Vortex I - Pisgah Brewing Co.

unionturf

North Carolina

4.72/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had on tap at Pisgah last Friday 3/13/08.

Poured murky orange with a 1/2 head, lacing throughout the finish

Smell is a citrus / orange hoppy smell, very nice!

Taste...well this is where it really counts and wow is this good. Very hoppy and yet balanced for me anyway. You would NEVER know this is 10%...ever..untill the buzz hit you. ;)

Drinkability...as long as you have a driver or are at home it's great! I could drink it all night long but I won't...lol. I've had PTE, Blind Pig, Hopslam, NN and others over the past month and why this beer doesn't have the hype of them amazes me. One of the best beers I have ever had, they had them in bottles when I was there but were not selling them yet and I was begging, I guess I have to drive back in a few weeks.

Serving type: on-tap

03-18-2009 03:15:49 | More by unionturf

charlzm

California

2.88/5  rDev -28.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3

Consumed on draft on September 2nd, 2012 at Barley's Taproom, Asheville, NC. Reviewed from notes.

Deep burnished copper color with a very fine head of off-white froth.

No aroma to speak of.

Very thick, sweet herbal flavor, somewhat like cherry cough syrup. The flavor goes on forever. Bitterness not as noticeable as promised (at over 100 IBUs, if the brewery is to be believed) though there is a lot of wet, earthy, floral hop stuff going on for hours in the aftertaste. A bit overpowering.

Mouthfeel is a little on the flat side and not especially thick.

Not sure what they were going for with this beer, but it's a real challenge to drink even a small-ish pour of this one. I have had much bigger beers that drink smaller than this one.

Serving type: on-tap

05-10-2013 19:44:49 | More by charlzm

orangesol

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -6.9%

04-11-2013 03:11:52 | More by orangesol

DmanGTR

New York

4.25/5  rDev +5.5%

02-02-2013 21:27:32 | More by DmanGTR

t0rin0

California

3/5  rDev -25.6%

12-08-2012 22:09:45 | More by t0rin0

mullenite

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +5.5%

12-06-2012 00:21:59 | More by mullenite

rlcnmeyer

Missouri

3.75/5  rDev -6.9%

11-04-2012 18:35:03 | More by rlcnmeyer

sdaly3

New Hampshire

3.75/5  rDev -6.9%

08-23-2012 15:23:30 | More by sdaly3

jifigz

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to Commis for the trade and hooking me up with this one.

The appearance is a dark and deep orange with rich color. The head is slightly off white and lingers for a while, even though it was rather small. The aroma is pretty mild, but this beer is rather cold. It would have a greater aroma, and I would enjoy it more, if it was a little warmer. The taste is rich with spicy and herbal hops. The initial taste is of a honey like malt sweetness which quickly gives way to some hops and a little alcohol bite. The finish is hop flavor and bitterness. The MF is fairly dry and light bodied compared to other "Strong Ales" but very enjoyable. The lighter body makes it seem much more enjoyable on a hot day.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2012 13:50:02 | More by jifigz

Wolfpack2005

North Carolina

4.13/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-Poured an amber/orange color that is somewhat hazy. Minimal amount of head that didn't linger very long.

S-Not as strong on the nose as I was expecting but, picking up a sweet caramel malt and brown sugar smell with a faint hop aroma.

T-The sweetness of caramel/toffee malts is the first taste to make itself known. Also detecting dark fruit and oak notes as well. Then leads into a light piney hops flavor that balances the sweet malts nicely. Finishing with a mild alcohol taste too, especially as it begins to warm up.

M-A medium body with low carbonation that make this beer pretty smooth.

O-This is a great hybrid beer that falls somewhere in between an Imperial IPA and barleywine. Despite living only 3.5 hours from the brewery this is the first chance I've had to sample there beer, I will definitely be seeking their beers out in the future.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2012 00:55:31 | More by Wolfpack2005

greencovesteve

North Carolina

4/5  rDev -0.7%

02-20-2012 07:48:11 | More by greencovesteve

ygtbsm94

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -13.2%

01-26-2012 06:22:40 | More by ygtbsm94

Gushue3

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +11.7%

01-14-2012 04:16:34 | More by Gushue3

jophish17

Georgia

3/5  rDev -25.6%

12-24-2011 07:27:23 | More by jophish17

tclapper

North Carolina

4/5  rDev -0.7%

12-03-2011 23:42:14 | More by tclapper

brandoman63

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +11.7%

11-28-2011 03:41:13 | More by brandoman63

Rochefort10nh

New Hampshire

5/5  rDev +24.1%

11-24-2011 14:37:53 | More by Rochefort10nh

Finatic

Florida

3/5  rDev -25.6%

11-24-2011 12:42:15 | More by Finatic

Photekut

Azerbaijan

3/5  rDev -25.6%

11-17-2011 01:27:01 | More by Photekut

eerbayman

North Carolina

4/5  rDev -0.7%

11-15-2011 10:42:45 | More by eerbayman

seanwhite

Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +24.1%

11-14-2011 16:54:20 | More by seanwhite

corby112

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy dark amber/orange color with a two finger frothy white head that has pretty good retention, slowly fading into a lasting ring. Sporadic lacing left behind.

Citrus and floral hop aroma with hints of pine, grapefruit, orange peel and pineapple. Subtle malt backbone with Graham and biscuit.

On the lighter end of medium bodied with a blast of bitter and sweet hops up front that linger throughout into a dry finish. Lots of floral and citrus hop flavor with hints of mango, pineapple and grapefruit as well as some pine needle and a spicy, grassy character. Nice malt backbone that provides balance without overpowering. Hints of caramel, biscuit and Graham cracker. Wellmbalanced and pretty quaffable.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2011 08:47:16 | More by corby112

mikeyv35

New York

4.15/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Date: 06/12/2011
Vintage: 2009
Glass: DFH Chalice
Type: 22oz. Bottle

Pours a light brown mahoghany in color w/ a skim coat white head that produces light lacing. Aromas of caramel, toffee, oak, some dark fruits, and a touch of pine. The taste was caramel/toffee up front, leading into oak, and finishing w/ hop bitterness and basement mustiness. Medium bodied and creamy/lush as all Pisgah brews are. Pretty easy to drink, but will definately kick you in the rear end.

Overall, very good, but not what I expected at all. I realize I did not drink this fresh by any means, but stylistically this is without a doubt an American Barleywine.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2011 21:42:10 | More by mikeyv35

Tripphop

Virginia

3.8/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Very good looking beer. Reddish orange color with good clarity. Head is generous, an off white color. Fine carbonation sits around the edges through the whole drink. Aromas are stale and unappealing, smells like old musty hops. Taste is redeeming, loads of carmal malt and a distinct styling to the Pisgah lineup. Finish is bright and bitter with resinous hops and the Pisgah yeast doughiness.
A good beer, but I prefer their IPA's and stouts.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2011 22:07:42 | More by Tripphop

avalon07

South Carolina

4.13/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Poured from a bottle to a pint glass. Had an amber color and a slightly cloudy consistency. There was an inch of foamy, long-lasting head. Very good lacing.

S: A very aromatic beer: A strong citrus presence along with malt, pine and alcohol.

T: Tasted of citrus (lemon), malt in the finish, pine, and a little hops. The alcohol is there, front and center, as well. A complex and forceful flavor.

M: A good amount of carbonation with a somewhat slick finish. Medium-bodied.

D: An interesting and drinkable beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2011 12:04:28 | More by avalon07