Portsmouth Imperial IPA

Deep copper in color this poured a thick fluffy off-white head. The nose showed off aromas of citrus with a floral edge that picks up an herbaceousness with time and finishes with some light caramel. In the mouth it was medium to full-bodied, rich and concentrated with a wonderfully smooth midpalate. It transitions to a bitter finish that is slightly dry but also holds the richness from the midpalate. Really well-balanced.

Draft at the brewery. Pours haxy amber color with foamy white head. Aroma floral hops. Taste of hops, hops and hops, with bitter finsih. You will feel the alcohol.

Purchased a bomber of this from the brewery. Was more expensive than I initially thought but whatever. A great beer, hazy copper color with lots of piney hops and a touch of citrus fruit. Bitter, dry finish. A hint of caramel malt to balance it but the hops dominate. Nicely done!

12 ounce draught glass at the brewpub in mid-May 2007. Dark honey-apricot color with a lasting small smooth cream head....big, luscious fruity nose, peaches and apricots in light natural syrup, really fresh at the front but with a dried, musty quality apparent after a few nosings, lightly woody hops to go with the fruity juiciness....beautiful-drinking, fruity-light honey character upfront in the mouth, melds effortlessly with the drier, earthy-loamy hops that start biting at midpalate....floral character comes to dominate things halfway through the glass....on the verge of being too syrupy, but the strong carbonation cuts things nicely. This was a joy to drink, one of the best interpretations I’ve had lately and another jewel in this great brewpub’s crown.

22oz bottle shared courtesy of zrrbrrt. Poured a medium and hazy amber color with a smaller sized off white head. Aromas grapefruit rind, orange peels, caramel, pine and caramel. Tastes of grapefruit, oranges, caramel, and melons. Nicely balanced. Alcohol content well hidden. A very enjoyable IIPA.