Ithaca Cascazilla

Best By October; Sampled August 2008
A sharp pour produces a three finger-thick, light tan colored head that sits on top of a clear, deeply red stained, dark amber colored brew. When held up to the light the beer shows a brilliantly clear fully red, copper color. As I pour this really sticky, huge aromas of crystal malt waft from my glass. A closer inspection yields an ample hop character that helps to tame the crystal malt abuse; the hops contribute bright aromas of candied grapefruit peel, tangelo and some light lychee notes. The crystal malt character contributes toasty malt notes, sticky caramelized grain touches and a sort of toffee / brown sugar sort of Maillard-type note. The aroma is not nearly as bad as that first pure whiff of crystal malt suggested and is actually somewhat more balanced towards the hop character than that of malt.

Quite frothy and a bit over carbonated, the beer definitely foams a bit as it hits my tongue. Once this is vigorously swirled to a more manageable carbonation level I can notice that sweet, caramelized malt notes accentuate a sticky, citrus character reminiscent of tangelo zest and grapefruit. There are some notes of pine here as well, but these come in more towards the finish where there is also a substantial, but well tempered by the malt, hop bitterness. As the beer warms in my glass the crystal malt flavors become more pronounced; lots of caramelized malt sugars, sticky, with some astringent grain notes and an almost bitter malt character.

Not bad, but the focus on the crystal malt character can be a bit much at times. If I wasn’t focusing on tasting this beer the over-use of crystal malt really wouldn’t bother as much as it does.

355 mL. (Says best before Sept, but it doesn’t say which year!) Reddish brown with a thick film of head. The hops (grapefruit and maybe some pineapple) are there in the aroma, but there is also some caramel sweetness. The flavour is quite sweet as well, but the hops dominate, both in terms of flavour and finish. Not bad, but nowhere near the complexity or refinement of Mill Street’s Tankhouse Ale.

Amber-copper in colour, thin off-white coloured head, good lacing. The aroma is floral, very sweet, juicy, light lightgrapefruit, caramel. The flavour is of light grapefruit, moderate sweetness, sticky, some caramel. Sweet hoppy mouthfeel, meidum/light body, medium carbonation. Finishes lingering, some pine and grapefruit.

A small body hurts this, not overly hoppy. Wasn’t the hop bomb I was expecting.

355ml bottle from the Premier Gourmet in Buffalo, New York.
Opened on March 21 2008.
Best before October 2007.

A clear ruby red beer with a small off-white head that leaves lace but doesn’t last. Aroma is big fruity, citrusy hoppiness with some caramel malt in the background. The flavor has more of this sweet maltiness, but the hops are certainly still there. A solid IPA, I don’t know what all this "red ale" business is.

Coming full circle, we kicked off this year’s Penn State Brew Fest weekend with a brew we raved about at last year’s event. Word was the demand had the State College distributors ordering cases only days after the event ended... indeed worth a year’s wait. Dark ruby red body with medium effervescence--uneven off-white brownish head in a pint glass, opaque but intimidating... robust hops intrude immediately, appropriate to the bottle’s label...beautiful malt balance with spruce, toasted caramel and occassional peat scents for complexity...heavy, full-bodied, warming rush...actively effervescent and crunchy palate... "monster" hops early, mega malt late hammering like twin pistons on the tongue--rich, pucker-sweet and a bit of smoke(?)...BIG taste but again, balanced beyond the predictable "I ate a Christmas tree" feeling that we sampled from others at the event. Now, in a 12 oz. and without the pressure of comparison, truly this beer is a standout in the style.

Bottle. Reddish amber pour with a thick cream colored head. Has an earthy hop aroma with a little bit of caramel in there too. Has a really nice hop flavor with an underlying caramel sweetness. This is not a normal IPA, its different in a good way, interesting and enjoyable.

Draught at Ithaca Beer Company in NY. Amber colored, big beige head. Aroma is very floral with pine, grapefruit and soap. Flavor is decent, some caramel, but could have a little better malt-hops balance.

12 oz. bottle from Premier Gourmet - Pours a clear reddish-amber color with a medium size off white head. Nice layered lacing. Aroma is floral and light citrus hops. Flavor is sweet esters and hops. Medium body. A nice IPA.