4.3 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 18/20
Pours a very dark amber, brown in color with a huge, frothy, off-white head. For an IPA this has a very intense, piney hop flavor! Very nice. Taste is huge hop flavor. There’s no way this is only an IPA. This is better than most DIPA’s that I’ve had. Huge, and creamy on the mouthfeel. I don’t know what else to say, other than this is easily one of the best IPA’s I’ve ever had. I’ve been wanting some Surly beers to see for myself what the hype is about. This one exceeds my expectations. Very well done!
4.3 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
Fresh from the brewery via growler in less than three hours. Normally I don’t care for very hoppy IPA’s, but wow! This one is hoppier than a dozen kangaroos in the middle of the hottest iron frying pan. Fresh out of the growler, it screams “pine” with a little citrus. A very thick copper and tan head. The bubbles in the head needs a pin to break them. The flavor is most excellent with hops as the dominate feature. There is some nice sweetness and bitterness, but an excellent IPA to help you forget how bad your favorite football team has performed last season, and realize that not everything in the world is all that bad afterall. Again, most Excellent. Use a tulip glass to get the best aroma and flavor. Food pairing? Not needed! Furious is meal all by itself. PROSIT!
4.3 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 18/20
Aroma - A fruit cup. No really, not grapefruit, not piney resin, a fruit cup. Some caramel as well but a refreshing nose to draw you into the depths of this offering.
Appearance - Poured into a pilsner glass from a 16oz metal can. Nice markings on the can to include "99 IBUs". Should be interesting. Popping the can doesn’t release any noteworthy carbonation sounds. The pout produces a mild one finger head. The resolution is nice, with good lacing on the sides of the glass (left enough headroom on the pour). Color is a clear orange-amber with ample carbonation feeding the remaining head.
Taste - First the hops, have to make mention of the obvious. Yes, they are present here in ample quantities, but the "force" behind them is well-balanced with a very present malty backbone. There is depth to this hop presence, more so than I’ve tasted in many DIPAs which seem to be more focused on "quantity". Yes, this is an IPA, a very tasty IPA. The expected finishing hop bite was very blunted (which is very much welcomed to this malt lover). Enjoyable.
Palate - The body is very dense for this offering. Lots to chew on here. There is a creaminess here that is outstanding. Nice "layering" on the tongue while at the same time a tongue-cleansing finish.
Overall - Perhaps my can had some age on it, or I’ve been trying to expand into DIPAs recently that I very much enjoyed this IPA. Top 10 IPA? Yes, well-ranked from my limited experience/perspective. I liked it better than Sculpin. I need more of this.
4.3 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 18/20
A: Pours a nice deep red color with a huge frothy foamy head. The head is a true warrior and hangs around for quite a long time. As I slammed down drink after drink it left behind sheets, and I do mean SHEETS of lacing.
S: I can tell before even taking a drink this is a very aggressive brew. The aromas are big and bold. Its hop madness times 3. Hops dominate here with citrus playing a big roll. I detect tons of ruby red grapefruit along with the acidity of lemon zest. The malt is present though and comes thru in undertones of caramel and coffee.
T: Wow the flavors abound. Immediately you are assaulted by bitter citric hops which assault your tongue and throat. My mouth and tongue is thoroughly coated by this gem of a beer. Deep pine resin reminiscent of pine tar comes on strong. A mild sweetness then overtakes you. I would describe the sweetness as a marriage between nutty toffee, and browned butter. It really smoothes this one out a bit. As the brew hits the bottom of my throat all taste subsides except for a nice hop bitterness that seems to last and last.
M: This is a full bodied brew that is nice and thick.
4.3 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 18/20
UPDATED: JUN 11, 2010 tasting on 3/6/10... very deep orange pour ... huge deep citrus hop notes on the nose with some earthy and grassy feeling to it... some dark fruit linger in over the body and some light banana notes as well. very full creamy smooth mouthfeel... a great IPA ... definitely not your average IPA in the least bit.
4.3 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 18/20
A nice late birthday present from beth- thanks a ton! pours copper with some nice red highlights. beige head. wow. nice juicy , citrusy hop aroma. some floral hops as well. pine. extremely well balanced. awesome.
4.3 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
16 oz. can thanks to tennisjoel. Dark orange pour with a creamy off-white head. Strong piney, grassy, and citrus hop aroma. Bitter hop flavor of mild grapefruit and pine with just a slight toffee sweetness to balance. Not sticky at all but just perfect for an IPA. This is one the better IPAs I’ve had.
4.3 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 17/20
Big thanks to mashmaster for that can. Looks not spectacular, the beer in the glass a bit darker than exspected, nice small head. Very hoppy-flowery aroma. Beer starts hoppy-fresh, flowery grasy. Very complex hoppy notes, not too dry. Modest bitter in the background. Also a bit fruity. Well balanced finish, very drinkable. A great beer!
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