Coronado Idiot IPA

Brewed by Coronado Brewing Company
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Coronado, California USA

Serve in Snifter, Tulip

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A vigorous pour into my 25cl tulip glass yields a fluffy, initially three-finger thick, pale tan colored head that rises just above the rim of my glass. As the head slowly subsides with a nice layer of thick lacing that sticks to the sides of my glass. The beer is an amber color that shows hazy’ish, orange-red tinged, copper color when held up to the light. As I am visually inspecting this beer a sticky mix of malt and hop aromas are noticeable. A more focused inspection yields a hop-fruity nose of candied, ruby-red grapefruit zest, ample lychee, bright tangelo and some lighter tropical fruit notes. A substantial, though clearly secondary, crystal malt character contributes a caramelized, sweetened tea note as well as a light toasted malt note and a hint of biscuit flavors. The finish picks up a slightly rank, herbal hop note that reminds me of hemp oil and garlic chives, but it is quite soft and you really have to dig for it; though now that I have noticed it, the aroma is much more noticeable.

The flavor has a lot more of that herbal hop character to it than the aroma initially suggested, but there is still a substantial hop-fruitiness. Up front, sweet flavors of lychee, bergamot oil, and candied kumquats yields to herbal notes of hemp oil and garlic chives, yet still retains a fruity hop presence. The bitterness is actually not all that huge here, though it is definitely present and contributes throughout each sip. This gets a bit green and astringent towards the finish, but there is lots of sticky malt character to balance this out and to help carry the fruiter hop character. Speaking of malt, it is clearly a supporting character here, but does contribute quite a bit to this beer; flavors of toasted malt, light citrus-infused toffee, some sweet tea crystal malt notes and a caramelized malt sweetness. The heft of this beer’s body is pretty close to spot on for a double IPA; it is drinkable enough and does not have a body that would suggest that of a Barleywine.

As the beer warms up it gets a bit hot from some alcohol notes towards the finish, though when cooler it did seem to hide the alcohol fairly well. This is actually not nearly as aggressively-balanced towards the hops side of the spectrum as it could be. A more expressive, intense, hop fruitiness would be a welcome addition and would help to temper the crystal malt addition which can be just a wee bit too much at times.

Purchased: South Bay Drugs, Imperial Beach CA

Awesome IPA, amazing head and lacing, yeah baby, GT would love...............

Draught. Pours a medium amber, with a white head. Hoppy, fruity aroma, spruce, passion fruit, grapefruit, quite floral. Off-dry, medium body, high bitterness, balanced CO2. Very hoppy, resiny taste, apricot, mango, spruce, malt. (2012-05-04)

Pours a cloudy golden orange with foamy tan head. Aroma of caramel and floral hops. Taste is intense hops with a slightly unbalanced malt backbone of caramel. Thick mouthfeel with a wet and bitter finish. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

Hazy copper with a fine white head and a frosty looking lacing. Aroma of hops, taste of hops, and a bit of citrus. Tasty, and direct, not too refined. Definitely West Coast, and a hefty ABV to boot.

I very much enjoyed this beer. Lots of fuggin’ hops in the nose with hints of dried pineapple and some ol’ hints of straw. FUggin. For a double IPA it was very well-balanced, a high hop profile that gives plenty of bitter and fruity notes. Undertones of dried citrus, honey and bready tones were very pleasant and filling. I’m almost ashamed that I’ve avoided this brew for so long.

a one-two punch of whole cascades and then whole cascades -again. whole-leaf hops have a distinctively different aroma than pellet hops, and i enjoyed that aspect of this beer, but my complaint is in the manner it’s delivered. coronado seems to me, from many offerings i’ve tried, to get out the checklist of what is required in a style, and then smack you in the face with it -no subtlety, no enticement - just bamm! this beer screams "you want cascades... here’s your damn cascades!"

20th September 2009
Hazy amber beer. Frothy white head. Rich hoppy nose. Very slightly soft palate. Deep rich orange marmalade and grapefruit hops well joined up with a little creamy malt and aniseedy alcohol. Easy drinking rich IPA.

Bottle. Amber orange crystal clear with tan head. Citrus upfront aroma. Awesome bitterness. Lingers in the mouth for a while. I swear it turned cloudy after awhile. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

A clear golden colored beer, with a off white head. The aroma of hops, fruits like citrus with malt, flowery. The taste of nice hop bitter with fresh fruits. The aftertaste is nice bitter with some sweet.

Bottle. Gold pour with floaties. Aroma is flowery, citrus, floral, fresh hops. Flavor is bitter hops, bergamot, floral and quite thick bodied. Very nice balance. Great brew.