Tree Molto Bella Espresso IPA

Brewed by Tree Brewing
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Kelowna, Canada

Serve in Shaker, Tulip

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My first coffee IPA... I’d been putting it off due to not wanting to get buzzed while drinking, and also... because it’s a coffee IPA? WTF? The nose is all nutty espresso, a bit of mineral water, the taste is pretty bitter, lots of espresso, the hops don’t really come through in the flavour, only in adding a bit to the bitterness, the main thing that makes me feel this isn’t a coffee apart from the carbonation is the mineral water flavour. Funny that they mention chocolate in the description because this is the first coffee beer I’ve had where I can’t pick up that trace; I guess espresso tastes a bit like chocolate, but the malts are certainly not adding to that aspect. I guess there’s fruitiness in the flavour if you really reach for it. I like it though, since I like espresso, but I dunno reminds me of a "raspberry beer" that just tastes like raspberry juice.

Giving it pretty high marks because the coffee is obviously good quality.

Poured from 650mL bottle. Opaque orangey yellow with minimal white head. Predominant espresso aroma. Overpowering espresso flavour with mild hops in the background. Feels like a gimmicky one note pony, but it’s good for what it is.

Mostly clear orange copper, off white foamy head settles and fades. Pungent coffee aroma, some roasted malt. Strong coffee bean taste dominates to the finish, burnt dark malts and some subdued caramel sweetness. Average carbonation, light bodied, lightly hopped. Light bitter hops emerge as it warms with some faint citrus and grapefruit notes. Different and enjoyable. LBW (Lagerboys Be Wary)

Well constructed beer, good aroma, lots of coffee, nice texture and mouthfeel, and the hops come through well. OTOH wasn’t really impressed at how the coffee matched with the IPA profile, felt a bit like drinking two beers mixed together.

Large bottle. Color is reddish amber, with a moderate off-white head. Coffee grounds on the nose. Hmm. Tastes of of coffee, then caramel. Hops are well to the background. Different, that’s for sure. Thumbs up!

Amber pour with white head. Wow - big espresso aroma and underneath all the coffee grounds some grapefruit and caramel sweetness can be picked up. Medium bodied. Flavours of espresso, tobacco, pepper, with undertones of citrus and malt sweetness. This is very interesting. I dont think think I’ve ever had a beer with the coffee flavours this prominent. The finish is coffee and grapefruit. Not too bitter overall. Well done.

(650ml bottle) Purchased at Hillside Liquors. I think I grabbed the last bottle? So, in advanced, I have got to admit that I was skeptical - yet intrigued enough to buy a bottle. Pours a medium almond coloured head atop a reddish copper body. Nose of coffee, dirt and ash. The flavour has depth - the coffee actually amplifies the hop bitterness. Orange piney hops with a real leaf chewiness and grainy coffee sand sludge through the finish. This could be my favorite beer of 2013. Great work Tree! --- reviewed on RateBeer.com

650mL bottle, pours a hazy amber / bronze with a medium white head. Aroma of pure espresso, not much else, certainly no hops detectable. Flavour brings out moderate espresso upfront, obscuring the hop character which very faded and far back. Tastes quite fresh, with the espresso dominating. As always with this bizarre combination of coffee and IPA, the coffee tends to outdo the hops. Solid stuff though for what it is.

Beautiful amber color, hazy, with creamy head. Nice aroma of a coffee bag. The mouthfeel is rather dry. The flavor is just similar to a mug of coffee, and it’s beery just in its carbonation and enhanced bitterness.
Good beer. Maybe drinking it before bedtime was not a good idea…

Orange in color with red tinges. MInimal head (beer was cold), strong hoppy aroma. Mix of coffee and hops in taste, finishes clean despite all the hops.