Brewers Reserve Imperial IPA - Old Schoolhouse Brewery

dirtylou

Washington

4/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

on-tap, Chucks, mason-pint

A lightly hazed orange body - aroma of bitter grapefruit and lots of other citrus. Pine and caramel mingle nicely. A bit big bodied, especially after a bucket of Pho - probably the best Old Schoolhouse brew i've had to date. The hop profile is quite solid.

Serving type: on-tap

01-12-2013 22:40:41 | More by dirtylou

barleywinefiend

Washington

3.15/5  rDev -18.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Poured a deep orange with good carbonation and a small white head, light bubbles and lacing

S: Plenty of dry, bitter pine hops and bread with a whiff of smoke

T: Starts out with bittering hops, pine and some light smoke? caramel, bread and dry with some booze

M: The body seems to be a bit chewy, big malt bill, almost to big

O: Average.

Serving type: on-tap

08-19-2012 21:29:10 | More by barleywinefiend

repkovalev

Washington

2.78/5  rDev -28.2%
look: 4 | smell: 1.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 2.75

Poured a very nice amber and gold with good head and moderate lacing.

Nose was very off-putting. Surprisingly bad egg-like. Not totally gone. Not sulfur-like but on-their-way-out kind of scent. Stale scented. I first poured this into my usual Unibroue tulip glass. I was quite surprised at the unpleasant smell, so I poured it out, rinsed out the glass and poured another serving. No change in smell. I typically enjoy big, bold IPA's in this glass and it magnifies the robust hop and malt character of those beers. However, the nose of this beer really turned me off, and probably informs the rest of my review. As it probably should. I wound up pouring a smaller amount in a 6oz taster glass shaped like a mini-pint glass. I felt that made tasting improve...

Taste revealed a large amount of hopping, but didn't convey the boldness that I'd expect from the style. Kind of ash-like resonance to the flavor.

Mouthfeel was nice. Much brighter than expected from the style. Soft. Went well with food.

Overall, it's very difficult to get past the smell of this sample, and the taste doesn't convey "fresh" at all. Since I'm a WA beer guy, it left me wanting to try this on tap and compare the difference, as this bottled sample tasted a little below average for a representation of the style.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2013 06:09:41 | More by repkovalev

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.85/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

As if three different beers. The first and third a hop forward attack on the palate, with the middle drinking (immediately after some food relief) a wonderful orange and grapefruit citrus combo. Very good orange and grapefruit aromas. Above average mouthfeel. Good drinkability. Light orange with some lasting head. Recent NJ trip.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2012 01:40:09 | More by northyorksammy

Cold

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Med. Amber/orange, slight uniform haze, no discrete suspended particulates. Thick, pastey off-white head.

S: Typical IIPA citric/fruity hop nose.

T: Strong citric/herbal, slightly floral hop bitterness throughout, backed up by modest biscuity malt bill that is careful to avoid compromising the hop profile.

M: Typical IIPA resinous, slightly syrupy thickness, smooth carbonation, with a touch of alcohol warmth from a respectable 9% ABV which, in all honesty, is fairly well masked, though by an impressive and tenacious lingering hop profile.

A: Honey sweetness mixed with hop bitterness.

Overall: It's certainly a good beer that any IIPA fan will enjoy...though at the same time, few IIPA fans will be terribly enthusiastic about this fairly typical representative of the "Big IPA" style. Nothing wrong with it, but nothing really stands out to separate it from the pack either.

3.5/5

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2012 03:12:04 | More by Cold

EgadBananas

Louisiana

4.18/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a dark, amber/copper colour, with a tan head. Aroma of pine and resins, sweet citrus, tropical fruits, caramel. Good upper medium bitterness, citrus, light tropical fruits, and a good bit of pine. Slick, creamy feel, oily and medium body. Pretty good drinkability given the ABV.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2012 03:56:03 | More by EgadBananas

Tawnos

Washington

4.85/5  rDev +25.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I was extremely surprised to find a beer this great from a small brewery I had not previously encountered. It gives Pliny The Elder a strong run for its money, and is truly world-class, yet thus far, underrated.

A clear amber with red notes and a sticky lace start this beer off. The smell has notes of alcohol (minus point five), but is dominated by a sharp and deliciously fresh hop nose. Pine, citrus, and floral vie for domination, changing in precedence as the beer warms.

The first sip bites my tongue then immediately apologizes with a well-balanced malt back. The aftertaste is neither vinous nor absent, but pleasantly refreshing hops. The mouthfeel is a bit dry, but is overall a pleasing experience (especially for a 9% beer!).

I had this the first time on tap at the Brewer's Festival, and was delighted to see it at the local Whole Foods. Both were just as good, and this is my new go-to IIPA. Hopefully I can get a keg of it!

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2012 04:55:49 | More by Tawnos

bstave

Washington

4.1/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 oz bottle.

A- Pours a deep copper with a two finger white head. Nice lacing. A really nice looking beer. Looks malty.

S- Smell is nice and bright citrussy hops. Some biscuit malt.

T- Taste follows nose and provides a big hop bite followed by a nice malt backbone. Citrus and Pine up front. Long bitter finish.

M- Nice full body. Easy to drink. Not getting the alcohol heat that others talk about.

O- This is a solid NW DIPA. It leans more towards a balanced DIPA, but provides a punch of hops too. Recommended!

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2012 04:19:13 | More by bstave

RonfromJersey

New Jersey

4.05/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

The black, white, and grey label makes it look like a haunted old schoolhouse. Very cool.

Tarnished copper body. Heavy haze. Four fingers of rocky white froth. Very good stretchy lacing.

Heavy aroma of pine, orange, and grapefruit.

Thick caramel foundation coats the tongue. Bread. Small wave of citrus. Big bitter bite. Alcohol smack as it enters the aftertaste. Lingering pine.

Thick meandering mouthfeel with some prickliness. Tank treads come to mind.

All the sensations suggest blunt instruments as opposed to scalpels.

Definitely worth a try, though overall I'd take their Ruud Awakening IPA if I had to pick one.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2012 05:26:32 | More by RonfromJersey

Gavage

New Jersey

3.58/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: pours an orange color with a one finger head that falls quickly. Some mild lace develops.

Smell: dominated by grapefruit, some pine and caramel.

Taste: caramel, grapefruit, pine, pear, hearty bitterness, and some alcohol are the most prevalent flavors.

Mouthfeel: medium-heavy in body. Lightly crisp to start, smoother at the finish with a dryness. Long lasting aftertaste here.

Overall: a decent DIPA with a nice flavor. Worthy of a try.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2012 23:12:44 | More by Gavage

beerthulhu

New Jersey

3.08/5  rDev -20.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: Translucent sunset orange has a heavy dose of effervesce within. Oatmeal colored head is frothy, fair on the hold, and generous on the lace coverage.

S: Sweet orange candy and caramel on the nose with a faint herbaceous scent of parsley and grassy notes. More malty sweet then bitter.

T: Good malt base, light grassy notes notes but the hops seemed muddled and out of harmony with the malt. Musky pine hop cones, lemony sourness and a pungent flowery hoppiness with some woodsy and toasted pine highlights. The hops are strong in strength, just not all that tasty. Bitter, dry but lacks hop definition.

M: Aggressive carbonation brings a lively sense of tingle to the mouthful. Frothy texture, dry with a stringent bite of alcohol and sour hops.

O: Overall has the hops, decent toasted malt support just not all that tasty and rather blah. Limited complexity, muddled hop bitterness with more alcohol warmth and sour hoppiness then anything. Afterwards I couldn’t resist to look up this beer and low and behold a mes-mosh of 6 different hops that more or less became homogenized and muddled in the pot. More hops are like more spices in the soup, doesn’t lead to complexity rather only works against it. 3 hops is fine while still maintaining a sharp hop profile. This was a muddled mess flavor wise, the ipa of hobos for those who only care for a hop bitterness shock and nothing more.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2012 13:12:28 | More by beerthulhu

PacNWDad

Washington

3.73/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

ST: 22 oz. bottle poured into a large tumbler.

A: This is a thick beer for an IPA. It pours somewhat cloudy (cannot see a light bulb through it) with an amber, almost ice tea colored hue. Lots of bubbles stream fromt the bottom. Nice head, and lace that clings very well to the side of the glass.

S: The initial hit is piney, grassy hops, with a bit of a floral (elderberry?) character as well. Then I get some orange julius like flavor, and a hint of maltiness. Overwhelmingly an astringent hops character. They have not scrimped on the hops.

T: At the start, I get some roasted malt and sweetiness briefly. Finishes bitter and astringent with the hops.

M: This is a thick, creamy beer. It has a strong alcohol character in the mouth. Well-carbonated, and the carbonation lasts a long time. It is a good one to let warm up a bit.

O: Overall, this is a big, chewy beer with a lot to offer. It stands up very well to food, particular sharp cheeses. Well done - I enjoyed it a lot.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2012 01:56:25 | More by PacNWDad

distantmantra

Washington

4/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 oz. bottle poured into a straight pint glass.

A: The beer pours a clear orange amber color with a thin head of white foam. Very thick and sticky lacing clung to the sides of the glass.

S: There was an aroma of apricots, tangerines and pine needles. There was a slight hint of caramel malt, but for the most part this is completely dominated by the hops.

T: There's a sweet caramel taste upon initial sip, but quickly transitions into hoppy bitterness and strong citrus flavors. Alcohol is noticeable but not overwhelming.

M: The beer has a has a sticky mouth feel with medium body and carbonation. There is a really nice bitter finish that lingers.

O: This was a really nice Imperial IPA, my only complaint is that the booziness is a bit much at times. Nice blend of apricot and tangerine citrus flavors along with some caramel and pine.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2011 17:03:52 | More by distantmantra

jzeilinger

Pennsylvania

3.33/5  rDev -14%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours an opaque to hazy medium orange color with a one fingered head that eventually subsides to a soapy looking layer of white foam. Carbonation is mild to none. As the beer warms, the color becomes more hazy rather than opaque.

S - Bready malt with very, very faint caramel and hop spice, nothing more.

T - Bready malt, faint spicy red grapefruit, some alcohol warming on the way down, a little toasted caramel. Balance is there, but the nod goes to the malty, spicy side.

M - Medium body.

O - Must be an old bottle. The faint flavors are nothing less than boring and mundane, if this were a fresher bottle, I'm going to venture a guess things would have been dialed up on the palette making it a more interesting beer. Unfortunate...I'd like to try this one again, this bottle didn't do it for me. However, it did get better as it warmed up to room temp.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2011 01:04:56 | More by jzeilinger

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

4/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance. a finger Pours a nearly clear amber-gold with a finger of almost white head that leaves some decent lacing.

Smell. Pineapple, pink grapefruit ans some pine. Caramel and a little roasty grain too.

Taste. Oranges, pineapple and grapefruit rind, some pine sap, caramel and some toasty grains. Just a little booze. Lasting pine and yellow grapefruit rind bitterness.

Mouthfeel. Medium body with medium-low carbonation. A little warming.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2011 01:21:55 | More by Rutager

harrymel

Washington

3.13/5  rDev -19.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured to NB globe.

A: Amber ale with two finger head. Excellent clarity. This fades to a thin white foamy layer. Spider web lacing.

S: Pine and citrus are the dominant hop characteristics here. Nicely malted background.

T: Very super standard IIPA flavors. Very nice finish which matches the same.

M: Medium/heavy mouth with lower carb. Very nice. Slicking and satisfying.

D: Quite drinkable, however, not too nice given the price point. I could just as easily pay $7 and get two Ninkasi Bombers.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2011 06:18:29 | More by harrymel

beertunes

Washington

3.6/5  rDev -7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into 10oz glass. Poured a semi-hazy golden yellow with just about a half-inch of off-white head that had low retention and OK lacing.

The aroma was predominately pine hops with some floral behind and just a trace of citrus lurking around the edges. No noticeable malt or yeast scents. On the tongue the story was pretty much the same, pine and floral, with the citrus having a bit more of a presence. No real malt flavors came through.

The body was typical for the style, medium-light, without a solid malt presence. Drinkability was good, for a 9% beer it went very easily.

Overall, a pretty typical example of the style. Worth trying if you see it and certainly worth a visit to the brewery if your on the dry side.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2011 07:08:11 | More by beertunes

sholland119

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-Pours a clear pale amber with hints of honey, a thin white head and sticky lacing.

S-Sweet apricot and tangerine hoppiness and a hint of orange zest with some nice malt.

T-Sweet malt with a very nice hoppy bitterness not far behind. Tangerine and orange with a hint of booze.

M-Medium bodied, fine carbonation, good lingering bitterness.

D-Quite tasty. Not familiar with this brewery before now but this is a good DIPA.

HV

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2010 02:19:08 | More by sholland119

weeare138

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to TomDecapolis for this...
Appears a hazy light orange toned amber with a small white head that fades into a mild cap. Spotty bits of lacing are left around the interior of the glass.
Smell is of herbs, orange, citrus, vanilla, caramel, toffee, brown sugar, and pine.
Taste is of the aromas with a blast of bitter hops taking control over the sugary hops.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied, juicy, and packed with piney resin in the finish.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2010 00:31:03 | More by weeare138

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

3.33/5  rDev -14%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Kind of surprised to find a bottle of this at State Line in Elkton, Md.

The beer pours an orange amber color with fairly good head retention and lacing. The nose is fairly attractive, showing orange citrus, light pine and some underlying sweet malt. The flavor profile replicates the nose in this fairly sweet, malty DIPA. The beer has good bitterness in the finish, but with a noticeasble alcohol bite as well. Mouthfeel is fairly full, with long, bitter, alcoholic finish. Drinkability isn't bad, but the sweetness and noticeable alcohol detract from it a bit.

Not terrible, but I'm not a huge fan of this DIPA style, and it's a bit more boozy and sweet than I care for in my DIPA's.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2010 15:30:42 | More by johnmichaelsen

froghop

Washington

3.7/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

pours a cloudy dark amber with a very small white head that goes away quickly, and some lacing.

smell is of light grapefruit, caramel, malt, and some spice.

taste is oily, pine, grapefruit, caramel, spice, malt, hops, some citrus, and earthy, ends a little thin and nicely bitter.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2010 23:57:21 | More by froghop

Mages64

Washington

4.25/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From a bottle chilled in a tulip glass.

A- golden, hay, visible carbonation, with a head with larger bubbles that disappeared quickly but returned with agitation.

S- Greener, piney, and perhaps wet wood(not sure what wood)

F- smooth, not sticky, but hot with alcohol from start to finish.

Taste- without knowing the right answer I have to say there is smoke somewhere in this beer. Yes it's hoppy with pine and resin but the malt is confusing. It's ultra light for a DIPA but some fire, smoke, or burned something. Weird.

D- I'd drink this with smoked spicy fish, or just as a tasting beer with friends. I'd rather not drink a whole bomber.

I'd love to know if anyone else picks up on the smoke thing.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2010 18:06:46 | More by Mages64