years and am a little bit worried that I may have added the yeast before it was cool enough. Today is the fourth day in the primary, and so far the yeast activity level is pretty mellow. Is that normal for this beer? Any tips to get it going? (Posted on 1/4/12)

Classic IPA Review by AndyS

Rating

Simple and easy to brew, this IPA comes out as one of the tastiest I have ever brewed. Suggest using a mesh bag for the dry hops. I was sad to see it go so quickly, probably will not tell my friends when I brew this again. (Posted on 1/1/12)

Fabulous IPA Review by John

Rating

First brew in about five years, mostly because the local availability of specialty beers is excellent, but I'm glad I gave it a go. Broke it out on Christmas Eve with some family and they all loved it. I will definitely be making this one again. (Posted on 12/29/11)

It still turned out great Review by Jewski

Rating

Instead of secondary fermentation I kept it in the primary for an extra week, after a blow off this beer turned out real good. It's crisp, has a good citrus flavor, and hoppy for the hopheads; brew it. (Posted on 12/21/11)

Terrific Beer Review by RQ

Rating

This is one smooth IPA. The aroma is fruity with a mild hoppiness. The kit was easy to make and I was drinking delicious beer in 6 weeks. The head retention was very good, which is great, because you can enjoy that great aroma for a long while. (Posted on 12/19/11)

Best IPA Kit Yet Review by Zak

Rating

I have brewed several IPA's from NB now and this one is definitely my favorite. Modest body but with huge hop flavor makes this a great IPA. Citrus hits you right in the face and others will note, it is hard to mess this one up. (Posted on 12/6/11)

mmmm ... me loves chinook Review by Virgina Jim

Rating

Wow, this ones a winner . Followed instructions provided
2 weeks prim,2 weeks second, then i kegged and forced carbed cuz i couldnt wait and it was the first one from a keg. What a surprise , smooth ipa with a grapefruit hint , beautiful head . Definitely my summer slammer (Posted on 11/29/11)

WOW! Review by matt

Rating

Best IPA I have made or tasted. It doesn't hit you in the face with bitterness or crowd out maltiness. Chinook hops are earthy and piney. I will be making this one again. (Posted on 11/25/11)

Awesome brew Review by Damnitrandy

Rating

Followed the directions exactly. This one has everything. A fantastic aroma to start with. An initial taste and aftertaste that is just what the brew doctor ordered. A beautiful lace that follows the brew down to the last drop. This will no doubt be my Summer beer for many years to come. I brewed in June and am now down to my last few bottles in November. A big thumbs up on this one! (Posted on 11/17/11)

Excellent Beer! Review by Eric

Rating

This was an awesome IPA. It is hoppy and delicious but also subtle enough for newbies to IPA's. I got plenty of my friends into craft brews with this beer. I want to brew this one a few more times while experimenting with some recipe alterations. All around great beer. (Posted on 11/11/11)

Fantastic Review by Jeff

Rating

Perfectly balanced IPA with a fresh hop aroma. (Posted on 11/9/11)

Great!! Review by Adam

Rating

This was my first brew, I loved it! Too bad it was gone within two weeks! Will brew again for sure! (Posted on 10/23/11)

enjoyed by all Review by A L E X

Rating

I brewed this for my golf league, and it was greatly enjoyed by everyone. I will def. make this again (like everyone else here) (Posted on 9/18/11)

Outstanding extract brew Review by Timmy

Rating

I was very pleased with the way the Chinook IPA turned out! I fermented 2 weeks in the primary and 2 weeks in the secondary and dry hopped with 5 days left in the seconday.
My son and I cracked 2 of them open at 1 week in the bottle and it tasted real good at a week but still needed that second week! Second week came and we were both amazed at the hoppiness and the bitterness and a very nice citrusy aroma that came thru in the brew, and this one is deffinatly going to be one of my session or every night beers to go to!
The first thing I noticed in the kit was that there was no Irish Moss included, doesnt need any! I amd very pleased with the clarity and the beautiful orange coppery color of the brew, deffinatly IPA all the way!
Will order 2 more kits very soon and am awaiting the Dead Ringer IPA that is in the secondary fermenter right now, cant wait!
10, 22oz. bottles left need more of the Chinook now! (Posted on 9/14/11)

Good, Clean, Crisp IPA - Low Malt and Hop Complexity, but Refreshing Taste Review by Chris Montgomery

Rating

We brewed this as our third extract kit. It turned out great. The wonderful thing about this kit is that the beer you make, even if it is a little bit off, will still taste good. The huge bouquet of Chinook hops will hit your nose - don't be surprised if your mouth waters at the smell. The single hop (three additions of Chinook if I recall correctly), plus the simple grain bill makes this beer have a low complexity in the glass, but a very clean, crisp taste with a somewhat dry back end.

We tasted this beer against some other pale ales and IPAs, and found it to be significantly less flavorful and complex than commercially produced craft beers. This beer's advantage over those craft beers is exactly this simplicity. You get heavy hops, a low to moderate amount of malt, a good hop bite, and that refreshing smell of Chinook that is always unmistakeable in every beer that has it.

I was supposed to split this beer with my friend. He ended up getting one 12-oz. bottle. I drank the rest. You will, too. (Posted on 9/12/11)

A solid , session style IPA Review by Richmond Homebrew Newb

Rating

First off I consider myself a hop-head all year round so I decided to make this as my first batch of homebrew. I dry hopped in the primary since I didn't want to take risks on my first batch. I followed the recipe through and through, fermented for around 2 weeks plus maybe a day or two and then dry hopped for a week. I bottled probably around the 3 to 3.5 week range from initial fermentation. I tried this a week after bottling and to my surprise it was very tasty. Seemed a little overcarbed/yeasty but that might be my inexperience with the fabled "green" beer taste. Have to say, super excited that it is already super tasty. Can't wait to try it at the 2 week mark. Very sound IPA with a great citrus smell and taste. Can't wait to try the dead ringer kit next. Thanks Northern Brewer (Posted on 9/12/11)

Great taste! Review by Nick

Rating

After 4 weeks a real good beer... After 8 weeks Awesome taste. This will next years summer brew. May have to order 3 kits. Great brew for the price. (Posted on 9/10/11)

Surprisingly Good Review by Kurt

Rating

I was looking for something drinkable to create a big yeast population for my Dead Ringer & Double IPA cycle (decant and reuse primary fermenter with trub). This isn't just drinkable, it is a refreshing hot day IPA. Can you spell Trifecta?

Don't get me wrong, its lower malt bill and single hop profile won't win this any medals. However, I intend to brew more of this next spring so I have a good supply for the summer. (Posted on 8/25/11)

Excellent kit, interesting and unexpected finish, a favorite Review by Bitter Old Dick

Rating

I was impressed with the simplicity of this kit and more impressed with the result. The beer is extremely hoppy but not overpowering. There is a banana-citrus finish that is most likely due to the hops and yeast, but whatever, I really like it. It was a big hit at a recent homebrew taste-off. (Posted on 8/24/11)

Great IPA!!! Review by S&P Brewing Co.

Rating

violent fermentation early on...use a blow off! Had outstanding results with this batch and matured earlier than expected. I used 5 oz. of priming sugar at bottling and I think it made all the difference despite what the directions stated. Great head retention and outstanding flavor after one week of conditioning. Will definitely get another kit..Cheers! (Posted on 8/23/11)

Nice IPA Review by nicaedge

Rating

This was my first time brewing an IPA and this kit delivered. It exceeded my expectations. Nice, well-balanced beer with great flavor, aroma, head retention, and mouthfeel. This might be a standard brew for me going forward. (Posted on 8/16/11)

Nice... Review by Brewdaddy

Rating

I'm not a hophead but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy a little hop flavor from time to time. I didn't find it overly hoppy and it certainly mellowed with time. This is no Arrogant Bastard or Rouge IPA however. I found it light and drinkable with a nice, crisp flavor. An excellent recipe to use as a base for your own IPA creation, if that's your thing. (Posted on 8/13/11)

Rock your world! Review by Intheberkshires

Rating

Move this kit into your power rotation! Great hop taste, reserved but certainly not overpowering. Modified the kit a bit by adding 0.25# Chocolate Organic Briess ($2.99) for a slightly browner/reddish hue than shown in the picture. The briess also added a wonderful thick tan head that lingered like a whip cream. Simply wonderful. Took a case to the beach house and made hopheads out of my light beer drinking family members. Don’t hesitate on this one. (Posted on 8/10/11)

Awsome Review by DagonBrew

Rating

What a great IPA. I was very pleased. I love the aroma and spicy flavors of the chinnok hops. I just drank my last 22oz. tonight :( and I am enjoying every bit of it. i will be brewing this one again in the future. (Posted on 8/8/11)

True to Form Review by Jim D

Rating

This beer bites back a bit (but what do you expect from an IPA)...I enjoyed it...admittedly it grew on me...and I went through it pretty quickly. I'll very likely brew it again! (Posted on 7/30/11)

Great mild IPA beer Review by Hunter

Rating

This was my 1st IPA and probably was my best (3 months ago)beer so far. Nice mild gravity beer with the kick of Chinook hops. I loved this beer and almost cried when I realized it was all gone. Only had it in bottles for about a month but in that time, the hops did mellow a little and more of the malt flavor came through. Just ordered 2 more of these kits for an All-Grain batch. I wish all beers taste this good in the extract version. Sláinte !!! (Posted on 7/29/11)

Unexpectedly light, but very refreshing Review by BarberSurgeon

Rating

When they say modest gravity, they aren't kidding! I didn't think 10.50 would be so light, but I suppose the hop character makes it a bit more noticeable. I think I was expecting something a bit heavier in body, but apart from that fault in my own experience, this is a pretty tasty and refreshing IPA. I substituted the Chinook with Cascade for dry-hopping and did so for about four days. Three weeks later, the hop aroma and flavor was so fresh it made me giddy. I'd like to try this again with a stronger malt profile, but this batch is extremely quaffable -- perfect for this summer heat; it's a good thing seven weeks is a reasonably quick turn around time. I might be doing another batch soon.

This was only the third batch I'd ever done, so there could certainly be some technical things that might have produced a somewhat different beer, but that said, I've learned quite a bit lately, and the only thing I'd do differently would be to do a late extract addition and use a clarifying agent. (Posted on 7/27/11)

great IPA Review by rortiz

Rating

This is a great IPA. it was my fourth batch ever and I was very pleased with the results. Veteran brewers asked for the recipe. A friend who does all grain even asked how I brewed it as it turned out better than his batch of a similar beer. I doctored it a bit by throwing a 1.5 cps of sugar in the boil and tossing 1 oz. of orange/lemon zest in with the dry hopping. Next time I'll put a little less zest as it was a bit overwhelming at first. I will be ordering this for my next batch. (Posted on 7/23/11)

Delicious Review by Tunnel Brewer

Rating

I've made this three times and it continues to be my "go to" IPA. The only way to explain the hop character is "scrumptous." It's got a decent malt backbone, but for a hop head, has a pleasant aroma, citrusy finish and good balance of bitterness. In fact, my friend made this beer and turned me on to homebrewing. I figured if he could make this in his garage, I need to try this hobby. I've been hooked ever since. (Posted on 7/9/11)

Just an Amazing middle of the Line IPA! Review by wubaru

Rating

Not too hoppy (actually can any beer be too hoppy?), not too weak, but just right! You will taste the hops but won't be overwhelmed by it. A great beer that isn't in your face but for just chillin' and having more than one. Rock on! (Posted on 7/7/11)

nice flavor, not heavy, great for summertime brew Review by randy

Rating

I bottled this beer the first of March (this year) and waited 12 weeks before opening the first one. I am a HopHead and proud. I can tell you that I and my friends like this beer. It actually taste like it was store bought. I followed the recipe exactly and I am pleased with the results. I would make this again. (Posted on 6/19/11)

freakin awesome Review by Steven

Rating

This was my first Kit from NB and my first time brew a 5 gal batch (I used mr beer kit before this). This beer came out great. Perfect bitterness but very flavorful. I love this beer. But I did tweak the recipe a lil bit. I replaced the two late additions (10 and 1 min) of chinook hops with citra hops ( I highly recommend it). Plus I used a yeast starter. Over all this beer is so good Im not going to share it with anybody. Ill wait for the Irish red to get done and pass that one out. (Posted on 6/9/11)

One of My Favorites Review by Chuck

Rating

A wonderful example of the West Coast IPA style, nice hop flavor, well balanced malt profile. A few hop head friends of mine that tried this said it tastes like a $12/ six-pack beer. (Posted on 6/9/11)

Great!! Review by Rick

Rating

This was my first NB recipe kit (and only my second brew) and it was great! The kit is nicely packed and very easy to use. It has been in bottles for about 8 weeks and it tastes delicious. The head retention is very nice and the dry hopping makes it smell sooo nice. I will definetly be brewing this again. (Posted on 6/8/11)

Pretty solid beer. Needs a bit more complexity in the malt backbone. Review by Jifigz

Rating

This is a good beer. Light body and mouthfeel could make it an easy one for someone who doesn't really like India Pale Ales. The hop character is good. I think it could use a little more malt backbone and a little stronger hop bite. I like this beer warm better than cold. I will buy this again but doctor the recipe a little. (Posted on 6/6/11)

Unbelievable! Review by MB

Rating

I am new to brewing and this was my first batch, ever. Turned out perfect. Got rave reviews from family and friends. Would like to have a batch of this ready every two weeks . . . only if I had another fermenter. 8 days in Primary (very violent fermentation, went through two airlocks, before I decided to go straight to the blow off hose, I would suggest beginning with the blowoff in the future). 3 weeks in Secondary, 2 week bottle condition and it was ready to go. (Posted on 6/6/11)

Very nice summer IPA Review by Potomac Brewer

Rating

Very nice citrus aroma (grapefruity), very light color (lager-like), with very modest backbone. Great summer session beverage. When I bre this in the fall I will likely add anothe rhalf pound of grain for color and depth. (Posted on 6/3/11)

Excellant!!!! Review by kennyshark

Rating

This was our first extract brew, we started with a Full Boil (6gal) water and followed all directions to the tee, O.G. was 1.050 spot on, two weeks in primary, two weeks in secondary dry hopped after one week, bottled and after ten days I tried the first one, WOW! Excellant! I will brew this again....SOON! I would like to keep some for My Birthday next week but I don't think they will last! (Posted on 6/2/11)

Delicious beer with a nice hop character Review by jifigz

Rating

This beer is delicious. It has just now been in the bottle for 2 weeks and already over half of the fruits of my labor are gone. The hop character is great and the beer is a lovely orange color. Nice head and great lacing. I highly recommend this beer if you like hop bitter and aroma (it is a citrus type hop bite that is just wonderful). (Posted on 6/1/11)

favorite extract kit Review by meat803

Rating

Ive brewed about 15 extract kits so far. This one is hands down my favorite. The hops are not over powering but very present. I am an IPA fan, but this isnt so bitter that non IPA drinkers wouldnt like. The head has amazing lacing and with clearing agents, the beer is very clear. (Posted on 5/21/11)

Great beginner kit recipe! Review by Alex

Rating

This was the first batch of homebrew my friends and I ever attempted. It turned out wonderfully. As we are big hop heads, we added two ounces of whole leaf Chinook hops in the dry hop phase, which added a wonderful aroma. A very sessionable IPA that everyone who has tried it has loved. Kudos to NB for supplying some quality ingredients! (Posted on 5/12/11)

Can't wait to brew another batch Review by BEEEEric

Rating

This was my second attempt at brewing. It was the first batch I got to drink. (My first is a lager so I'll get to try it soon.) As I said, I'm new so I followed the directions to the letter. Everyone who tried the beer loved it.

At first it had a very strong citrus, grapefruit, flavor from the dry hooping. It was still great, but it was a little more than I would have wanted. After another week that calmed down and is a very drinkable IPA.

My other friend who brews and I are partial to IPAs and living near Boston, we like Harpoon, but have really taken to a local brew, Mayflower IPA, brewed in Plymouth.

This Chinook is our favorite. We like to share, and nobody has returned any to us. We're really running low. Time to brew more. When it finally warms up, I can see this as a great brew for a hot sunny day. (Posted on 5/1/11)

the best IPA so far! Review by Paul

Rating

As advertised, tons of hops flavor, but still very drinkable. My attempt came very close to a Dogfish IPA, straight and hoppy but also clean and crisp, no off-flavours. (Posted on 5/1/11)

Delicious Review by Red Barn

Rating

This was my first kit from NB, and I couldn't be happier with how it turned out.

I'm relatively new to home brewing (this was my fourth batch overall), and I did make one rookie mistake that may have made this even better than it would have been otherwise. While boiling the wort, I overlooked the dry hopping on the kit inventory sheet and consequently drew the conclusion that I had more Chinook hops than I needed....so I doubled down on the 10 minute and 2 minute additions - 1 oz each - then picked up some more hops for the dry hopping. This brew definitely exceeded my expectations (and I've been really happy with two of the other three batches I have brewed). When I brew this again (and I will), I'll be making the same modification.

Next up - Tongue Splitter Pale (sitting in secondary in the basement right now), then Dry Irish Stout, then back for more hops with the 115th Dream Hopbursted IPA. (Posted on 4/22/11)

Outstanding!!!! Review by NJTarheel

Rating

This was only my 2nd attempt at brewing. This beer is easy to make and fantastic. I have had rave reviews from all of my friends. It is extremely smooth and has a nice hop finish. Not overpowering at all. Fermented it for 2 weeks, dry hopped for a week and bottled. let it sit for another two weeks and it gets better day after day. I will certainly be buying this kit again.

Finally, I like the way NB packages their kits. Very profesional!!!! I also bought a kit recently from Austin Brew Supply. haven't made it yet, but, NB has their packaging beat. Keep up the good work!!!!! (Posted on 4/22/11)

A lot character for a one hop brew. Review by further north

Rating

The kit was well put together. Booiled full five gallons in copper boiler in blacksmith shop. Had trouble getting back to rack it the first time after fermentation, wasn't until 3 weeks that I was able to do that. Dry hopping added pronounced flavor increase. Tried it after 10 days in bottle, little green. another week, and it was really good. I will probably try a different beer next time, but I enjoyed making and tasting this one. Cheers!

(Posted on 3/28/11)

Pleasant Surprised Review by James

Rating

I was pretty worried when taking a two week brix reading and the intense grapefruit flavor almost too much. Four days into the keg and the Chinook IPA has really won me over. It'll just get better as it sits if it makes it that long. I want to say that I will brew another soon but I am switching to a milder beer to win over some friends to homebrew. Then I'll sucker punch them with a Chinook. (Posted on 3/24/11)

Epic Beer! Review by LowcountryBrewer

Rating

This was my first kit from NB! All I can say is this beer is amazing. Piney nose, bitter like a great IPA with a citrus finish. It's going to go fast. You will not regret brewing this recipe. Enjoy! (Posted on 3/14/11)

Too Bitter? Review by Chris

Rating

I'm a big fan of IPA's but this one seemed a little too bitter. I was suprised given the modest amount of hop additions, but I'm taking it as a good lesson on Chinook hops. I guess since they are historically used as the bittering additions exclusively should have been a clue. That said, the end result had excellent color and a fantastic aroma. The first half pint is very good but bitterness takes over in the second half, slighlty out of balance. I'm sure if I let it sit in the keg a couple more weeks it would mellow out, but that's entirely unrealistic for me :) (Posted on 3/4/11)

great taste and easy to brew Review by Scott

Rating

made this a couple of times now always turned out great! excellent hop aroma and great flavor (Posted on 2/28/11)

Exactly what I wanted Review by Jonny

Rating

If you are browsing these ingredients kits for a good American IPA, this is it! This tastes as good or better than any IPA you can buy at the store. Mine turned out lighter in color than the picture since I added most of my extract late in the boil, but I have NO complaints with this beer. It's my 7th brew, but it's the first one I wanted to keep all to myself! This is one I can say with confidence "I will brew again." (Posted on 2/11/11)

crowd pleaser Review by beardo

Rating

my first brew in over 15 years, and probably 2nd or 3rd ever (ok, I started in the 90's and didn't get very far, but I'm back!) This is delicious. Everyone I've given it to has raved about how good it is. Excellent hop flava!

I don't have a secondary, so this was all done in primary. Kräusen gone after 6 days so I added dry hop and let it go another week, then bottled. Very pleased! Will come around to this one again...

(Posted on 2/11/11)

Very tasty Review by Chris

This turned out to be my best extract beer yet (out of 6 or 7 previous brews).

Used S-05. 8 days in primary, 12 days dry-hopped in secondary. OG of 1.052 and fermented out to 1.012. Fermentation temps a little high (~70), but it worked out fine. Tasted at bottling and was a bit afraid that the bitterness was too much and there wasn't enough malt backbone to support it, but after 2 weeks in the bottle there was a noticeable improvement where it smoothed out quite a bit and the malt started to come through and balance out the hops. The bitterness also turned into a great grapefruit flavor. Great kit... highly recommended. (Posted on 2/6/11)

A great first step into dry hopping. Review by Cobbler

My third extract brew and I could not have been happier. I added about a half pound of cane sugar to the boil about 20 mins before cold crashing to up the ABV%. After three weeks in the primary I dry hopped for ten days and bottled. This beer has a great hop aroma and flavor. The flavors and aroma the chinook hops bring out range from citrus-y grapefruit to herbal and earthly. Try this kit out if you are a fan of Sierra Nevada Celebration and Stone Arrogant Bastard. I will definitely brew this again. (Posted on 2/2/11)

Awesome, fail proof brew Review by Canvasoso

Rating

This was my first extract brew. Did a full boil. 1.054 OG, 1.008 FG. 7 days in primary, 10 days secondary wto dry hop. 2 days before bottling, moved it to 56 degree room and cold crashed it. In 2 days it was perfectly clear with all hops and yeast settled at the bottom. Raked to bottling bucket without any filters avoiding bottom sediment. Primed with 2/3 of a cup (3.75 oz) of corn sugar for 2.5 parts of CO2. Bottled conditioned for 2 weeks at 68 degrees. Just opened a few today and it is AWESOME! Great head retention, good lacing. Very balanced sweetnes with the hops aroma up front and bitterness hop kick on the back. Refreshing, crisp, clear. You can really drink a few of these easily. Even my wife commented how great this beer is. She is a big fan of Sweetwater IPA and other IPA's and she likes this one better. I'm ordering more now so I can have this one in permanent rotation. (Posted on 1/27/11)

for hop heads only Review by joseph

Rating

i love it, most of my friends don't, which is good ,more for me!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Posted on 1/19/11)

AMAZINGGGGG!!!!!! Review by JORGE

Rating

Took about a month before i could drink it after i brewed it... Great IPA me and my friend went through about half a keg in one day!!! Would definetely brew again!! (Posted on 1/12/11)

Excellent Review by Andrew

Rating

I'm brewing this one for the second time. Love it! (Posted on 12/28/10)

2nd time as good as the first! Review by oletorero

Rating

Fermented at 67% for 22 days in the primary fermenter. (Dry hop additions on day 17).

Brewed the Chinook IPA for a second time (almost a year apart) because I loved it so much the first time but also wanted to check my processes for consistency. It smells and tastes exactly as I remember. A great herbal, piney scent leads way to a crisp and clean taste with just enough malt presence; with a smooth yet bitter finish. I agree with others who added an additional hop variety for complexity, but personally I really enjoy the simplicity of this recipe as you can really appreciate what each ingredient (especially the Chinook hop, obviously) brings to the table. This beer pairs well with a lot of different food options...my faviorite being any spicy mexican dish.

(Posted on 12/21/10)

Great IPA Review by Husker Brewer

Rating

After only 4 days in the bottle, I could wait no longer. Cracked one open, and wow. Truly impressed. Paired well with my chicken barley chili for supper. I will be making this one again. (Posted on 12/13/10)

Great hop flavor but not over hopped. Review by Tom

Rating

Easy, great results, great hop flavor but not too much. Why have I never dry hopped before? It was easy., will brew this kit again. (Posted on 12/9/10)

taste great Review by crash

Rating

great head and a nice hop flavor,sadly only 2 bottles are left (Posted on 12/5/10)

Well above expectation Review by Aoates

Rating

I brewed the Chinook IPA for Thanksgiving and could not be happier. This is my first attempt at dry hoppping and all who drank were very impressed. I did use sanitized cheese cloth on the auto siphon inlet to filter out the dry hops when transferring to the bottling bucket. This required a good deal of patience but was effective at reducing particulate in the bottles. Prepared a full boil batch using all hops as directed. 1 week primpary and transferred to secondary at 1.013 F.G. 2 weeks in the secondary and 4 weeks in the bottle. Carbonated very well with 1 cup of corn sugar, I will go back to the usual 2/3 cup on the next batch. This beer is FABULOUS and will be added to the rotation one of our top three N.B. favorites.
(Posted on 11/26/10)

tweakd it Review by tonejones

Rating

i used this kit as a base and added cluster hops. i layered them in 60,30,15,10,5,and1min increments alternating between the two. 10 days in the primary and a day in the secondary before dry hopping for 2 more. i put a hop sack over the opening of my keg and ran it through to get the hops out as not to clog my pick up tube. i carb'd at 33 degrees at 20psi for 3 days then down to serving pressure for a few more. served at friends house with 8 beer drinkers and 2-3 tasters. The 5 gals only lasted 2 1/2 hrs! (Posted on 11/24/10)

Great IPA with a nice spicy hop profile Review by cerveza

Rating

I'll definitely be brewing this again soon. (Posted on 11/18/10)

Excellent Review by Eastern Brewer

This turned out just as I wanted; highly aromatic, with well balanced bitterness. The all-chinook recipe isn't for everyone, but if you like a highly aromatic IPA, this fits the bill. (Posted on 11/15/10)

Great IPA! Review by Sully

Rating

At a recent social event, with several homebrews and northwest pro-brews available, the Chinook was the overwhelming favorite. The Chinook hops are amazingly fresh and 'there', producing a tantalizing bitterness leading to a bright floral aroma on a smooth malt base. The kit was easy, the ingredients were top quality, and the beer was primo. Of course, I could be wrong -- this was just a first impression. It will take another 5 or 10 gallons to be sure. (Posted on 11/7/10)

Loved it! Review by cedar lake

Rating

Wonderful, wonderful flavor. I agree with the "light bodied and fragrant" descriptors. Everybody I served it to liked it as well. I went primary- 10 days, secondary (with dry hop) 10 days and naturally carbonated it in the keg with 1/2 cup of cane sugar for about 20 days in the cellar. Only my first pint from the keg had trub and hop particles, and just a few as i siphoned pretty carefully out of the secondary. The rest of my pints were clear, clear, clear! (Posted on 8/27/10)

Many times Review by Rudy

Rating

One of my favorite kits, but I don't get to drink much of it because my wife and a friend really like it too. The aroma of Chinook hops is so terrific brewing and drinking I don't know how anyone can resist this beer. (Posted on 8/10/10)

outstanding Review by me

Rating

No doubt its an IPA. I will certainly brew this one again. (Posted on 7/26/10)

It's a Keeper Review by Slainte23

Rating

Wow, if you like spicy yet subtly fruity hoppy IPA's this is the brew. I love it and will be making it again... soon. (Posted on 6/19/10)

good session beer with nice flavor Review by benjimen

Rating

i was surprised with the drinkability of this beer especially with the great hop flavor. dry hopping was well worth it and i will add extra hops to the original boil next time. great food beer also (Posted on 6/16/10)

light bodied and fragrant IPA Review by highchief

Rating

This IPA is very light bodied (I usually like them a little more robust) but that makes it very drinkable in the hot weather we're having at the moment. Very drinkable. Served it at 45 F to my British inlaws last night at dinner and they asked for seconds even with two different store bought IPA's in the fridge. The Chinook hops have a nice piney and herbal taste/smell. (Posted on 6/4/10)

Unique hop taste Review by Laughing Waters Brew Club

Rating

This is a fabulous beer! The Chinook variety has a very unique taste and is well worth the trouble of dry hopping. I wish there was a better way to remove or strain the dry hop, but it wasn't too bad. The taste more than makes you overlook any flaws in clarity...try this brew for the summer! And make sure to try it at room temperature as well as chilled, I liked it better at room temp. (Posted on 5/11/10)

good stuff Review by hophead

Rating

Super tasty, I don't think this one will last too long in my house. When I dry hopped it I didn't put the hops in a screened container so some made it into the bottles. This however is a good thing because now when people (that I don't care for) ask whats floating in my homebrew I tell them its mold. This usually sends them running for the store bought light beer they brought. yes, more beer for me and true brew friends! (Posted on 4/8/10)

Very tasty! Review by Chipa

Rating

This is the 4th extract I've ever brewed and definitely the best to date. The chinook aroma is great and I love the spice of this hop. The body is about as light as an IPA gets, but that just adds to the sessionability. (Posted on 3/28/10)

great aroma Review by smoothb

Rating

this was the first beer i brewed in about a year, it basically got me back in to home brewing and excited about it again. the beer has a nice bitterness, but a smooth finish and the head retention is very good also. dry hopping is always a good option when home brewing as well, it can cover up any off flavors or smells and really send your beer over the top. i just did the 3 hearted ale all grain recipe last weekend and i am excited about the possibilities. if i did this beer again, i think i would try mixing in some cascade hops for bittering. (Posted on 3/25/10)