Ruckus Hoptimus Prime

This 9.0% ABV double India Pale Ale has a great name and a great label, with a “Transformer” made of hops. I hope the beer is as good. It is from the Ruckus Brewing Company of New York, New York, brewed and bottled by Cooperstown Brewing in Milford, New York.

The beer pours dark copper and amber in color. There is a half-inch of light tan foam. The aroma is oranges, passion fruit, and light earthy pine. The hops are on an ample base of malt. The taste follows the aromas, adding notes of bubble gum and light smoke. The finish is so bitter that it actually becomes tangy, but in a somewhat unpleasant metallic way (fair enough for a robot I guess). It is medium-bodied and finely carbonated. Overall? The name and label far surpass the beer.