3.7 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
From Skyview. A very bitter ipa. Some citrus. It has kind of a soft, light feel on the palate, but not really any sweetness or malt, just bitter hop. Very unusual for this style, there is tons of sediment in the opaque beer.
3.6 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 16/20
Growler courtesy of Skyview. Cloudy orange color with no head. Strong aroma of tangerine and caramel. Very big bitter taste. The tangerine fades into an earthy bitterness. Quite grassy. Caramel malt stands out.
3.8 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
UPDATED: SEP 2, 2008 Bottled this time. I gave it a slightly lower score, but still enjoyed it. The character was a little more muted. Pretty much the same notes. Original tap rating follows. Dark gold body with a slight haze and an off white head. There was lots of grapefruit in the aroma along with musk and dandelion. The taste was grapefruit with some biscuit balance. There was also some toffee with pine in the finish. A nice well balanced IIPA, but will not please the hop juice desiring hop heads.
3.7 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
Orange and peach colored body with a whiteh head. Sweet citrus and mandaring orange notes, very crisp on the tongue, very fruity but not candy-like, with a moderate bitterness, overall quite well placed on the tongue. Refreshing, balanced and very well made.
3.6 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 14/20
On tap at Grumpy Troll. Poured hazy, darker amber with a short cap of off-white head. The aroma picked up lots of deep, rich grapefruit, caramel, and grainy pine notes at its core along with some alcohol warmth. Sweet, spritzy grapefruit and pine bitterness stole the show in the flavor with caramel and grapefruit sweetness backing it up.. lengthy sweet, bitter, and warm finish left a fine impression. Grainy and heavier-bodied on the palate, leaving grapefruit bitterness and pine resin on the finish.. creamy middle. Nice one.
3.7 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
On draught at the brewpub in Mt Horeb, Wisconsin. Pours a hazy golden amber brew with a fast dissolving white head that diminishes to a fine film and white ring. Aroma of light whte bready malt, some orange zest, light yeast and a touch of cotton candy. Taste is medium bodied, very light carbonation with a bitter orange zest and a biscuity malt flavor. Finish is sweetish-bitter with more of a fruity than malt aftertaste flavor. Definately an Imperial IPA!
3.6 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 15/20
Very cloudy light golden color with a smallish, but lasting white head. Aromas of malt, floury biscuits, light dough and simple yeast, not a heavy hops influence in the nose with just a touch of mild pine. Light start in the flavors with some herbal hops. Middle and end shine with loads of malt and light ruby red grapefruit. Finish is again full with a touch of alcohol and tons malt - lightly toasted and just a maltheads dream. My kind of american IIPA.
2.7 AROMA 5/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 10/20
I thought this beer was really mild in flavor for an DIPA; and I would rate it as below average for the style, but it wasn’t bad or unpleasant.
This beer was amber in color, relatively odorless, and flavor was what you’d expect, but very mild for an DIPA. I’m not a huge fan.
3.7 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
draught at brew pub--not traditionally a IPA fan but this was pretty good. Hazy in color and well more palatable than expected. Creamy to the taste, and I enjoyed that. The entire Grumpy Troll brews were slightly above expectations.
3.6 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 13/20
On tap at brewpub
The final sample of the afternoon, this was a solidly made imperial IPA. While it did not blow my socks off like some bottled double IPAs can (such as Dreadnaught) it is very well done for a small brewpub. If you get the chance to try this and are anything of a hophead do not pass it up.
Aroma / Appearance - The bronze body had a trace amount of transparency underneath the thin oily head. The scent of peppery grapefruit combined with honey and cotton candy to create an in-the-face package. While it does not totally assualt the senses it is strong enough to leave an impression.
Flavor / Palate - A caramelized bitterness attaches itself to the inside of the mouth. Chocolate cheesecake comes next followed with honey and cream cheese. For an imperial IPA it certainly has an unusual kick. The hoppiness is the strength of this beer. I would recommend waiting until the end of the night to try it since it lingers for quite a while on the palate.
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