Blue Cat Howling Man Imperial Pale Ale

Brewed by Blue Cat Brew Pub
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Rock Island, Illinois USA

Serve in Snifter, Tulip

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Draft taster at Blue Cat, notes from August. Bright copper color with a thin APA head. Bah, my nose is not helping, as the brewhouse is permeated with the scent of yeast today. So the taste, though, is malty and thick, with just a bit of pine resin in the back. Nice enough, but as I’m allowing myself a full pint after all the samples I’ve had, I’m going back for the Black Zemon.

Draft at Blue Cat Brew Pub. Poured a dark orange color with a small, off-white head. aroma was bitter citrus notes, touch of sweet candi sugars, toffee notes. Flavor was bitter malts, grapefruit notes, pale malts. Mellow alcohol notes.

On Tap. Ominous dirty orange pour, lasting carbonation and a nice aroma of sweet hops. Flavor was sweet syrupy hops, not much bitterness to speak of and finished slick and warming. Not my idea of a DIPA in any sense of the style. I hope they dial up some of the bitterness in the next recipe.

Draft at the brewpub. Poured a murky dark orange-brown color. The head was thin, off white, and didn’t leave any lace behind. Smelled of distinct grape candy, dish water, and subdued dark toffee. There was also a whiff of hay. Medium bodied and slightly sweet up front with mild to moderate bitterness that increased somewhat toward the end and lingered after the finish. Carbonation was on the low end of the spectrum. Tasted of grape candy, pale malt, and earthy/grassy Euro hops. There was also some harsh alcohol. Reminded me more of an imperial pilsner than an imperial IPA.

Had on tap on the brewpub in a snifter. I had high hopes for this beer and landed in disappointment. It’s labeled as an Imperial Pale Ale, and their site has it listed as an Impy IPA, but it’s not nearly hoppy enough either way. The flavor was very sweet and malty with just a hint of citrus hops, but not nearly enough flavor or bitterness for the style.

Sampled at Brew Ha Ha 2005. Cloudy golden with a big, frothy white head. Pineapple, apricot, pine, and peach pit aroma is very nice. Nicely hopped flavor as well, lending a bittersweet pine resin/grapefruit pucker-inducing punch - not too heavy, but not too light either. Highly carbonated, but it works for this. Very nice.