JK (2479), Twin Cities, Minnesota, USA Dec 7, 2006 No disappointment here, but no boundaries are pushed either. Immediately after pouring there is a great floral hop aroma. Much more aroma than most IPAs, and this one has a very pleasant combination of flowers and light herbal spiceiness. A gold colored beer with a thick and long lasting head, and definitely unfiltered. It is rare to see an IPA with so much sediment. Flavor is bitter hops but not unpleasantly bitter. There is a light hop burn, that is increased in its intensity by the alcohol. I am a little buzzed and I am surprised tot see this is as high in alcohol as 9.5% because it is very well hidden.
CapnJazz (9), Boalsburg, Pennsylvania, USA does not count Oct 6, 2008 This rating is mostly from memory, but I’ve bought cases of this so I think I have a grasp at this point. Big pour of clear orange with a pillowy white head. The nose is epic. Huge grapefruit, pine, and citrus, woodsy, floral, and fresh. Exceedingly bitter flavor, the beer’s biggest flaw. The hop presence comes across too much as bitterness and not enough with citrus, fruits, and there’s little sweetness to accompany the hops. Still, an awesome brew, big in every sense, must be fresh, can’t wait til the next batch. Moggman (40), Columbus, Ohio, USA Oct 2, 2008 Pours golden with off white head. Citrus and pine aroma. Flavor is citrus hops and bitter. Finishes dry and light with lingering hops. radiomgb (1776), Peterborough, Ontario, Canada Sep 28, 2008 Golden-orange in colour with a thin but lingering off-white coloured head, good lacing. The aroma is quite hoppy with lots of orange citrus, grapefruit, pine, highly sweet with a bit of alcohol. The flavour is juicy with lots of hops, high bitterness, orange zest, some pine but at the same time just a bit thin. Thin but bitter mouthfeel, medium body, medium/high carbonation. Finishes dry, lengthy and hoppy.
The more that I drank this the more thirsty I became. Very chewy but I can’t help but feel that this was a bit too thin. I much prefer the stouts that Bells produces.
355ml bottle obtained in a trade with miketd, thanks Mike.
Opened on April 20, 2008
Batch #8277.
Alraomon (63), Charlottesville, Virginia, USA Sep 27, 2008 Clean, golden/amber pour with a rich and foamy pale orange head.
A lot of citrus hops, predominantly grapefruit on the nose. Sweet aromas, like other soft fruits or floral scents.
A huge hops flavour, a lot of evergreen taste that doesn’t come out so much in the smell. Citrus notes, and a dash of sweetness, presumably from the honey comes through.
Thick and slick... quite an oily consistency that leaves its residue like a thin film before slipping into a clean finish. Makes it very easy to drink, but the alcohol is amazingly well hidden, so restraint needs to be exercised to avoid getting clobbered by it. Respect it, and it will treat you very well.
kegbear (101), Orange, California, USA Sep 24, 2008 Bottle batch 8283. Citrus and pine aroma and taste. This was a bit sweet for my liking, but still a great IIPA. I think a fresher bottle would be much better as this one was 8-9 months old. Hope to re-rate with a fresh one.
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