The New Holland Mad Hatter IPA checks in at 5.8% ABV from a 12 oz bottle I purchased stamped “10/6.” While not an absolutely ideal bottle, being a bit more aged than the majority, it still provided a solid and excellent taste. I poured this one into one of my many standard pint glasses for this taste. It poured a very rich (darker) amber color and was accompanied by an off-white head.

I had spotted this bottle at a local Ale House and, being a fan of IPAs, I had to try it. Once I had it poured, I was a bit surprised how much of a potent hop flavor I got. It’s not unusual to get this from IPAs but considering the bottle was a bit past its prime, I thought it would be a bit more muted. Not that it’s a bad thing at all. It was a wonderful hops smell that made me want to taste this even more.

The taste was quite “hoppy” too. It seems to hid any malt flavor that may be present. It was nothing too thick but very typical. Unfortunately, I didn’t find anything that stood out from this IPA. It was typical IPA flavor. The finish was a bit spicy but nothing lingering or unpleasant. By the time I was finished, I noticed a good deal of lacing and the warming of the beer didn’t seem to do much for it. There were really no enhancements that warming could have done for it anyway.

Even though I wasn’t surprised by anything in this brew, I still really enjoyed it. The flavor is excellent and solid, and extremely drinkable. If you’re an IPA fan like myself, I’d recommend giving this a try. It may not be your favorite but the New Holland Brewing Company gives us a nice choice in their line-up.

Overall: 7/10