Ithaca Cascazilla

Brewed by Ithaca Beer Company
Style: Amber Ale
Ithaca, New York USA

Serve in English pint, Shaker

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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.

Full aroma of orange,piney hops, muted malt, orange/red colour, pours a firm long lasting, finger of custard head,some pretty lace also. Strong taste of orange/pine bitterness, fine malt underpins quite well. Full bodied, tongue tinglingly bitter, almost chewy texture. Terrific! Cascazilla is the right name all right!

12oz bottle from MrChopin - thanks, Kevin! Vigorous pour, pale amber body with a sizable rocky head. Strong grassy hops in the nose, with underlying sweetness that doesn’t cloy or overwhelm. I was reminded of the Green Flash Red in a way, but upon tasting it, the beer is nearly as sharp or strong as it seems to aspire to. Decently hoppy red, nice to try.

Pours orange mahogany into a shaker. Fluffy micro head with excellent retention leaves spot lacing as it barely recedes. Citrus and resin aromas. Creamy caramel upfront, turning medium and soft in the middle yet crisp in the dry grapefruit finish. Nicely balance ride.

Draught at Boctown. Very hoppy fruity sweet nose. Fresh grassy hops, grapefruit, mild caramel malt. Clear brownish-amber body with thin off-white lacing head. Medium body with medium carbonation. Starts with medium dry irish ale type body, with hint of sweetness and caramel malt. Decent medium sweetness with hoppy floral grassy finish. Bitter and fresh but not overly harsh. Very mild finish considering the heaviness of the aroma and taste. Not overly complex but nice.

Hoppy bite in the nose, ripe with grapefruit,pine and grass, with undertones of vanilla. Pours deep bourbon brown with little head. Taste is slightly sour hoppyness, with little malt balance.

12oz bottle, kmweaver-exclusive non-RBSG pity-party tasting 2007. Pours a brilliant, clear light mahogany color; off-white head with good lacing. Light, earthy and citrus hop aroma. Medium mouthfeel: lively citrus hoppiness at the forefront (approachable; chewy), held up by an earthy and red fruit maltiness; definitely doesn’t showcase the dank, resiny hop profile that one likes to see from an IPA (this seems like more of a well-hopped red ale than anything), but it’s still a tasty beer. Medium, dry citrus hop finish, with some sugar and earthy notes.

a little oxidezed. hoppy irish red kind of feel to it. Not bad, but nothing really special. meh.

(Draught) Reddish brown and clear. Small white head. Pine, fruitiness and malts in aroma. Medium bodied palate with medium carbonation. Malts, pine, bitterness, fruitiness, lightly molasses and hint of roastedness in taste. Bitterness and pine in aftertaste.

Via secret santa Summer 2006. The beer pours to a nice glowing red body with a thin white head. The aroma is earthy with grapefruit and caramel malts. The flavor is earthy and grapefruit hops and caramel malts. Sweet. Definitely a hoppy "red". Toasty on the finish. The palate is medium-light bodied and lightly resiny. The beer is warming on the throat. Pretty good, but not a whole lot here.