imperial ipa

New Beer Blog Goose Island The Illinois Imperial India Pale Ale

In this beer blog, we are going to sample out The Illinois Imperial India Pale Ale that is the second of two high-end beers released this year from Goose Island Brewery. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on their beers, you know the history of this Midwest craft brewery. If you have not, please, read them to get to know this craft brewery. Let us get into this beer.

It has a clear dark copper color with a white constant head. The aroma has a heavy floral to a tropical fruit notes. The taste has a heavy tropical fruit to orange notes with a nice dry hop bite to a creamy. It has a heavy citrus notes throughout the drinking experience. It is a nice sipping Imperial IPA.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

“The Illinois” is in homage to the mile high skyscraper Frank Lloyd Wright designed for the City of Chicago that was never built. Had it been built, it would still be the tallest building in the world today. Inspired by this big idea, Goose Island’s brewers crafted a beer with towering hop character.

Here is a description from their website (www.gooseisland.com):

Brewer’s Notes:

The first Imperial beer of the year is The Illinois, a 9.0% ABV 95 IBU Imperial IPA that pushes the limits of hop flavor and aroma. Deep gold, complex citrus aroma, balanced clean bitterness, medium to full body.

Recipe Information:

Style: Imperial IPA

Alcohol by Volume: 9.0%

International Bitterness Units: 95

Color: Deep Gold

Hops: Chinook, Cascade, Citra, Meridian

Malts: 2-Row, Special Pale, C-20, C-60, Cara Red

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.gooseisland.com

Twitter: @gooseisland

In the end, this was one of my favorite Imperial India Pale Ale back in the day. This one is different than the one back in the day. I love my IPA’s. I love the hops that they used in this one anf The Ogden. The aroma and taste profile is tropical fruit city. It is not in your face bitterest like most Double or Imperial IPA’s on the market. This is a lay back devil that will sneak up on you. It does come off extremely drinkable for the beer style. I would be very careful because it will hit you. This is a great beer at a great price. I highly recommend this beer. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

Instagram: @djweiser13

New Beer Blog Sixpoint Brewery Hi-Res Ale

In this beer blog, we are going to get into another and a new brew from Sixpoint Brewery. It is their Hi-Res Ale. If you read my earlier beer blog post, you know the history of this Brooklyn Craft Brewery. If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts to get to know Sixpoint Brewery. Let us get into the beer.

It has a slight cloudy golden color with a nice white constant head. The aroma has citrus to slight grapefruit notes. The taste is a medium to full body with some grapefruit to tropical fruit notes. It is extremely drinkable Double IPA. The aftertaste has a nice mango or grapefruit notes. It is hard to pick up.

Here is a video from their website (www.sixpoint.com) and YouTube (www.youtube.com):

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.sixpoint.com

Twitter: @sixpoint

In the end of the night, I will have to say this beer put me down for the night. It is extremely drinkable and does not taste like a Double or Imperial India Pale Ale. Sixpoint has out did themselves again on this beer. I never thought I would find another Imperial IPA better than their Resin. I love the aroma and taste notes of the tropical fruits or grapefruit. If I still lived in Chicago, this would be my go to beer on a regular basis along with Resin. I have turn on mass-produced lager drinkers to this beer. I know how that sounds but they love it. If you are in the market where Sixpoint sells their beers, you need to run to the store RIGHT NOW and get yourself a four pack. You will thank me later. Share your Sixpoint love with others! Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Old Dominion Brewing Double D Double IPA

In this beer blog, we are going to sample Double D Double IPA from Old Dominion Brewing. If you read my earlier beer blog post on their Morning Glory Espresso Stout, you know the history of this East Coast Craft Brewery. If you have not, please, read that beer blog post to get to know Old Dominion Brewing. Let us get into the brew.

This Double IPA has a clear slightly dark copper color with a nice white head on it. The aroma has tropical fruit notes. The taste has mango to citrus notes with a dry hop aftertaste. It is a sipping beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Her parents named her Deanie Davis. Uncle Same assigned her call letters: Double D. This daring Imperial IPA detonates at 50 IBU’s and 9% ALC. by Vol.

Here is a description from their website (www.fordhamanddominion.com):

Double D Double IPA

Double D is a full-bodied Imperial India Pale Ale, flaunting sultry guava, mango, and tropical fruit aromas as a result of dry hopping with Citra, Zythos and Crystal hops. Brewed with light toasted malt and Bravo bittering hops, this double delights with smooth warming alcohols and a torrid finish.

9.0% alc/vol

90 IBUS

Best IPA Atlantic City Beer Festival

Pale, Munich and Chocolate Malts

Zythos, Crystal, Citra and Bravo Hops

Available In 12oz bottles, draft and in the Pinup Pack

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.fordhamanddominion.com

Twitter: @DominionBrewing

In the end, I have enjoyed most of their beers. I know being a reader and someone who knows me away from the words of this blog. I am pretty big fan of this brewery. I love how this Double IPA drinks. It has all the hop character that I love. I love how the hops kick off tropical fruit notes. I just think it is pretty funny how I am not a fan of tropical fruits. LOL! I love them in my beer. This beer is not a drinkable beer but it is a nice sipping beer for a hot summer day or night. This is a great beer with nice packaging. I love the play on words for the name of this beer. I highly recommend this beer. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Harpoon Brewery Leviathan IPA

In this beer blog, we are going to sample the first beer on this blog from Harpoon Brewery. It is their Leviathan IPA. I have been meaning to get around to write reviews on this brewery. I am a fan of their IPA. Harpoon Brewery was born in 1986 by Rich Doyle on a piece of paper while in Harvard Business School. He teamed up with Dan Kenary and George Ligeti to start brewing their beers. Harpoon Brewery brews several different beer styles and cider. They are best known for their IPA and Hefeweizen. Let us get into this beer.

It has a clear copper color with a nice white head. The aroma has some tropical fruit notes. The taste has some tropical fruit notes with a nice malty backbone. The aftertaste is a bitter hop finish. It is not over overpowering. It is a sipping beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Massive and complex hop additions yield a powerful bitterness that is steadied by sweet malt backbone in this colossal IPA.

Here is a description from their website (www.harpoonbrewery.com):

We welcomed the challenge of brewing a 90 IBU Imperial IPA that would showcase glorious American hops while maintaining a multi-dimensional character. Bring on the hops!

Description

This Imperial IPA is brewed with loads of pale malt and just enough caramel malt to provide a sweet malt backbone to balance the hop intensity. We used a mix of our favorite American hops including Chinook, Centennial, Simcoe, and Amarillo to create a complex hop flavor and lingering bitterness. Harpoon’s proprietary yeast lends fruity esters, while dry-hopping at the rate of over one pound per barrel produces this beer’s massive aroma.

Tasting Notes

Appearance: Clear, yellow/orangey in color

Aroma: Tropical fruit hop

Mouth feel: Full-bodied

Taste: Tropical fruit hop

Finish: Dry, bitter finish

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.harpoonbrewery.com

Twitter: @harpoon_brewery

In the end, Harpoon Brewery did a great job on this brew. I love the color and aroma. The aroma comes from the hops that kick off some nice tropical fruit notes. The drinking experience is the same as the aroma. The presentation is nice from the color and head on this Double India Pale Ale. I really enjoyed drinking this brew. It has everything that a hophead could want in an Imperial IPA. I highly recommend this brew. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Upland Brewing Double Dragonfly Imperial India Pale Ale

In this beer blog, we are going to get into my favorite craft brewery from Indiana, who is Upland Brewing. The brew that will be feature is Double Dragonfly Imperial India Pale Ale. If you read my earlier beer blog posts on this craft brewery, you know the history of Upland Brewing. If you have not, please, read those beer blog posts to get to know this brewery. Let us get into the beer.

It has a slight cloudy copper color with a constant white head. The smell is a flower notes. The taste has a piney with earthy notes with dry hoppy bitter finish. It is kind of drinkable beer.

Here is a description from their website (www.uplandbeer.com):

Double Dragon Imperial IPA

ABV: 9.1 |

IBU: 93 |

SG: 19.2 |

SRM: 15

We took our award-winning Dragonfly IPA and cranked up the malt and hops, but managed to hold onto the perfect balance our Dragonfly is known for. The result is a brew with a very powerful hop profile, matching malt character, and an enticing floral nose.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.uplandbeer.com

Twitter: @UplandBrewCo

Closing, I was sad when I was moving out of Chicago market. When I heard Upland Brewing, they were making it to the Chicago Market. I did not close on my condo until the end of the year. I was able to pick up some Upland Brewing beers before leaving town each time. As many of you know, I am a huge fan of this brewery and their Dragonfly IPA. I was so happy to see this beer, which is their Double Dragonfly, on the shelves at my old liquor store. I love the hops and aroma from this brewery. This is a big beer that is worth every penny to purchase this beer. I was pretty stun how it was kind of drinkable. I recommend this beer if you can find it in your market. I really hope they make it to the Michigan market. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Three Floyds Arctic Panzer Wolf Imperial India Pale Ale

In this beer blog, we are going to get into another beer from Three Floyds and the brew is Arctic Panzer Wolf Imperial India Pale Ale. If you read my read my earlier beer blog, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, read the history of this brewery. Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear dark copper to light amber color without a head on the beer. The smell is a fruity notes like mango. The taste is a huge and heavy mango notes with a dry fruit hop aftertaste. It is kind of drinkable beer. For an experience beer drinker, it is drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

A dry and stupendous hopped medium bodied Imperial India Pale Ale brewed with Canadian 2-row malt, dextrose sugar and lots of American hops. Arctic Panzer Wolf has superior aroma’s of marmalade, white wine, pine and apricot all mixed with an intense American hop bitterness. Cheers!

Here is a description from their website (www.3floyds.com):

9.5% ABV 100 IBUs

A massive IPA that will leave your palate its hapless victim. Scorched earth is our brewery policy.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.3floyds.com

Twitter: @3floyds

In closing, I will be first to say I am not a huge fan of this brewery because I believe their beers are overrated and over priced. I have to say I have been pretty impressed by this brew. I love the hops and the balanced from the malts. I love the aroma and the nice hops taste is really good. This brewery took their time to find the right hops for this brew. This is a well made beer and nice balance. I recommend you trying this beer. I would love to hear your thoughts on this brew and the brewery. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Stone Ruin Ten IPA

In this beer blog, we are going to get into another brew, which is Ruin Ten IPA, from Stone Brewery. If you read my earlier beer blog post, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, read that beer blog post to get to know this great California brewery. Let us get into the beer.

It has a clear copper color with a constant white head on the ale. The smell is a piney to earthy notes. The taste is about the same with carbonated piney to earthy notes. The aftertaste has a dry hop finish. It is a sipping beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle and website (www.stonebrewing.com):

IBUs 110ABV 10.8%Release Date June 17th, 2013

We first released this decidedly indelicate beer in 2012, as Stone Ruination Tenth Anniversary IPA, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of our belovedly bitter Stone Ruination IPA. Stone RuinTen IPA uses the same recklessly hoppy recipe as the 2012 release; only the name has changed, as we plan to unleash this belligerently delicious hop monster upon the public annually from now on. We packed a whopping five pounds of hops into each barrel, and cranked up the ABV to stand up to the hop onslaught. The results are glorious, and we know you’ll rejoice in tasting this audacious gem of hoppy splendor once again. You’re welcome.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.stonebrewing.com

Twitter: @StoneBrewingCo

In closing, Stone has a hop beast on their hands here. I have to say I enjoyed it very much, however, I just feel like this brew is over hopped too much. Even their normal brew, Stone Ruination IPA is over hopped to me. It could be the type of hops they are using makes me feel this way. I have to say it is a great beers. Please, do not think this is a negative note. There are IPA’s or Imperial IPA’s that are design just like this one. I love my fair share of them. This is a great beer but not a beer I will be drinking all the time. I will mix it in and out of my line up of beers once in a while. I recommend you trying this beer and I would love to hear your thoughts on it. I love talking about beer and hearing what other people think about it. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Speakeasy Double Daddy IPA

Speakeasy Brewery Double Daddy IPA is the next brew that is being featured in this beer blog. As many of you know, I have blogged on this brewery and I am huge fan of their brews. If you have not read those posts, please, read those beer posts to get to know this brewery. Let us get into another everyday brew from Speakeasy Brewery.

It has a deep dark copper color with a white constant head. The smell is a mango or tropical fruit to the beer. The taste is a carbonated mango without an aftertaste. It is drinkable beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

Doubling down on malt and hops, Double Daddy raises the stakes. With its good looks and no-limit style, Double Daddy takes the pot every time.

Here is a description from their website (www.goodbeer.com):

IMPERIAL INDIA PALE ALE

Doubling down on malt & hops, Double Daddy raises the stakes. With its good looks and no-limit style, DD takes the pot every time.

Style: Imperial India Pale Ale

Release Date: January, 2003

Alcohol Content: 8.5% by volume

Malts: Pale malted barley, English Munich Malts

Hops: 4 Varieties of Pacific Northwest Hops, 3 hop additions, including dry hopping

Yeast: Speakeasy Ale Yeast

Tasting Notes: Copper color. Huge hop aroma. Bitter, hoppy and warming alcohol on the palate. Finishes incredibly dry and clean for such a big beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.goodbeer.com

Twitter: @speakeasybeer

Closing out, Double Daddy is not a joke and you should not mess with this dude. They took their Big Daddy IPA to the next level. If you are a fan of their everyday six-pack IPA, you will love this Imperial IPA. There is a nice balance between the hops and malt unlike most Imperial India Pale Ales on the market. I would put this up against many Imperial IPAs in my market. It is drinkable but has the punch like most Imperial IPAs on the market. It is not over powering like you get from most Imperial IPAs. I highly recommend this brew from Speakeasy. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Green Flash Brewing Palate Wrecker Hamilton’s Ale

In this beer blog, we are going to get into a brewery, who is Green Flash Brewing, that I had a few of their brews. I have been wanting to get into their beers a little more. Everyone I know that are hophead keep on telling me to try this beer, which is Palate Wrecker Hamilton’s Ale. Green Flash was founded in 2002 by Mike and Lisa Hinkley in Vista, California. In 2011, they moved their brewery to San Diego, California. They brew several different beer styles but they are best known for their hoppy beers. Their beers come in kegs, four pack bottles, and twenty-two ounces bottles. As you can see in the photo above, we are getting into a beer in big bottle line.

It has a clear copper color with a white constant head on the beer. The smell is piney to citrus in the beer. The taste is carbonated piney with an extremely dry hop finish. This is a beer that some beer drinkers will be drinking water with it. It is a sipping beer.

Here is a description from the beer bottle and their website (www.greenflashbrew.com):

“Palate Wrecker was originally brewed for the Hamilton’s Tavern 2nd Anniversary celebration. It’s the most complicated West Coast-inspired IPA we have ever brewed-mashing and sparging with hopped wort, in addition to our hop layering regimen for IPA. By popular demand, it is now released for the world to enjoy.” Chuck Silva, Brewmaster

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.greenflashbrew.com

Twitter: @greenflashbeer

Ending, no kidding beer drinkers were demanding this beer to be release to the general public. This is awesome Imperial India Pale Ale. The only thing I do not like about it. I believe it is just a little bit over hopped but that is just being picking. Asides that, this is an awesome beer. I love the hops they use in this brew. This is a beer you need to sip. I highly recommend this beer. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

New Beer Blog Big Horn Ram Brewing Hopcicle Imperial IPA

In this craft beer blog, Big Horn Ram Brewing Hopcicle Imperial IPA is being feature in this post. This is a limited run and seasonal brew from the Wheeling location. If you read my earlier beer blog, you know the history of this brewery. If you have not, please, read the first part of that beer blog. Let us get into the brew.

This Imperial India Pale Ale has a deep copper color with a constant white head on the beer. The smell is a heavy citrus to the beer. The taste has a heavy citrus but a nice malty backbone to cut down the hops in this big beer. The aftertaste has a dry cirrus that lingers. For being a big IPA, this is a pretty drinkable beer.

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website: www.theram.com

Twitter: @theram and @rambrew

Closing, this Imperial India Pale Ale is not crazy over hop like other Imperial India Pale Ale. I have to say this is what I thought of this beer. If it was a solid, you would be licking this like crazy. Since it is in liquid form, it is smooth and silky on your tongue for the mouth feel. It is pretty drinkable and malt backbone is pretty solid. These brewers at Ram Wheeling did a great job on this beer. Go get some! Drink it! Enjoy it! Metal it! \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email: djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

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IMPERIAL INDIA PALE ALE

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