Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

Todd

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +7.9%

01-10-2013 05:09:13 | More by Todd

Jason

Massachusetts

4.38/5  rDev +5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz brown bottle with a coded freshness date.

LOOK: Clear brassy hue, excellent suds

SMELL: Mint, marmalade, biscuits, faint caramel, blonde tobacco, ripe pear, clean esters

TASTE: Very smooth, deep crispness, hop bitterness, citric rind, leafy, dried grass, lightly toasted bread, kumquats, papaya, herbal, drying finish

SN pretty much nailed it with this one, some say this is now the benchmark for the style ... if so that would be setting it pretty high.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2012 02:35:06 | More by Jason

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Review from BeerAdvocate magazine Issue #26:

What's interesting about Sierra Nevada is that up until this year, they were probably one of the only West Coast breweries to not produce a year-round India Pale Ale (IPA). However, around three years ago, there was buzz on the internetz that Sierra Nevada was dabbling with a new way of infusing hops into beer. Soon, a concoction named "Torpedo" began to rear its foam at select locations and events. In late 2008, Sierra Nevada announced that they'd be launching a year-round IPA called "Torpedo Extra IPA," and revealed the process:

"The name itself comes from a device called the 'hop torpedo' that was conceived, designed and developed at the brewery. The result is a revolutionary method of dry-hopping that harnesses the vital hop oils and resins that lead to an unusually flavorful and aromatic beer featuring the full, nuanced range of spicy complexity that hops have to offer."

They also use 100-percent American hops and multiple varieties--each of which impart unique characters. Let's load this one and give it a shot--yeah, that was bad.

Pours a bright, clear copper with a thick and hop-induced, creamy, off-white foam head with a lace that sticks and stays along the glass. Big hops in the nose. Floral with some grapefruit rind and pepper in the back. Smooth and creamy on the palate with a firm, round and semi-full body. A bit chewy and juicy at times. Fruity (a bit tropical) with citrus (mostly rind, some grapefruit), semisweet apple (Red Delicious comes to mind) and some herbal notes (soft and pleasant). Then bitter. Dry and acidic with an aspirin edge. Building layers of hops on the palate with each sip. Fresh, green hops. Pine. Resin. Spice. Hint of soap (happens with highly hopped beers). Palate turns gritty and leafy with an ashy finish. Biscuity malt. Hay. Bone dry. More-ish.

Torpedo is a dry and robust IPA that waves confidently at the Double IPA with a ton of hop presence and 7.2-percent ABV, but remains an American IPA with its artful use of hops that brings big, but balanced, flavors, and subsequent drinkability. We love it. Released in January 2009 in six-packs and hopefully available until the end of days.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2010 19:45:53 | More by BeerAdvocate

visionaries

California

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%

05-23-2013 17:07:45 | More by visionaries

ipas-for-life

Virginia

4/5  rDev -4.1%

05-23-2013 13:11:36 | More by ipas-for-life

Wally

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +7.9%

05-23-2013 00:21:28 | More by Wally

erialbill

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%

05-22-2013 23:11:35 | More by erialbill

broob

Mississippi

3.75/5  rDev -10.1%

05-22-2013 20:51:11 | More by broob

Heretic42

Texas

3.25/5  rDev -22.1%

05-22-2013 18:41:49 | More by Heretic42

DStoked

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -16.1%

05-22-2013 13:34:10 | More by DStoked

jdhowe

California

3.33/5  rDev -20.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12oz bottle.

A: Pours a clear reddish amber, pretty deep in color for an IPA. A half-finger of light, off-white head dissipates quickly. Minimal lacing is left down the glass.

S: Citrus and pine dominate, but the earth, alcohol, and spice show up, along with something that lingers a little unpleasantly in the nose. It takes me a full 5 minutes of smelling this beer off and on to identify what it is, and, after all of that, I can best describe it as "earthworm." Just a little off-putting.

T: The hops are a little weaker here, but still prominent. Thankfully the earthworm is nowhere to be found (not that I'd know, but I don't taste anything too off). Alcohol again shows through very strongly for a beer of a mere 7.2abv -- many 8-11abv beers mask their alcohol much better. Otherwise, the flavor is earthen, maybe a little wheaty or grassy, with a malt sweetness. All-in-all, not too bad.

M: Probably the best part about this beer. Beer is nicely carbonated and has a light, drinkable mouthfeel. Starts and finishes pretty light and smooth, but lingers/coats the mouth quite a bit.

O: Pretty good, but not something I want to have all the time (or even often). Many others seem to like this much more than I did. Even without the earthworm scent, the flavor profile just wasn't really what I wanted, but that's preference. Above average, but not by a lot.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2013 06:31:22 | More by jdhowe

tikk

New York

4.66/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75

One of my favorite everyday beers, I try to keep this in my fridge all the time. On to the review.

Pours an amber color with a light, quickly disappearing head.

Smells like a piney, citrusy hop monster.

Taste just builds off the scent. A strong bite of pine and grapefruit, bitter but amazing, the bitterness hangs on lovingly in the finish.

Mouthfeel is nice and light, with good carbonation.

Overall it's a refreshing light beer with a bite, just the way I like it.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2013 03:59:39 | More by tikk

HopChef44

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +7.9%

05-21-2013 23:12:45 | More by HopChef44

verge

California

3.75/5  rDev -10.1%

05-21-2013 18:13:28 | More by verge

Kingcurio

Oklahoma

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%

05-21-2013 01:52:49 | More by Kingcurio

Lucoli

New York

3.75/5  rDev -10.1%

05-21-2013 01:24:25 | More by Lucoli

deniserat

California

4.75/5  rDev +13.9%

05-20-2013 22:28:20 | More by deniserat

johntfox

Florida

4/5  rDev -4.1%

05-20-2013 22:04:45 | More by johntfox

jbeervt

Vermont

4.5/5  rDev +7.9%

05-20-2013 21:41:03 | More by jbeervt

atomicskier1889

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +7.9%

05-20-2013 16:14:29 | More by atomicskier1889

thampel09

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%

05-20-2013 13:36:58 | More by thampel09

45nDown

Arizona

3/5  rDev -28.1%

05-20-2013 04:10:25 | More by 45nDown

Kmat10

Alberta (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%

05-20-2013 04:08:36 | More by Kmat10

TheDoak

Florida

4/5  rDev -4.1%

05-19-2013 22:57:46 | More by TheDoak

PLACKERS

United Kingdom (England)

4.9/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

another excellent IPA - one I purchase and savor over other great IPA's. Bold and full of flavor . Well balanced; bitter, very drinkable, very tasty hops. Easy to get- reasonably priced. Can not think of any other IPA out there that is consistently great! A 'world class' IPA from California Overall, an extremely well made beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 19:59:29 | More by PLACKERS