3.7 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 13/20
UPDATED: NOV 13, 2005 Bottle. Very attractive golden color. Aromas of pine, grapefruit and lots of hops. Flavor was unbelievably crisp with a big, pithy bite. Resinous. Long lasting bitter aftertaste.
4.2 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 17/20
Very attractive, magnifying copper with a 3/4" frothy orange-tinted head. Sweet aromatic assembly of hop bouquets, pineapples, ruby red grapefruit, orange-mango citrus cooler and a precursing bitter persona. Dry, chafing and far reaching bitterness titters with flavor contributions from papaya enzyme powder, freshly squeezed grapefruit and amarillo. Hints of citric oranges and mild amaretto join a dynamic combo of pine sap and freshly cut grass. Bold, medium-to-full mouth feel. Clinical balance expertise is exercised in all areas. Dry, palate scraping bitterness that lingers long into the night. Fantastic IPA.
3.7 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
12 oz bottle, from Brennan’s in Brookfield, WI. Cloudy, nearly opaque orangy apricot color, smallish creamy lasting white head...nice fruity, floral nose, touch of orange & apricot, bit of dogwood pungency...very sharp, consistent hoppiness from first to last, with light fruitiness to keep some balance...on the whole, just a touch too agressive for perfection, but an excellent example from a surprisingly little-known brewery.
4 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
If I’m in California eventually there is one thing I crave, an over the top west Coast IPA. El Toro IPA was the Golden Spike for me during my last visit. Purchased and consumed @ 99 Bottles for four bucks this bottle had a piney nose, citrus bitterness and sweet malt backbone. Easily reminded me of my West Coast fave, SNCA. If they served El Toro IPA at Coalinga State Hospital I’d be booking a room there for the next 25 years.
3.6 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 15/20
Draft. Orange amber color with a low whitish head. Citrus aroma. Nice grapefruit flavor with some smooth malt backing and good bitterness. Good IPA
3.8 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 17/20
On tap into a Fosters Lager glass, of all things. A real nice West Coast IPA that was much easier to drink than anything bottled that I found from El Toro. Orange and glistening with a thin head. Strong piney nose with a slight sweet caramel malt to back up the citrusy taste. Leaning heavily towards the hops, this beer finished dry and toasty as it warmed. Yum.
4.1 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 18/20
On tap at Jacks at Fishermans Wharf, SF. Clear golden with an orange tint. Thick head laces the glass completely. Big piney hop nose with a light citrus note. Medium bodied and smooth palate. Nice hop flavors with malt in the background. Lots of hops and a nice bitter finish. A pleasant surprise!
3.7 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 14/20
Bottle into Chimay glass. Sometime in 2004. Characteristic west-coast hoppy smell with grapefruit, but with a bit of vanilla. Deep, hazy orange in glass; modicum of head produces nice, durable tracings of lace. Strong acidity, very grapefruity; smoky hops are bitter on the finish. I like how the smoky bitterness emerges from the cauldron of sweet sour at the beginning. Nice firm body; mouthfeel is overall good, except that the finish becomes metallic at the end. Very very solid IPA.
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