Emelisse Double IPA - Bierbrouwerij Grand-Café Emelisse

MacQ32

South Carolina

4.03/5  rDev +8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottle of 2011 purchased from the Charleston Beer Exchange.. ABV says 7.5% on bottle, this is 2011

A - Pours a rich amber with little very fine off-white head into my Deadlift glass, I expect some good carbonation here - surprisingly nice lacing

S - Smell is slightly bitter, very fruity/yeasty with alcohol present. Distinct honey and nutty aromas

T - Very nice, bitter (especially up front) very fruity and refreshing. Sweet maltyness and honey, "a bit nutty"

M - Medium bodied, a little light for the style but that makes this thing very drinkable.

O - Very well balance, nice and crisp, super drinkable - really like this one, if it was less I could put quite a few of these back - well worth it though, very good!

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2011 23:27:04 | More by MacQ32

mtbdonn

United Kingdom (England)

3/5  rDev -19.6%

03-15-2013 19:43:06 | More by mtbdonn

sansho

Tennessee

4/5  rDev +7.2%

02-03-2013 01:16:28 | More by sansho

Snapps

Georgia

4/5  rDev +7.2%

01-23-2013 21:10:01 | More by Snapps

WDJersey

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +7.2%

09-02-2012 07:46:48 | More by WDJersey

jsprain1

Minnesota

3.78/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Dark Amber, a touch hazy with a decent white head that lasts ok. Fair retention.
S- Aroma is earthy hops with a touch of citrus. The malt comes through but it brings more of a caramelness than anything else.
T- It's ok with big earthy hops, but there is only one note more or less in it. There is some sweetness too, but that's about it.
M- Medium bodied, nicely smooth, covers up the 11% pretty well.
O- It's a different take on the IIPA than you would see in many American examples. But it's still worth a try.

Serving type: on-tap

08-27-2012 00:33:08 | More by jsprain1

kjyost

Manitoba (Canada)

2.65/5  rDev -29%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Very different looking bottle received in CanBIF 2012. Thanks phyl21ca! 12 oz bottle date notched BB end of 09/12. Poured into a wine glass at 4 C.

Pours a minimal head with OK retention and light lacing. Copper brew that is clear until the bottle sediment pours. Doh! Malty nose and body with hints of sweet caramel. Bitterness that is well balanced, though utterly lacking hop flavours and aromas. More a barleywine than a DIPA at this point. I guess "BB" is relative. Sampled July 1, from notes.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2012 02:29:18 | More by kjyost

nickfl

Florida

2.85/5  rDev -23.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A - The beer pours with a small head of off-white foam on top of a very hazy, golden brown body. The head settles fairly quickly and leaves light lace.

S - Pine, grapefruit, and a bit of caramel.

T - Sweet toffee with some floral hop notes up front. More musty hop flavors in the middle with pine and a hint of grapefruit. The beer finishes with more pine and toffee as well as fairly strong bitterness.

M - Medium-thick body, moderate carbonation, and a slightly sweet finish.

D - I'm not impressed with this one, the malt is muddy and one dimensional and the hops are kind of rancid. The bitterness is harsh, yet it does little to push back against the cloying sweetness. A borderline drain pour.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2012 04:11:03 | More by nickfl

GPHarris

Alabama

3.2/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

a - poured a one finger thick creamy tan head into a snifter that left a thick ring throughout and billowed nicely. the body was a dark, slightly hazy copper color.
s - caramel with some earthy hop aromas.
t - earthy hops with a very bitter hop finish. there is some caramel and toffee balance.
m - a little thin.
o - decent beer but not a lot of pop to it.

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2012 18:58:51 | More by GPHarris

uturn

Florida

3.75/5  rDev +0.5%

05-27-2012 00:27:33 | More by uturn

Archemedies

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -6.2%

05-05-2012 04:30:58 | More by Archemedies

samEBC

Belgium

4/5  rDev +7.2%

05-03-2012 18:17:28 | More by samEBC

LiquidAmber

Washington

3.7/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Review from 3/2011 notes. Poured into a Nostradamus flute glass. Pours a dark, somewhat cloudy orange amber. Light head and light lacing. Nice almost barley wine like aroma; sweet malt, pine and citrus hops. Hops with a light malt, pine and citrus flavors. Rather mellow at first then finishes with a sharp, spicy hop surge. A pleasant IPA, but not surpassing the best domestic IPAs.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2012 03:39:16 | More by LiquidAmber

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.48/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle: Poured a cloudy amber/orangey color ale with a medium size foamy head with good carbonation. Aroma consists of citrus and bitter hops with a caramel touch. Taste is a mix between some citrus, pine and bitter hops with notes of caramel malt with well balanced sweetness. Body is quite full with medium carbonation and no apparent alcohol. Well brewed but missing the hops punch associated with this style.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2012 03:28:44 | More by Phyl21ca

BrewtalAlement

Florida

4/5  rDev +7.2%

02-02-2012 12:37:21 | More by BrewtalAlement

bonbini26

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +7.2%

01-13-2012 16:16:49 | More by bonbini26

beerdrifter

Germany

4/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked this up at the beer store at the De Molen Brewery. Slightly hazy copper-amber pour with one and a half finger head with decent retention and nice lacing. The nose is unique, but somewhat subdued. Subtle spice and citrus notes with hints of pepper, hop resin and pine, as well as a solid caramel malt base. The taste is unique as well. Again, it's somewhat subdued for a Double IPA and reminds me more of an English IPA. The caramel malt is the star, with hints of pine, grapefruit, tea and pepper. The mouthfeel is creamy and smooth, very much like the British version, with a nice subtle bitter hop bite on the finish. The ABV of the one I picked up is only 9%, but it's extremely well hidden. This was not at all what I was expecting, but I have to admit it was a pleasant surprise.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2011 20:25:23 | More by beerdrifter

rmcnealy

Illinois

3.83/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served chilled in a traditional becker. The label artwork is not the same as what's photo'd above. (a date of 09/2011, Lot A.. hope that's the bottling date and not best by lol)

Poured a dark copperish brown that is very hazy and obviously quite unfiltered. The off white head fleeted quickly leaving a small consistent lace around the glass. The first aromas were of caramel, toffee and floral. The taste is very pleasant and not as syruppy/boozed out like some other higher ABV IPA's/DIPA's. The taste faded quickly and there was a substantial amount of sediment on the bottom of the glass. A great beer no doubt. I thoroughly enjoyed it albeit it was not very hoppy as I would have liked and look for in a good IPA.

Found at Evolution Liq's - Northbrook, IL

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2011 02:00:14 | More by rmcnealy

osusullins

Illinois

3.88/5  rDev +4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Not the best DIPA that I've tasted, but a decent rendition.

Pours a honey golden color with a white head.

Smell is not overpowering. Some hops with caramel sweetness.

What you would expect. The hops dominate the palate, but are not overly aggressive. Well balanced by the malts. Decent Beer.

Serving type: on-tap

10-30-2011 05:06:02 | More by osusullins

hdelavega

Florida

2.63/5  rDev -29.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Pours a honey gold-amber. No head to speak of, maybe the bartenders falt.
Aroma: Malt, a bit of honey, no hops at all.
I do get a little hoppy bitterness, some malty sweetness, but the mouthfeel is killing me. Supper watery.Llittle carbonation. However, this beer is dangerous, extremely drinkable for a 11% brew.
Overall this is not what I'd expect from a double IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

10-27-2011 04:21:15 | More by hdelavega

EnJeiBee

Wisconsin

3.48/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Amber hued and slightly hazy with a 1-finger head that disappeared quickly, leaving behind very good lacing

S - Very subdued hop profile with a heavy caramel malt nose

T - Much too sweet up front, with almost no initial bitterness or hop flavor. However, the bitterness does catch your palate upon finish

M - Medium bodied with moderate carbonation

O - This is definitely not comparable to your typical American DIPA. A very mellow hop profile was overpowered by the sweet maltiness of this brew. It wasn't unenjoyable by any means, but if you're looking for a very hop-forward DIPA, this isn't going to cut it for you.

Serving type: on-tap

10-11-2011 22:38:21 | More by EnJeiBee

Mar02x

Netherlands

3.68/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Almost no head on this one, low in carbonation too. The color is light brown amber.

S - Nice fresh beer with hops.

T - Nice soft hops, strong bitter after taste though.

M - Nice soft carbonation.

O - A nice beer to drink when eating Chinese food.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2011 17:46:15 | More by Mar02x

cwguy5

North Carolina

4.2/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Got this one from de Bierkonig in Amsterdam. Sampled 10.21.10. Reviewed from notes.

A - deep, cloudy reddish brown; thinnish head faded to broken white cap
S - slightly floral and hops with toffee and bready tones; sweet overall
T - rich creamy flavor; some pale malt with toast/bread; bit of alcohol near end
M - medium-low carbonation with somewhat of a thick body for dipa; sweet and floral linger
D - interesting take on dipa; i personally like the creamy, malty palate on this one

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2011 02:41:22 | More by cwguy5

nrbw23

Ohio

3.3/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A- Well, this is probably one of the ugliest DIPA's I've ever had. Pours a murky reddish brown color with a fairly thin tannish colored head. Head turns into a ring of bubbles and leaves some spotty lacing.

S- Caramel malts are really jumping out at me. Picking up some yeast, bread, and toffee too. A light touch of hops, mainly herbal, piney and flowery. So far this isn't reminding me of an IPA let alone a DIPA.

T- Well, its better than the nose. Picking up some hop bitterness. Still quite a bit of sweetness, toffee and caramel. Floral hops are here for sure. I actually don't mind the taste it all goes together pretty well.

M- A touch on the fuller side of medium and lighter on the carbonation.

O- This beer is ugly and doesn't really smell like a DIPA, but it does taste pretty solid. This isn't something I'd seek out, but its not the worst thing out there either.

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2011 10:39:15 | More by nrbw23

lacqueredmouse

Australia

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

Bottle purchased from Whole Foods in Tribeca. Didn't make the cut of beers to take back to Australia, so I drank it on my last night in New York.

Pours a very viscous and thick reddish amber colour, with a fine but patchy head of white. Body is really nice and thick and heavy, and I like a bit of deeper colour in a DIPA. Minimal lacing. Fine carbonation. Looks pretty good all up.

Nose is green and prickled with noble hops, giving a crushed vegetation character, with clipped grass and leafy tannins. Grainy malt character comes through as well, with a rustic funk that's almost like a saison. Interesting take.

Taste is clear and hoppy, without being really that bitter. It certainly has a kick to it, but this is probably the combination of low-alpha European varieties, and the extra sting of alcohol. A hint of phenols as well. Finish is rather sweet, with a golden malt character coming through stickily on the end. Feel is light but slick.

Not a bad brew all up, and an interesting European American IPA, as if that makes any sense. Let's call it an American IPA with European ingredients.

That still doesn't make sense, but I'll stand by it.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2011 02:14:04 | More by lacqueredmouse