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471 Small Batch, Breckenridge Brewery, Denver
Style: Imperial IPA
ABV: 9.2 percent
Serving Type: 12-ounce bottle
Malty? Hoppy? It’s obvious: hoppy.
Reviewed: September 2012
This brew is the Clark Kent of beers. Mild-mannered cameraman by day; super-hero by night.
No, I’m not kidding. Breck’s 471 pours a pale, fall-ish amber color. It’s a tad cloudy with just a hint of the four hops (Chinook, Centennial, Simcoe, and Fuggles) packed inside. By appearances, it would be easy to mistake this as a simple IPA. You’d be wrong.
This brew is utterly drinkable, but a strong balance of malts masks the high alcohol content. That’s the problem. The malts disguise the alcohol and trick you into thinking this is a session beer. It’s not, but that equilibrium—especially for a double IPA—is the brew’s superhero power. Don’t let it be your kryptonite.
Would we buy it again? Yes, with a caveat: Buy this to drink at home.
