Profiled by Ken Carman for PGA
Obviously that Cascade/Chinook grapefruit like nose up front, with a pale malt way behind that. Very crisp and fresh.
Big bubble head fades fast. Yellow with srm at about 5 or 6. Hazy, no light shines through. Bubbles hang on side of glass with small legs at best. Medium body that feels full due to hops, caramel malt and firm pale. The malt complexity, while far behind, is quite interesting. Somewhat Maris Otter, somewhat caramel.
Carmel malt with strong hops up front. Very grapefruit with IBUs probably well over 100: they say 88. I think they underestimated this. Almost brassy with the hops. This is a big, bold, beer and probably one of the best Imperial IPAs, less so a Barleywine. ABV 11.5%.
The mouthfeel is a little slick and astringent, but nowhere near what one would assume, considering. There’s a strong, grainy, malt sense that’s almost peppery, but not phenolic.
A pleasurable, grapefruit, hop bomb. Bravo, Amarillo, Horizon and Falconer’s Flight were the actual hops used.
86 Beer Advocate. 92 and 62 for style on Rate Beer.
This is not a quaff for the meek, but for the brave incredibly enjoyable.
4.5
Welcome to the PGA beer rating system: one beer “Don’t bother.” Two: Eh, if someone gives it to you, drink. Three: very good, go ahead and seek it out, but be aware there is at least one problem. Four: seek it out. Five: pretty much “perfecto.”
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Maria Devan lives in Ithaca, NY and is frequent reviewer of beer and a beer lover deluxe.