Elysian The Immortal IPA

Bomber. Pours a clear golden orange color with a small head. Grapefruit and pine notes can be found in the aroma and flavor. There is something else strange about this beer...is it vanilla? A bit watery mouthfeel. I prefer my west coast IPA’s to make a hop statement, which this one is lacking. Not a bad beer, just not a good representation of a good west coast IPA.

nice gold/orange color, head is white, thin. aroma is of lemony citrus and earthy grainy hops. Flavor is quite balanced between the hops and malts with a nice bitterness coming through in the finish. In the end, I prefer more of a hop presence in my IPA. Pretty good, but nothing special.

2006 Vintage... Elysian The Immortal IPA is a beautiful and fantastic IPA in all regards. It is an orange-copper color with a large, dense, rocky, and foamy off-white head. I have detailed lacing marks from the very top lip of the glass all the way to the bottom! A nice and mellow combination of semi-sweet citrus, pineapple, and grapefruit comprise the alluring aroma. There is a light caramel and honey flavor maltiness underneath a bunch of grapefruit hop flavor. The bitterness seems mild to moderate at first, but it gradually intensifies with each swallow. This beer is very well balanced overall. The carbonation level is pretty mild and body of this be is medium, The resulting effect is a mellow, soft, and smooth palate that complements the other characteristics of this beer so nicely. "The Immortal" is exactly what an IPA should be. It is a wonderful beer that’s easy, fun, and refreshing to drink... 22 oz bottle (6.3% ABV) from the first trade with kenb in October 2006. Thanks Ken! This was a delicious IPA.

Sampled at the O-Town throwdown. Pours a nice copper color with white head. The aroma is full of grapefruit hoppiness and some malt sweetness. The flavor starts with sweetened orange juice and grapefruit that turns more and more bitter as the finish approaches. Ends with a pleasant hop flavor.

Tap... this was a nice refreshing IPA. Poured a hazy orange/red, thin white head. Full body hoppy flavor with just the right amount of malt, citrus fruits and other spices. Finished very clean and short.

22 oz. bottle courtesy of asteele8. Crystal clear deep gold pour with a nice medium/large soapy head that leaves some decent lace. Hop dominated aroma of pine and orange peel that largely hides a light toffee and honey contribuition. Light to medium body with carbonation to match. MOuthfeel has a certain resinous quality and a bit of astringency. Bitterness up front that extends throughout a long finish, There is some light maltiness, but it can’t compete enough to bring a good balance. A very drinkable IPA, and refreshingly bitter.

Draught sampler at Elysian Brewpub, Seattle. Orange-copper colour. Lots of grapefruity hops in the aroma and flavour, but it’s not sharply bitter - there’s enough malt to keep things in line. Mouthfeel is soft, and a bit thin. Simple, but pleasant.

Draught pint at Redbones on 12/20/06
Copper-tangerine with some melon orange hues. White/off-white head is medium sized and fades slowly to cover, leaving moderate lacing behind. Well-carbonated, high clarity.
Bitter in the nose and very dry. Seems a bit old, though this keg has been kept for only 2 months in cold storage. It has that vegetal/plant-like character that seems like dull, soggy hop bitterness without much aromatic livliness. There is still a bit of pine twang and light herbal and spicy suggestions (faint) and the malts are still pretty limber. Not overly sweet in the nose, though a touch bready and with some apparent crystal malt. Clean and no alcohol apparency. Medium strength of aroma, but the dull, heavy bitterness seems to work against it.
Bitter and soggy, overwhelmingly so, with bready, tacky maltiness and a medium amount of carbonation. Not too sweet, by any means, but just annoying on the palate, throwing pine, citrus and tons of acidity at the palate and quickly fatiguing it. Brief spots of light base malt (light caramel and honey) with a light melon-like hoppiness show that there are (or more accurately, were) good aspects to this beer, but I can’t figure out why it’s so massively dull and bitter and seemingly stale. All of the other Elysian beers were in perfect shape at Redbones. Warming allows more sweet spots to arise, which help cleanse some of the bitterness, but breadiness still persists, making the effect short-lived. Modestly engaging carbonation, so nothing wrong in that department. Don’t know if they just forgot about the aroma and flavor hops, and went overboard on the IBUs in this batch. I’ll definitely try it again next time I get the chance.