ReaperAle Sleighor Double IPA

Brewed by Sudwerk Privatbrauerei Hubsch
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Davis, California USA

(... wow... big changes to the RateBeer rating system, and I like the fact that I can’t scroll down to be influenced by other ratings... but I digress.) Light-hazed copper-colored body, moderately carbonated beneath an everlasting head of creamy ecru suds and froth. Aroma shows more balance than I was bracing myself for, procuring overshelved caramel/taffy before a fresh-squeezed grapefruit and a pinecone tossed into a sinkful of lemon dishwater. Mostly underwhelming flavor has a heavy dose of grapefruit, a touch of tea and a big hit of alcohol, but this doesn’t burn my tastebuds as DIPA’s normally do. Sourness and a touch of phlegminess lingers on the palate. I’m feeling that the "intensity" here is due more to the alcohol than the hops. Would I call this sessionable? Possibly. I easily finished a bomber myself and continued on... albeit with a slight stagger. Buy it again? No. Sweet name and label, love that Reaper pushes the envelope in that regard! ~~~~~~~~~~~ Consumed 12/01/2009, purchased approx Sept. 2009 @ Kenwood Liquors, Homer Glen, IL.

The aroma was not dominate and rather mild when I poured this one into a glass. A bit of yeast and malt. A hint of alcohol. Pretty reddish amber, very clear with a lacing, lasting head. Flavor is nicely balanced with a sweet start and a nice bitter finish. A delicate smokiness is in there as well. The smoke is in the finish and lingers in the after taste. Pretty good.

Intense hops aroma. Heavy mouthfeel. Very bitter finish that gets more bitter quickly. Intense flavor. Not enough malt to counter the bitter hops. I don’t like sweet IPAs but this one needs more balance.

Jon’s bottle looked great with cloudy grapefuit and good white head, it smelled very nice hops, bit it was weak taste, like sat in sunshine for at least a year.

In the bomber bottle from Whole Foods Oak Park IL. Exactly like it promises: a DIPA and nothing more. This is not over the top in the use of hops, but has a very competent blend of malt to support the citrus profile. I’m not sure as to when making a double of something or a big beer started qualifying as a Holiday Beer, but I’d like to see the addition of something celebratory other than amarillo hops. A good beer, but leaves my holiday wonderment wanting just a bit more.

Bottle 22fl.oz.
Clear medium amber orange color with a average, frothy to creamy, good lacing, mostly lasting, off-white head. Aroma is moderate to heavy malty, caramel, burnt toffee, raisin - berry notes, light alcoholic. Flavor is moderate to heavy sweet and moderate bitter with a average to long duration. Body is medium, texture is oily, carbonation is soft. [20090913]

This beer pours a deep amber/red with a medium white head leaving a little down the sides. The aromas are lots of citrus and a little pine. The flavors are grass and cirtus. Overall a really good beer! Cheers!

22oz. Bottle: Aroma of hops, caramel malt, resin, light grapefruit, light tropical fruit, lychee, and light pine. Poured orange/deep amber in color with a large, creamy, dense, off-white head that diminished but lasted throughout. Cloudy. Very sparkling. Opaque. Very good lacing. Flavor is lightly sweet and light to medium bitter. Tastes of wood, hops, toasted malt, caramel malt, light resin, malts, and burnt butterscotch. Medium body. Average texture. Average carbonation. Hops, burnt butterscotch, and slight caramel finish. 80+IBUs??? I do not think so. Still, 9.1%ABV is totally hidden.