Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA - Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

BrewtifulMind

California

4.43/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On-cask at Rock & Brew, El Segundo

Here goes my introduction to the world of cask-conditioned beer. I've been looking forward to trying something on cask for a while now. This pours a gorgeous honey/amber color with a very bubbly half-inch head which dissipates quickly, leaving minimal traces of lacing behind. First thing I noticed was the overpowering aroma of dank, resinous hops. There was also a nice floral and citrus scent in there as well. This thing is a hop bomb. Pungent hop taste, leaving a peach aftertaste in my mouth. Definitely much better than the bottled version. Mouthfeel is smooth and creamy, but a little under-carbonated, which I expected from the cask. The only thing that could have made this better, is if it was just a little bit colder(another thing I expected from a cask, warmer temps.) Overall, I would say this is one of the best brews I have had. Feels like a totally different beer. Cheers.

Serving type: cask

09-15-2011 20:51:25 | More by BrewtifulMind

peacebone116

California

4.13/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Enjoyed a pint of this beautiful beer on cask at Pizza Port, Carlsbad.

A: Honey with a creamy off-white tan head and a bit of vegetation floating in the middle of the beer as it "cooked" and settled. Appears decently carbonated (for a cask beer, that is), and the head remains through to the finish.

N: Immaculate floral bouquet of pineapple and grapefruit--very impressive and powerful!

T/M: Perfect creamy body and light mouth-feel. Citrus and herbal tastes that follow the nose, but slightly less intense. Herbal qualities are followed by a nice, light bready note, which is quickly absorbed by a pleasant piney bitterness.

Great beer on cask--still might benefit from being a bit more chilled (maybe just about 5-degrees or so), but nonetheless my favorite format of this beer so far!

Serving type: cask

07-19-2011 20:38:40 | More by peacebone116

kingcrowing

Vermont

4.1/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On cask poured into a tulip.

Pours a light clear amber with a small white head but no lacing. Nose is fantastic, its fruity and sweet - mango and tropical fruits.

Taste is way better than bottle, much less harsh, it's smooth and crisp with a light hop bite that's much more mellow and smooth.

Serving type: cask

06-17-2011 23:29:44 | More by kingcrowing

ThreeWiseMen

California

4.28/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I was lucky enough to taste this gem of an IPA on-cask last night... not once, but twice! For those who don't know, every Thursday night at the Sierra Nevada Brewery is cask night. Each week a different beer is put on-cask. The following review is based on notes from last night's tasting.

Served in a 20oz. Sierra Nevada imperial pint glass.

Appearance: Two fingers of eggshell-colored head sit atop a very hazy amber body - very little visibility. The tight, creamy head shows superb retention until swirled - then it disappears almost instantly. Regardless, this beer weaves a thick tapestry of lacing all the way down the walls of the glass.

Smell: Moist pine and gobs of sticky, resinous, floral hops. The typical grapefruit aroma is there, but this nose isn't juicy at all. Instead, it's all rich woody aromas, toasted malt, and hop sap. More complexity and/or strength would be nice, but I don't know if that'd even be attainable on-cask.

Taste: Like sucking on a pine tree after a fresh rain. This one is woody, piney, and sweet yet subtle. The malt profile really comes to life in this cask offering; toasted bread and caramel malt are particularly strong flavors. The finish is oily and bitter. All of the flavors meld together seemlessly. I would give this a 4.5, but I miss the fruity aspects. Also, the bitterness is a bit muted by the cask. Still, this is very good.

Mouthfeel: Maltier and less bitter than the bottle and tap versions. The bitterness is still very much there, however, and produces an even numbing sensation across the palate. The feel is very malty and oily and even a bit "messy" (meaning far from clean-finishing). Coats the mouth like paint; flavors hang around for-ev-ver. Daddy likes.

Drinkability: This beer may have just busted my cask IPA bias. Up until this point, I believed that the cask did nothing more than dull IPAs and other hoppy beers, in essence castrating them by taking away that crisp bitterness that makes them unique. And you know what, this Torpedo wasn't as crisp or bitter as it normally is, but it was so much more balanced and flavorful that I really didn't give a damn. This was fucking good! Mmmm Mmmmm!

Serving type: cask

08-28-2009 15:44:10 | More by ThreeWiseMen

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

who2host

Pennsylvania

2.39/5  rDev -42.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.5

I was very disappointed with this one. It tastes nothing like a "Extra" IPA, more like a severely outdated domestic malt liquor with a couple of hop pellets thrown in. It was almost hard to finish but I stuck it out. It has an almost metalic taste to it. The smell is off and the mouthfeel is just too syrupy. I'm not exactly sure why this has such a high score. I won't be trying this one again, I wouldn't even want to cook with it.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 16:10:22 | More by who2host

DenverHopHead

Colorado

4.44/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Wow, this is a very pleasant surprise. Expected a real good IPA, but not this good! The look and smell is solid, I expect more of a punch to the face with an exceptional IPA, so this one isn't quite there. Man, this beer tastes fantastic and my taste buds are calling for an encore! Can't wait to try this in the 16oz can to compare!

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 20:19:58 | More by DenverHopHead

mfanch8578

Indiana

4.19/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Top of the line mass-produced extra ipa. A great brew for the same price as a comparable boston lager. If you like Torpedo, you will love the seasonal Ruthless Rye. Everything about this beer is nice. Well balanced and executed. I will try this recipe at home. This beer has the characteristics of a small batch brew at a supermarket price. Bonus is that you can get it in the supermarket. I look forward to trying small batches from Sierra Nevada.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 03:36:19 | More by mfanch8578

Siriusfisherman

Montana

4.49/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Deep Amber/Gold with a touch of haze and very good lacing. Nice frothy white head as well, two and a half fingers with a semi-aggressive pour.

Smell: Pungent, spicy, fruity citrus, herbal notes, with a crackery, sweet malt back. Very clean and sharp.

Taste: Very similar to aroma, a big bite of bitterness hits first and then come in pungent notes of herbal spice and fruity citrus, as well as some pine on the finish. The malt makes a nice appearance as well, giving a nice toastiness to the beer that balances out the abrasiveness of the hops.

Mouthfeel: Well carbonated and a slightly oily, medium bodied mouthfeel. Very smooth.

Overall, a great hoppy ale! Not the typical pine/grapefruit character you get from the swarms of other west-coast ipas on the shelf. This boasts a pungent fruity citrus character with big amounts of hop spiciness, as well as some very nice toasty malt notes without getting to sweet. Take into account the ease at which one can find this beer, and that it now comes in 16oz cans, you have a real winner.

Serving type: can

05-11-2013 01:25:18 | More by Siriusfisherman

KYGunner

Kentucky

3.95/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Copper coloring with a bright white and expansive head this IPA sets up in classic form.

The scent is far too weak for my blood it is a nice piney hop aroma. A light substructure of caramel malt is hidden within.

The taste is nice and smooth and easy and flavorful. Piney hops and earthy tones meld well with the malt backbone. So simple and so easy this is a great starter IPA for the craft beer novice.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 22:04:29 | More by KYGunner

JuicesFlowing

Kansas

4.39/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a shaker pint glass.

Look: Almost hazy amberish orange. Foamy cream colored head calms to a film with sheets and sheets of lacing.

Aroma: An almost grassy, herbal kind of hops carry the smell. Very faint pine.

Taste: Really good woody base underneath a layer of piny hops. Some more tropical fruit notes come through adding sweetness. A bright citrus finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, dry.

Overall: An extremely well made brew that doesn't have many flaws.

Serving type: can

05-07-2013 15:42:57 | More by JuicesFlowing

KickInTheChalice

Illinois

4.21/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a tulip.

Torpedo pours a golden caramel color, hazy with a full, frothy white head. A nice spiderweb of lace is left on the side of the glass as the beer wanes.

The aroma has a general citrusy tone to it, with grapefruit, tangerine, and orange blossom notes. There is a spicy pine presence as well. A little bit of sweet pale malt exists in the background.

Each sip starts with pale malt with a light honey sweetness. The hop presence moves in soon thereafter, with a balance of citrus and pine hop flavors. Sierra Nevada does such a good job of providing a well-rounded and robust hop flavors. The grapefruit and pine come through the strongest, with tangerine and oranges as well. The finish is bitter but clean.

The carbonation is vibrant and consistent with what I want from the style. There is a little bit of hop residue that is left in my mouth after each sip. It is a smooth and balanced IPA.

Overall, this is a nice and balanced IPA. A rounded aroma and flavor and smooth mouthfeel make this a solid beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2013 02:24:11 | More by KickInTheChalice

lordofstarside

Nevada

4.21/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

12oz to a pint glass, bottled 038...so February 7th? Anyway, somewhere really close to three months ago, should still be acceptably fresh

Pours a very dark gold with a finger of foam. Good visibility, though very clouded with yeast particles that probably would be absent had this been more fresh. Retention has dropped to a light froth covering the top after about three minutes, good lacing

Smells of juicy hops offering almost exclusively earthy pine aromas. Some citrus squeezes through the cracks, but this thing really reminds me of the mountains. Robust malty backbone has a nice grainy caramel and a splash of alcohol, comes together well

Taste is on the nose pretty well, upfront piney hops with some floral undertones. Sweet malt that's noticeably present yet quietly subdued followed by a touch of alcohol. Pretty good

Mouth is good also, very crisp with a strong filling medium body. Very bitter, very drinkable

Overall this beer is pretty great. My first time having it was six years ago in high school, and I remember having trouble drinking it without gagging. Now I'm 23 and I wish it was even more bitter than it is now. Oh how the times change! This stuff would be a lot better fresh, which is hard to do because it's a staple beer at every gas station and grocery store. When it's always on the shelves and so little people drink it, it's hard to find fresh. Anyway, depending on the date it can make it's way into my regular ipa circle, must try for hop heads

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2013 00:52:36 | More by lordofstarside

Jacurdy60

Alabama

4.24/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25

A-Pours a pale amber color with a thin, but creamy, white head that retains fairly well. Quite a lovely looking brew

S-Notes of pine hit the nose first and is followed by sour grapefruit, lemons, and a touch of malted sweetness round it up.

T & MF-The piney notes mellow out at the front of the palate and the bitter grapefruit takes over for a brief moment. Astringent hops take over after the brief grapefruit appearance, which is followed by a pleasant alcoholic bite. Body is thick for an IPA, very creamy. Finishes crisp with a flash of malted sweetness. Very smooth and rich for an IPA. I like it. A lot.

O-Absolutely exceptional. Mildly complex, but nothing you will have trouble deciphering. The mouthfeel is perhaps the best of an IPA I've ever had and it still finishes crisp. Hops aren't too in your face either, but they are definitely present. The alcohol is hidden exceptionally well, too. SN did it again.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2013 00:00:57 | More by Jacurdy60

mjc3151

Illinois

4.51/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

A - amber, light brown

S - Smells like pine, like you're in a forest full of trees. Smells very fresh.

T - Tastes very hoppy, exactly like the label says. It has a bitter aftertaste. But both the hoppy flavor and the bitter aftertaste are not overpowering. Very good balance for a 7.2% ABV Extra IPA geared towards hopheads.

M - slightly creamy, medium carbonation

O - Although I wish it was slightly less bitter, this is a very good beer. All hopheads should check this beer out.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2013 01:08:43 | More by mjc3151

Wamesit

Massachusetts

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

A - Pours a light amber with a light white head that gives way to clumpy lacing.

S - Peppery hops nose, Cascade hops, bready malts. A slight hint of fruit. Apricot?

T - Hops right out of the gate. Pine, pepper, and a citrus thread throughout. Wide spectrum. There is a malt element that keeps this very drinkable. Bready but not biscuity and dry.

M - Light but chewy.

O - Really great and amazingly drinkable for a 7.2% abv. IPA.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2013 02:38:45 | More by Wamesit

Big-Dog

Florida

4.46/5  rDev +7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Warning: This beer is not for the weak!

The first time I drank it, I found it to be very strong both in flavor and in strength. It was very different to the lagers I'm used to drinking. After a while, it grew on me and was able to drink it with ease.

The main thing I like about this beer is that it actually tastes like beer, not a watered down carbonated drink such as Bud Light. Even thought it's alcohol content is higher than usual, I can't taste the alcohol in this one as much as in other beers. What I do taste is the strong aroma and rich complex flavors.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2013 22:47:48 | More by Big-Dog

jschwanke84

Oregon

4.26/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Poured from bottle into pint glass. Live review.

A: Pours an attractive dark amber and copper color. Pretty clear. Half a finger white head that dissipates in about 30 seconds. Leaves a nice lace. Very inviting.

S: Pine and citrus dominate. Faint hops and pear scent. A bit resiny. Pretty average for an IPA.

T: Pine and citrus again dominate here and I can really taste that hint of pear. Tastes very much like it smells. Hop forward with a nice toasty malt finish. Solid bite at the end that I love in an IPA. Perfectly balanced between pine and citrus. Really enjoy this flavor.

M: Medium body. Slightly chewy but still rests well all over the palate. Pretty good carbonation but maybe a bit under what I would expect in an IPA.

O: Nice dark amber color is very attractive but an average scent is a bit disappointing. Smell of pine and citrus with a bit of pear is nice but not nearly hoppy enough for an IPA. Redeems itself greatly in the taste department. Wow! Piney and citrusy with the pear underlay is amazing. More hops than you would expect based on the scent, but very hop forward with a nice smooth toasty malt finish and a bite. This amazing taste outweighs the disappointing scent and average body. Great IPA! Would recommend to anyone.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2013 01:22:25 | More by jschwanke84

jonb5

United Kingdom (England)

4.28/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

355ml bottle, poured into Leffe chalice.

A: Golden, hazy, half finger head, not great retention but lots of lacing.

S: Cascade, mango, citrus.

T: Mango, citrus, grass, pine, apple, balanced out by slightly bitter finish. Not overly bitter and hid the booze well.

M: Smooth, light body, well carbonated. Went down very well.

O: The longer I nursed it, the stronger the aroma and taste became. Less bitter than I expected, I hope the long journey didn't have a negative effect. Very good.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 14:23:44 | More by jonb5

3en

New York

4.99/5  rDev +19.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

crisp, refreshing, bold, subtle grapefruit flavor...one of the best bottled IPA's out there!

crisp, refreshing, bold, subtle grapefruit flavor...one of the best bottled IPA's out there!

crisp, refreshing, bold, subtle grapefruit flavor...one of the best bottled IPA's out there!

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2013 17:30:28 | More by 3en

roundthewaygirls

Virginia

3.64/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

poured into a pint glass.

A: beautiful orange. a finger of thick, frothy, off-white foam that lingers. not quite clear. tiny bubbles rising to the top.

S: piney hops, citrus fruit, herbal/floral.

T: overwhelming hops up front coat the palate. herbal, citrus notes. nice malt. alcohol is completely concealed despite slightly above average abv.

M: well carbonated, medium bodied, good.

O: i've had it a million times. great warm weather beer. characteristic sierra nevada hop profile turned up a bit. at 7.20% abv, it gets the job done.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2013 23:22:55 | More by roundthewaygirls

emmasrue1

Michigan

4.54/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

One of the best beers I have had. The IPA pales (LOL) compared to it. Bought in a 16 oz. can and placed in a nice 16 oz. pilsner glass. Delicious. Great beer. Will taste great in the Summer if you are out on a boat. Tastes great in a stubby old fashioned beer glass also.

Serving type: can

04-16-2013 17:32:01 | More by emmasrue1

estlinska

Arkansas

4.54/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from the bottle to a tulip glass on 4/14/13. The color of this beer is a deep orange to amber, like thick pine sap. It is quite lively in the glass with lots of carbonation evident. The light penetration is pretty good; no haze or sediment evident. There is a thick 2cm of sandy white colored head to the top of the glass, but dissipates rather quickly. Lacing is pretty thick throughout the glass. The smell is almost exclusively hops. The malt is muted and maybe lends a caramel sweetness. The hops, like in most good IPAs, takes the front row in this show. The most dominant note at first if the piney and resinous prototypical smell of a good northwestern IPA. Then there is the sweet tropical fruit that is muted at first, but blossoms throughout the glass as it warms a little. There is lots of juicy oranges and nectarines especially as you continue to smell it. The taste is definitely showcasing the hops for sure. The pine is there up front, but then the citrus takes the bulk of the flavor. The juicy oranges and nectarines are there still and are the star of this show. There is a good, strong bittering backbone that plays balance to the muted caramel malts. The caramel malts are sweet, but I would like a little more to handle the hops. The mouthfeel is very dry, very bitter, and has a good body. Overall, this is an excellent beer and an excellent example of the style of an American IPA.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 23:20:17 | More by estlinska

borealisfermenteryjen

Minnesota

4.7/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Served: Plain pint glass. Tasted best after 20 min in the glass, when it warmed up a bit, but enjoyable the whole time.

Appearance - deep, inviting golden-orange color, clear, plenty of medium-bodied head with good retention, nice lacing on the glass, medium carbonation

Smell - very faint smell- resiny, spicy, grassy, enjoyable, but not extraordinary

Taste - perfectly balanced hopped-up IPA

Mouthfeel - nice medium-thick mouthfeel. Lingers nicely on the tongue. Perfect carbonation.

Overall - Love it. A reliable, delicious pick.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 00:16:49 | More by borealisfermenteryjen

Cobrito

Georgia

4.74/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

The Honda Accord of IPAs: It's everywhere, and snobs and hipsters will undoubtedly dismiss it, but it's beautifully made, reliably satisfying, and anything but ordinary. Almost certainly the best value in the beer market. Balanced yet hop dominant as an IPA should be. Brilliant.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2013 23:33:24 | More by Cobrito