A few weeks ago Starr Hill Brewery sent me their limited release 12-pack of double IPA’s called Four Kings. It includes 4 versions of their King of Hop Imperial IPA: the original version, Grapefruit, Lemon-Lime, and Habañero.

After sampling a few individually here and there, I thought it would be a good idea to try them all side by side so Liz and I sat down one night to try each one and really compare the differences.

After pouring each bottle into a glass, the first thing that stuck me was how similar in color they all were. The color of each is basically identical showing that the fruit additions had little to no effect on the color of the beer.

King of Hop Imperial IPA

Citrus, pine, floral, some elderflower, herbal, cut citrus branches and leaves. Sweet and malty with a smooth herbal bitterness with a touch of pepper spice. The hop bitterness complements the malt and is not overpowering; not a palette wrecker. The texture is full bodied and velvety.

Grapefruit King of Hop

Aroma has a stronger grapefruit candy quality and has more floral and perfume nuances. The sweeter aroma also seems to follow through in the flavor with even less aggressive hops. It doesn’t seem as bitter as the standard version.

Lemon Lime King of Hop

This version immediately has a lemon peel aroma with a touch of lime peel and is even reminiscent of a gin and tonic. The sweet malt plus the lemon and lime gives the flavor a lemon-lime 7-up quality.

Habanero King of Hop

In some ways the aroma is similar to the lemon lime version with a slight pepper nuance. The flavor is spicy, sweet, and not too bitter. The spiciness blends fairly well with the rest of the flavors. The hotness of the pepper is sharp but mellow at first but it definitely builds over time. Unfortunately, the carbonation, sweetness, and the spiciness combine to produce a heartburn-like effect. When you have this beer, pair it with food like chips and salsa, tacos, burritos, carnitas, or a sharp oily cheese, or a cheeseburger.

The Four Kings 12-pack is a great way to sample all version of King of Hop and find out which one you like best.

Disclosure: Starr Hill Brewery graciously sent free sample of these beers.