Epic Barrel Aged IPA

Epic Brewing Company (NZ)
Brewed at Steam Brewing Company
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Auckland, New Zealand

Serve in Shaker, Tulip

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Clear Whisky colour [yes identical to Dimple]. Chomping at the bit to try this. It starts as a musty floral scent then a massive oak presence. The aromas just pour from the glass in a most pleasant cloud. Taste is similar with citrus, pine and quite high IBU’s then a long oaky dry bitter finish. Definitely a taste sensation but not a sessionable as the Armageddon.

Bottle. Clear golden amber pour with a foamy off-white head that sticks around. Very hoppy aroma has notes of pine, mint, lemon, juniper and caramel, with a slight hint of soap in the background. Flavour is quite similar to the aroma but shows a little stronger influence from the oak barrels, with hints of vanilla, wood and grass. Mouthfeel is light and relatively slick with moderate carbonation and a lingering bitter finish that is surprisingly mild. Not too bad an IPA but a bit unbalanced and rough around the edges. The original Armageddon is the better beer.

Bright orange with an off-white head. Sweet aroma of light caramel and flowers with some pears, grapefruit and a hint of oak. Taste is very grapefruity with caramel sweetness - like a morning grapefruit dusted with soft brown sugar and stuck under the heat to caramelise. Also quite woody and a bit oxidised, with sherry and chardonnay notes. Fruity finish with lingering bitterness. Lots of nice flavours - there are English touches, Nth American touches and a definite Kiwi edge to the hops. But it seems a little muddled more than it does complex.

very interesting to see the change... as it was been aged in oak, it took me some time to put my finger on the aroma/ flavour i was experiencing.... but it really reminded me of some Chardonnay wines i have tried in the past, i don’t like Chardonnay, but in this case the character of the usual epic IPA is still there, very present, not letting itself be forgotten. really interesting this one, like no other beer i have ever tasted, it made me get back up onto ratebeer... (i usually can’t be othered...)

Lively floral and grapefruit nose, Light golden colour, but head fades a bit too quickly. Quite a sour note on the tip of the tounge, but very pleasant as it fades to a strong bitterness at the back. Quite a light body ale, but quite lively and interesting. Overall, full of life, flavour. Citrus fruit chases bitterness around the mouth, neither overpowering the other. I often find the original Armageddon a bit too one-note; like a sliver of lemon wrapped around a brick of hops as it bashes your taste buds in. The barrel ageing has soften the ales original rough edges, making a far more interesting proposition. I like it, though some may prefer more ommph from their IPA.

Aroma certainly exhibits all the barrel aging components one might expect. For me it brings a sherry like quality to the nose, the citrus nature of the hops is amplified then smothered by the impact of the oak - its slighty piney for my money rather than the oak you get out a chardonnay, but it accentuates the package rather than detracts from it. Standard Armageddon loveliness in the classic amber gold body with a fine white head. Thinking again about the aroma it’s probably grapefruit pith crossed with a lumber yard. Whatever it is I’ve spent the last five minutes of a rather good Simpsons episode thinking about it. Rather sherry like to taste, and the oak really comes thru with a lovely vanilla quality in the finish. The body lacks the richness to back that up but the whole effect is harmonious enough for me. The usual citrus and huge bitterness are subdued but again the oak shines thru and rounds it all up nicely. Maybe not one for everyday drinking - I can’t help thinking it should come in 150ml bots for aperitf style drinking; maybe to replace a sherry in that respect. Very nice for what it is and I’m pleased I’ve got two bottles so I can drink the second without typing at the same time.

Aromas are a bit cidery. Lots of woody notes. Quite a lot like wine. The flavours are intense, and strange... Not sure if I’m much of a fan. Quite a dry finish. The hops are dulled down a lot. I like ordinary IPA much more.