ImPaled Ale - Middle Ages Brewing Co., Ltd.

sirsurly

4.25/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

An amazing offering despite the dorky label. You want citrus in your IPA? We're talking pink grapefruit, fresh perfect citrus, combined with all the bitterness you want in a well balanced IPA. I had this stocked in my kegerator for two years after I first moved back to Syracuse. The bottles report well, but a fresh draft (hard to find), tastes like a miracle considering its humble roots.

Serving type: on-tap

10-22-2012 23:52:47 | More by sirsurly

Hojaminbag

Colorado

3.98/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Middle Ages IPA has a golden-orange colored body and a thin, off-white head that manages to lay down a little bit of lacing.

The aroma has a lot of fruity and earthy hops along with a toasty, grainy malt profile.

This one is definitely an interpretation of an English, not an American IPA. Lots of hops up front, with all kinds of fruit but not biting citrus. There is, however, a little bit of an earthy hop flavor. Although it does seem to include some caramel malt, the malt profile isn't a huge, sweet one. Instead it tastes like it has a little bit of toasted malt, and then predominantly pale malts that are dry and grainy.

The mouthfeel has a touch of an oily feel, with a dry finish.

This is a really nice IPA that uses English style hop flavors. It is probably pretty bold and hoppy, in the mold of an American style, but the ingredients still taste English. Worth a try if that kind of thing sounds good to you.

Serving type: on-tap

02-15-2012 01:53:40 | More by Hojaminbag

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.85/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

With the malty character and balance of Fuller's London Pride and the crisp citrusy hop flavor and bitterness of Sierra Nevada's Torpedo, this hybrid beer does very well for itself.

Medium amber in color and with soft carbonation, the beer forms an eggshell white head that proves good staying power with lacing to match. A good look for any pale ale.

Biscuity, buttery malt character fills the nose along with caramel and estery fruits. American-style aromas come through with sharp and zesty grapefruit that rises as the beer warms and with a few good swirls.

Medium caramel sweetness is met with a hearty bready malt base accompanied by estery appricot fruitiness, mild butterscotch, and shortbread. Sweetness waivers as the hoppy flavor of ruby red grapefruit and orange zest finish the beer with a cleaner, crisper, and refined bitterness that's unexpected for English beers, and more characterized by American ales.

Early richness is attributed to slightly lower carbonation, medium malty richness, and slight oily feel. But all that subsides as the bright citrusy bitterness helps to dry the beer and the alcohol gives an evaporative ethanol dryness.

English maltiness and American hoppiness always work out well together. If for a slightly better attenuation and less buttery notes, this could be an absolutely irresistable beer.

Serving type: on-tap

07-01-2011 17:50:39 | More by BEERchitect

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap at the Chapter House in Ithaca last weekend. The menu just said "Middle Ages IPA," but I'm pretty sure this is what it was, given that it's the only English IPA listed for Middle Ages. Served in a pint glass.

The pour brings an orange-copper brew with a good white head and a bit of lacing on the way down. The nose brings forward some slightly-earthy and floral hops along with a slight touch of diacetyl, though here it works well. Body has some semi-sweet bread and caramel plus light toffee. Some hop flavor, though that comes in more toward the finish, which has a pleasing dry bitterness. Good balance between sweet and bitter, and the yeast threw off a bit of diacetyl that was allowed to remain, but it fits well with the style. Another solid effort; I really enjoyed all of the beers I had from them.

Serving type: on-tap

06-04-2011 13:40:14 | More by Thorpe429

LittleDon

Texas

4.03/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A pint at the Dinosaur in Rochester, NY on 5/26/11.

Clear and golden with low head retention. Aroma is caramel and earthy. Moderate carbonation and an earthy bitter middle and finish. Nice balance in the middle, not too dry, not too sweet. Medium to heavy body. A nice alternative to the West Coast IPAs.

Serving type: on-tap

05-27-2011 16:51:36 | More by LittleDon

Redrover

Illinois

3.85/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I had this one on tap at the Dinosaur BBQ in Rochester. Served in a standard pint glass, the beer is a dark bronze with a thick head and awesome lacing.

This one has a nice nose of pine and caramel with grains.

Bracing with nice bitterness. There are pine & grapefruit tastes with grains in the background. It turns slightly sour late.

The mouth is smooth with pleasant oiliness but thins in the end. Easy enough drinker but the sourness limits me to 2 or 3.

Serving type: on-tap

11-20-2008 19:56:16 | More by Redrover

armock

New York

2.7/5  rDev -29.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

A - Poured a copper color with an off white head

S - Is mostly hops with some malt scent

T - The standard hop taste that finishes a little bitter but not anywhere as good as other English IPAs that I've had

M - This is a medium bodied beer

D - I was very disappointed with this brew it goes with the saying just because its a micro doesn't make it automatically good it looks and smells ok but the taste was off

Serving type: on-tap

01-12-2008 22:57:08 | More by armock

GFSchwab

New York

4.43/5  rDev +16%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

It was such an incredibly good beer.

It was poured on tap and had a light copper tone, with little head retentsion.

The aromas I got at the time were hints of citrus, pine, citrus, and an army of HOPS.

The taste was a textbook IPA with the warming ethanol, tofee after tate and avalanche of hops commanding control of my pallete.

The taste lingered long and confortably in my mouth with little carbonation making the drinking just a little more easier. Despite being reasonably complex and high in alcohol, it was very drinkable and did not make me feel weighed down after it.

Serving type: on-tap

11-14-2007 23:35:24 | More by GFSchwab

zdk9

Texas

3.23/5  rDev -15.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This IPA, with a brownish, orange color, was on the sweeter side of life for my taste buds. The hops were quite herbal and piney and this combined with the sweetness came out in a kind of pine fresh theme. There wasn't much depth to the the mouthfeel as I found the beer to be somewhat watery, but still a decent brew worth trying.

Serving type: on-tap

08-23-2007 07:44:48 | More by zdk9

BeerTruth

Connecticut

3.85/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

By far one of my favorite local IPA's, but once again, I'm biased. This is another beer that I've always seen on tap in the front room at the brewery and for good reason. Everytime I visit I make sure to get a sample of this delicious brew. Pours a light orange color with a nice foamy head. Smell is quite citrusy with some piney scent. Hops are obviously present with a pleasant malt background. Good work Middle Ages, keep it up.

Serving type: on-tap

01-27-2007 19:51:46 | More by BeerTruth

bbutler527

New York

4.7/5  rDev +23%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

The distinctive flavor imparted by the Ringwood yeast makes this one of my favorite brews of all time. (Some love it, some hate it, but it works for me.) Many varieties of IPA were tried before we chose this one as our house beer, and among the 18 taps at our bar, it remains one of our biggest movers. Great aroma, some citrus, some floral, full mouthfeel and good duration on the aftertaste, but not adhesive. This is a beer that is perfectly suited for quaffing or sipping, and after skiing or after golf.

Serving type: on-tap

03-15-2006 04:47:11 | More by bbutler527

kbnooshay

New York

3.58/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Had this on tap at Donnely's Public house in fairport. When I got it the head was gone and it was a nice golden-orange color. The floral hop aroma kinda lightly hits ya in the face, but more so in the taste department. I love how the hops smack ya at first sip. The experience is overall well balanced though, with the nice malt flavor. The mouthfeel is medium and tingly from the carbonation. Not as fruity as i would have expected (everything i have had by middle ages has been fruity) but still a pretty cool brew. I would probably only drink 1 though, not the most drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

04-30-2005 19:13:21 | More by kbnooshay

beernbbq

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

An enjoyable offering from the folks at Middle Ages. Pours a orangey color with a tight white head. Hop aroma is strong with little to no malt aroma. Taste is fruity with the hops coming on at the end to dry the finish. Pairs nicely with spicy and BBQ foods.

Serving type: on-tap

12-28-2003 12:17:12 | More by beernbbq

brewdlyhooked13

Ohio

4.06/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5

Appearance - cloudy orangish amber, nice sticky head that is a little watery but laying down some good lace tracks around the glass.

Aroma - nice hit of piny hops on opening the bottle. Fades to a very mild hoppiness and some light caramelly grain. The citrus and butteriness of the English yeast show up in a few minutes, the yeast leading the way. Good resilience too once it arrives.

Taste - decent buttery grains up front, the hop hit is very well balanced. Some citrus but not too punchy. Really spreads around the flavor in the mouth well. The bitterness pushes the grain off after the swallow and goes dry, a little warm, and pretty darn pleasant. Finishes with a hint of malty twang, orange peel, and balanced bitterness.

Mouthfeel - crisp, medium to medium-light. Refreshing, clean.

Overall - excellent session brew given to me by a local homebrew buddy Steve. Thanks, man!

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2013 03:30:16 | More by brewdlyhooked13

Brad007

Vermont

3.45/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Pours a nice shade of gold with a huge head into my glass. Good colors for an EIPA, a style that I feel is dying out slowly.

Aroma is more "fruity" than I expected with peach and just a touch of aroma hops. This style isn't know for hard-hitting bitterness.

Taste reflects that. Balanced, "fruity" with a touch of toffee.The label doesn't list it but I'm going to take a stab in the dark and guess that the hops are Fuggles. Feel free to correct me.

Mouthfeel is full of lingering toffee and just a touch of bitterness. Carbonation is excellent.

Definitely worth a try if you want a break from the standard American IPA.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 02:12:45 | More by Brad007

rlee1390

Indiana

3.43/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A-Clear orange, some carbonation, two finger head with lacing.

S-Bread, malt, not best by so maybe it has turned, no hops either.

T-Starts malty with bread. Slight bitterness and slight grass.

M-Light to medium bodied, lots of carbonation.

O-Maybe this bottle was just old, but serves them right for not putting a date on the bottle. If I could get a fresh bottle I'd try it again.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2012 20:31:02 | More by rlee1390

TheBrewo

Michigan

3.7/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This brew was served from the cask at The Old Toad in Rochester, NY. It arrived in a nondescript pint glass glowing a deep copper coloring. It held a one finger head of big white bubbles, showing great retention. This left sticky, wet lacing dripping down the sides of the glass. There was a mild haze, while carbonation appeared decent. No sediment was noted. The aroma was big with plastic phenols, honey sweetness, pale toasty malts, light burnt caramel, pineapple and pear sugars, and warm apple pie sweetness with warmth. Our first impression was that the flavoring showed big plastics, as in the nose, which added a strong bitterness alongside the hops. The taste opened with sweeter pale malts, bitter woodiness, sweeter citric hops, and washed pale and caramel malts. The middle peaked with a continuation of bittering wood, the start of a more fruity hop, smooth passion fruit and strawberry sweetness, as in the nose. The finish was with more of that fruity, citric hop, more tropical fruit, bitter oaky essence, sweeter caramel malts, pale toast, mineral, and stone. The aftertaste breathed of strong bitters of resiny hops, plastics, clovey bite, and more pale, toasty grain. The body was lighter, and the carbonation was lighter. There was limited slurp and smack, but the retaining head afforded nice slurp, and gave a happy mini mustache. There was mild astringent dryness left all around the mouth, with a boozy coolness to boot. The abv was appropriate, but this guy was a slow drinker, on account of the bitterness, but smooth drinking nonetheless.

Overall, what we enjoyed most about this brew was the depth of flavoring. It really followed the nose nicely, and was equally as soft and sweet, but once the liquid dropped off, you got a more intense rumble of bittering phenols, wood, and piney bite. This is surprising when it happens, but it strikes a pleasant balance to the front of the flavoring, which is relatively sweet. The feel was a bit light, but not so noticeable as to wreck your experience.

Serving type: cask

11-03-2012 21:18:14 | More by TheBrewo

Cylinsier

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Clear amber with a white lacing.

Dry bready malts with piney grapfruit bitter hops.

Bread and butter malts, pine and grapfruit bitter hop,

Medium body with stinging carbonation on the roof of the mouth.

Really good tasty IPA, easy to drink and a nice balance of strong hops and dry malts. Would have this again.

Serving type: growler

09-08-2012 20:56:31 | More by Cylinsier

DavoleBomb

Ohio

3.03/5  rDev -20.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured into a snifter.

3.5 A: Clear medium orange color. One and a half fingers of frothy off-white head. Retention is about average and a decent sized ring of lacing is left.

3.0 S: Floral and grassy hops with a touch of citrus thrown in. Clean with a light neutral maltiness. Not bad, but nothing stands out.

3.0 T: Floral, grassy, and earthy hop flavor. Bready maltiness, but overall clean. Moderate to heavy moderate bitterness. Again, it's just average.

3.0 M: Medium body. Good moderate carbonation. Lacking creaminess, but okay.

3.0 D: About as average as it can get. Not bad with nothing standing out or disappointing.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2012 05:21:48 | More by DavoleBomb

aranheaney

New York

4/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a Stone nonic pint glass

A-Copper with great head that sticks and leaves nice lacing

S-Grass, citrus, pine and resin

T-Really strong, nose represented up front and classic IPA on the back

M-Just about perfect for this style

O-Very sold effort from one of my favorite NY breweries

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2012 21:48:26 | More by aranheaney

Kendo

New York

3.9/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Poured from the bottle into a pint glass. Body is slightly hazy orangey-honey-amber in color. Small whitish head on top, leaves behind good lacing.

S: Fruity-sweet and grapefruity citrus. A touch floral. Not too strong in the nose, however.

T: I understand why this is classified as an English - and not American - IPA. There's a good amount of malty sweetness in the foundation of this beer. Think bread dough and caramel malt/light toffee, along with a generic fruitiness. Hops come through more toward the finish, where there's a nice, slightly lemony, dry bitterness. Good balance between sweet and bitter.

M: Medium in heft, carbonation is fine and prickly, but not assertive.

O: Good stuff. Somewhere between an English IPA and an American Pale Ale, I'd say.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2012 02:27:01 | More by Kendo

Lawl3ss

Texas

4.18/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I've had this one a number of times on tap and via growler, though I have to say I prefer it out of a bottle with a few months on it. Think what you may. (Somewhere, the hop gods are crying.)

Hence, this is a review of such a bottle. Lightly chilled and poured aggressively into a tulip pint.

Look-This one pours more head than beer- about a 10-to-1 ratio for the first second or so, but it falls to a clingy film rather rapidly, showing a moderate amount of ropy lacing. The foam from the second pour stuck around quite a bit longer, however. The beer itself is a nice tawny pale amber with a touch of grapefruit blush. A decent number of bubbles rising rapidly indicates a well carbonated brew.

Smell- The aroma is fruity, sweet fresh cherries with a backdrop of bitter citrus. After swirling it a bit, I get a touch of pepper and toasted malt. Appetizing.

Taste- Sweetness and a big hop bite right off the bat, with a breadlike undercurrent that starts to take over as it rolls on the tongue. Right in the middle, there's an unexpected bitter splash as acidic lemon makes a resurgence. Aftertaste is fairly mild, light toasted malt, diacetyl, and orange zest.

Mouthfeel- Mid-to-heavy body with mid-to-heavy carbonation. Slightly oily, crisp throughout, and not unpleasant cottony finish. A bit heavy on the aftertaste for me, I prefer my IPAs to finish clean, and this one can be cloying after a while, even fresh. Still a lip-smacker, though.

Overall- This is Middle Ages' signature brew, and showcases a lot of what makes them unique. A very solid beer, but it just doesn't tickle my palate the way some of their bolder offerings do. It’s still a great fallback when a well-rounded E-IPA is what I'm in the mood for.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2012 03:53:00 | More by Lawl3ss

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.73/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

massive body, full hop flavor. pours a darker golden color with a sturdy white head. smells like more of a pale ale, with a balanced malty presence. taste is quite hoppy, but again balanced. really big body makes this one a bit filling for a session beer, and it is definitely a cold weather ipa, not magining this to be a summer drink. enjoyed this syracuse staple

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2011 14:40:27 | More by StonedTrippin

braski

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

appearance- in between straw and amber with a nice white foamy head.

smeell- mostly just pale malts no hops at all.

taste- starts sweet and end bitter but nothing realy pops out of the beer.

mouthfeel- really nice do to the light to medium body with lots of carbonation.

overall- overall a good beer but i think it's more of a pale ale than a ipa, however this was the first english ipa i had so maybe thats just the style.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2011 00:50:55 | More by braski

AgentZero

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Golden/amber colored beer with a big foamy head that had moderate retention and left some stick on the sides.

S - Pale malts, bit of sugar sweetness, some butterscotch, little bit of resin oil, some floral notes.

T - Taste is a bit of caramel and some sweetness. Malt backbone is strong, slightly toasted, with some earthy and floral hopping. Not bad really for an English IPA.

M - Smooth, light, crisp, active carbonation.

O - Fairly enjoyable beer. I liked it more when I realized it was an English IPA and not the American one I was expecting. Solid stuff.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2011 04:33:36 | More by AgentZero