 Rastacouere (5202), Montréal, Quebec, Canada
May 4, 2008
Objectively speaking:
Very solid imperial IPA of confident caramelly leanings.
I like:
Clean and not too thick. Very fragrant hops providing a broad range of aromas (flowery grapefruit, ripe orange, juicy spruce). Excellent evolution with the bitterness cutting through the sweetness with excellent timing. Seriously drinkable for its heavy bulk.
I dislike:
It just does not seem as perfumey as the summer edition, but otherwise, for Californian beer fans, this is the quintessence, up to the appearance.
enginaaron (33), San Diego, California, USA
Jul 26, 2008 Hops, hops, and more hops! Also some spices in the aroma. Appearance is a golden-red with tan head. The beer is in great condition despite being ~9 months old. Tastes of hops with strong, spicy malt and caramel. Slightly musty with a bit of age, although at this stage it’s a compliment. REALLY carbonated, though, and a bit sharp on the tongue. Overall, good and rich, like a holiday red should be. This beer hasn’t lost any hop characteristics from age. I loved it! Well done!
craftycarl21 (120), USA
Jul 25, 2008 pours a translucent dark amber with a a ruby tint-huuuge frothy head, probably 4 fingers tall. Most amazing thick lacing i’ve ever seen. aroma is incredible- intense hops, citrus, grapefruit- makes me want to try the summer DIPA version. Flavor is also great- malt, hops, citrus, alcohol present but in a good way. One of my top beers in the past couple months.
Jblauvs (113), Manchester, New Hampshire, USA
Jul 22, 2008 Redish hazy pour, with a huge offwhite head. Flowery hop aroma with a bit of malt on the end. Immediately Hoppy in the mouth with a small presence of alcohol. a sweet malty backbone creates a well balanced brew that warms as it goes down. the end is sweet, almost chocolatey malt followed by an alcoholic warmth. one for the ages.
oteyj (275), Canterbury, New Hampshire, USA
Jul 22, 2008 Pours reddish with huge frothy white head. Aroma is loads of hops- floral and grassy with a bit of sweet malt, but predominatly filled with hoppy backbone. Flavor is oatmeal, bitter chocolate, with lots of roasty characteristics, which suprised me due to the less than dark appearance. Hop content is not nearly as high as the aroma would suggest, but comes trhough nicely to provide a welcomed citrus facet. Palate is intensely smooth- a bit on an alcohol warmness with some prickling. Viscous and delicious, this is a prime example of a widely varied style.
kkearn (599), philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Jul 18, 2008 22oz bottle. Pours hazy reddish-amber, capped with a big, frothy khaki head. Aroma is dominated by citric hops, with freshly baked bread in the background. Abundant sweet malt flavors up front, with caramel and chocolate, which are soon joined by massive grapefruity and earthy hops. Hops hang on for a long finish. Intense flavors, but everything is in harmony. Great beer.
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