Clipper City Heavy Seas Winter Storm (2005+ -- Imperial ESB)

Dark reddish-brown with a short white head. Very big aromas of citrus and piney hops. Malty sweet flavor, with more hops that provide some balance. Spicy , with a bitter finish that could have been smoother.

Good amberish bread over clear red-amber beer. Hops (surprise), cake and hopscake (instead of space-?) grapey, grapefruit, zeste. Bitterish-hoppy flavour imposed upon a rather dull red ale. Quite slick & viscous, (hop)oily. A massive dose of C-hops don’t make for a great beer, please. Thanks to Joss for the series.

After I’d poured and sniffed this one, my expectations were fairly low--there was little aroma (though the subtle aroma hop blend seemed pleasant), and the deep amber hue was attractive-yet-unassuming. And then I got a nice surprise: while the mouthfeel isn’t anything to write home about, the rich, unique, complex flavor is quite wonderful; this part of the commerical description is quite apt: "FULL malty flavors dancing with powerful hops." I think what I appreiciate most about this brew is how robust it is without being sweet nor overly filling.

12oz bottle, BB 03/06... thanks go to footbalm if I’m not mistaken. Poured a slightly hazy reddish-orange with a short, but long-lived cap of beige head. The nose picked up alcohol-enhanced caramel and toffee sweetness, floral and perfumey hops, a hint or sourdough, and dusty yeast notes. Flavor found a core of caramel, toffee, and plums.. laced with mild rum.. with citrus and perfumey hops radiating outward... prickly alcohol intermittently.. warming, sweet finish. Syrupy foray onto the palate fills out even more across the middle with ample carbonation.. warm, slightly prickly finish leaves mild bursts of citrus, caramel, and floral as it makes its way down. Downright tasty brew!

12 oz. Bottle, Best by April 2007: Pours a bronzed amber with instant hoppy gratification as the aroma waifs from the glass. Residual caramel and grassy hops work well in the nose, carrying through to the medium weighted body. A great balance is achieved here - but shouldn’t this just be a well done IPA? Not sure the Imperial ESB moniker is more than marketing. Oh well, good stuff that I’ll look for every season.

Bottle. Grassy honeyish nose.Red chestnut, low creamy head. Honeyish and spicy base, grass counterpoint. Medium to light body. Grassy aftertaste.

Draft Pint, hops are dominant - thought not overwhelming - almost a delayed hops taste, malty sweetness at the start, hop and sweetness taste lingers.

This is ok. For a winter seasonal it does lack the spices of the winter season. Hops a little too much. Ok, would try again.