Imperial IPA - Goose Island Beer Co.

jrenihan

Ontario (Canada)

4.13/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at Beer Authority in NYC.

Beer is light amber in colour, with a moderately sized off-white head. Good retention and excellent lacing- glass was just coated in head.

Caramel malt and a large, murky hop scent. Herbal, dank, with a big citrus blast accompanying- grapefruit primarily.

Lots of citrus in the taste, along with a notable dank, herbal flavour, with fits with the nose. A good dose of caramel malt. Alcohol is noticeable. Hop focused but with a big malt presence. Very full flavoured and quite bitter.

Medium to full bodied, moderately carbonated. Oily and a bit bready.

Overally, quite a good DIPA. Not stand-out good, but very enjoyable.

Serving type: on-tap

03-28-2013 01:22:35 | More by jrenihan

chefhatt

Pennsylvania

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

I had this on tap at Mari's 6 pack for a goose island tasting.
Review from notes, drank it on Saturday March 2nd 2013
It had a very murkey golden color body with a very small head to it. The aroma was pine upfront then some grapefruit and citrus come through. The taste has a pine,bitter flavor to it. The hops hit your taste buds right up front. I didn't get much malt flavor. The mouth feel is very smooth and leaves a hop after taste. Overall i thought it was a really good DIPA.

Serving type: on-tap

03-07-2013 20:39:24 | More by chefhatt

dar482

New York

3.33/5  rDev -20.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

I had this on tap at Top Hops in NYC. It comes in a clear yellowish color like many IPAs. The hops come slow and a bit flat. The malty slowness covers up the exciting brightness that I want in IPAs. It ends in a roundish aftertaste. It's decent, but after a while, it tasted almost oxidized, despite being fresh from the keg. I guess that's the characteristic of the beer.

Serving type: on-tap

02-21-2013 23:14:25 | More by dar482

corby112

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Draft at The Pour House in Westmont, NJ.

Pours a very cloudy, very dark golden orange color with light tangerine edges and a 1.5 finger white head that slowly settles into a lasting ring.  Really good retention with streaks of soapy lacing left behind.

Dank resinous hop aroma with lots of pine needle, spruce tip and earthy grass character.  This is countered by a subtle citrus presence along with boozy sweetness and a caramel malt backbone.

On the fuller end of medium bodied with a very dry and dank earthy hop presence that lingers over the malt backbone and boozy sweetness into a slightly dry finish.  Dry, sticky and bitter with aggressive hops up front.  The hop profile is a bit one dimensional however with only very subtle citrus character.  Could use some more sweetness for balance.  Malt backbone is a bit too heavy for my liking with notes of caramel, toffee and biscuit followed by boozy heat in finish.  Decently hoppy but alcohol and strong malt flavors hinder the flavor a bit.

Serving type: on-tap

02-08-2013 00:48:21 | More by corby112

TheBrewo

Michigan

4.13/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

This beer was served from the tap at Tap and Mallet in Rochester, NY at their Goose Island vs. Founders Split Tap Takeover. It arrived in a thinned, stemless chalice glowing a muddy golden amber. It held a one and a half finger head of white bubbly cream, showing decent retention, and thick sheets of lacing down the glass. There was a thick haze throughout, with no sediment. Carbonation appeared average. The aroma was big with fresh grapefruit hops and bittering rind, pale malts, and light metallics. Vanilla coolness, black peppery booze, clovey phenols, and the chemical ring of nail polish remover (much like an English IPA) added spiciness to that malty base. With warmth came more fusel boozy rumbles, and the roast of brown sugar. Our first impression was that there was a surprising caramel note to the malts, despite the paler nose at first, with great robustness to the hops through the end. As we sipped, pale grain, borderline Belgian yeast, black peppery booziness, raw honey prickle, muddy mineral, fresh clovey spice, and raw caramels started things off. The peak came with that English IPA-esque fusel phenol bite to ride against continued pale maltiness. Mixing in were also notes of sugary sweet orange flesh, sweet and roasty caramel malts, brown sugar sweetness, and the start of big herbal hop bitterness. The hops enhanced through the finish of the swallow, adding big bitterness in combination with that continued phenolic wash. The hops here became more citric than herbal, and by the end of the swallow gave sweetness and oily syrups to that bitterness. The aftertaste breathed of soured pale grain, mineral, aromatic grapefruit and nectary juicy hops, chalked yeast, wet wheatiness, citric flesh pucker, and peppery booziness. The body was medium to full, and the carbonation was medium, but with big foamy frothiness when held in the mouth to taste. This all made for nice slurp, smack, cream, and froth, with a nice creamy coating around the mouth. The booze and bright hoppiness gave pucker, and light, eventual dryness. The abv was appropriate, and the beer was extremely fresh and drinkable.

Overall, the best thing about this beer was the spice, zest, and big fresh hoppiness to the flavoring. There was such a nice blend of citrus, fruitiness, caramel, and spice. This all sat nicely with that surprising caramel depth and sweetness to the malts. This was all seen through the aroma as well, helping to keep this brew drinkable from tip to toe. By the end the booze may become a bit much for some, but otherwise this is a terrific beer.

Serving type: on-tap

01-26-2013 00:56:20 | More by TheBrewo

justintcoons

Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev -13.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a goblet.

Appearance
Nice amber with 1 finger of white head. Good clarity and moderate carbonation.

Nose
Hops galore. Pine needles, grapefruit zest, lemon zest and numerous other zests. Thick caramel and some toffee.

Taste
Big resinous pine, grapefruit zest, lemon zest, orange zest and perhaps some tangerine and the smallest touch of peach. The malts make themselves known in the thickest of caramel and a good dose of toffee. Finishes with an ass kicking of bitter hops that are highly resinous, floral and spicy.

Mouthfeel
Medium-full bodied, oily, slick and warming.

Overall
This DIPA is all about resin and zests and has a rather caustic bitterness. Has a similar hop profile to something Stone would make along the lines of Ruination or Arrogant Bastard. However the malt also has a huge presence in this one. Yet, for some reason the malt and hops do not play well with each other and never strike a balance.

Serving type: on-tap

12-18-2012 14:35:12 | More by justintcoons

jzeilinger

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A- Pours a dark amber orange color with a thin, but very creamy and robust toasted white colored head.

S - Tropical citrus fruit: oranges, pineapple, and grapefruit, some citrus spice, bready caramel malt. Alcohol aroma is well buried.

T - Sweet caramel malt is starts things off with a slight spicy character. The hops are light in the beginning and gradually builds to a nicely balanced spice (peppery) finish. The hop combination balances with the malt mainly throughout but intensifies after it goes down leaving bold remnants of oranges, grapefruit, some traces of pineapple, lemons, floral, and lingering peppery warmth. There's a slight warming on the way down.

M - Thick and rich, mild carbonation with a light sting, and leaves a hefty coating of pepper and fruit.

O - Very good and worth trying. More malt forward and balanced but finishes with a sweet fruity, hoppy, peppery presence that's quite nice.

Serving type: on-tap

12-06-2012 05:36:48 | More by jzeilinger

sprucetip

Alaska

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

On tap at RIBCO in Rock Island, Illinois

Golden/orange, clear, with thin white head and not much retention or lacing.

Pretty boozy, but joined by peach and citrus hop flavors. Malty sweetness is slightly more than detectable.

Peach, pine, and floral hop flavors are way more noticeable than the moderate hop bitterness. It's also boozy, and pretty well balanced by some malty sweetness.

Good carbonation, medium body/viscosity, gentle warming, and some bitterness and drying in the finish.

Other than being a bit too boozy this is a really nice beer. Still a really nice beer. Better, to me, if less boozy.

Serving type: on-tap

11-28-2012 03:42:13 | More by sprucetip

notalagerlugger

Indiana

4.5/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This was the best IPA I have had I wish they still made it. It was well balanced even though it was Bitter to the maximum. Goose Island recommended eating Blue Cheese when drinking it. It was a match made in heaven and I have been an IPA fan every since. Many DIPA or Imperial ipa get to sweet syrup flavor from desire to make them high alcohol. This beer is high ABV but really smooth.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2012 01:38:24 | More by notalagerlugger

daledeee

Iowa

4.45/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

An on tap offering. I think this is pretty limited.

Got it in my large wine glass. A cloudy rusty body with great head.

The nose is floral and hoppy.

Taste is of course loaded with hops. Really bitter at first but then there is a wonderful malt balance to it and a floral finish. I personally like the malt, others like mostly hops. I found the drink a very unique tasting IPA and quite refreshing. So good I had 4 of them.

Mouth feel is also exceptional with a very heavy body. I would say this is one of the best IPA I have had. Fresh on the tap helps quite a bit! Goose Island continues to show me that they are very adept at making many styles of beer that are unique and of exceptional quality.

Serving type: on-tap

11-02-2012 09:21:42 | More by daledeee

hoppytobehere

Colorado

3.95/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Cloudy, orange body with thin head. Lacing along the glass is ridiculous (in a good way).
S: Oranges, bitter hops, a little bit of english malt.
T: Pretty true to the nose. Very similar to their regular IPA, just hopped up and way more bitter.
M: Medium bodied, could use a little more carbonation. Very syrupy.
O: Pretty solid IIPA. Would definitely drink again.

Serving type: on-tap

10-31-2012 19:34:41 | More by hoppytobehere

cosmicevan

New York

3.63/5  rDev -13.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Picked up a 16oz fill at a goose island event earlier today. enjoyed from my goose island wine glass.

a - brew poured a deep ipa orange with a thin head that was gone quick. lacing was fairly sticky although streaky.

s - fairly sweet and malty with a bit of a hop slap.

t - lots of honey, pretty big booze presence and a bitter finish. decidedly malty. the booziness gives it an almost bandaide flavoring.

m - boozy and bitter. full and rich.

o - overall i dug this one a bit more when i had the 3 oz pour but still glad to nab the tick. it is a pretty powerful IIPA but could use a bit more of the classic citric grapefruit flavorings on the taste. the booze is also a bit in your face.

Serving type: growler

10-21-2012 01:12:24 | More by cosmicevan

Greywulfken

New York

4.35/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: medium amber body with 2 thick fingers of dense ivory foam; splotchy lace drapings

S: sweet malty caramel and bitter piney hops

T: pale and caramel malt flavors, honey-thick; smokey pine and citrus rind; some grapefruit and butterscotch

M: thick and dense; washing bitter aftertaste; chewy and full

O: I thought this a well-done DIPA - it hits all the benchmarks for flavor, strength, taste, feel... not sure why I see some flat reviews - maybe you need to be style-partial to really dig on this - I know I am, but I also feel this beer is spot-on for the style. I'd recommend picking one up without hesitation if you ever see one. Goose Island makes great beers - especially these high gravity brews.

Serving type: growler

10-20-2012 21:21:13 | More by Greywulfken

drabmuh

Maryland

3.25/5  rDev -22.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

At the time of this review this beer is illogical on the "Top Beers - American Double / Imperial IPA" list on beeradvocate.com. It does not belong at all.

Beer served in a snifter, on draft at Churchkey DC. Beer is amber and mostly clear with a tan off white head of small bubbles.

Aroma is malty, earthy, mildly piny, smells fine.

Tastes horrid, it is mildly solventy with this odd bitterness at the end that must be from grain, maybe almost smokey? I hate it. I will not have this again.

Serving type: on-tap

07-24-2012 12:59:03 | More by drabmuh

Duff27

Illinois

3.8/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Half inch tall white head on a murky dark red/amber body. Splotchy lacing with a cap and collar.

Smells of citrusy booziness.

Slight citrus from hops. Grassy. Has almost a menthol quality to it. Noticeable alcohol.

Full mouthfeel, good carbonation,

Good beer, although I disagree with the distinction of world class. DIPAs are a crowded field and this one just doesn't have enough to set it apart from the pack. That being said, get your hands on some if you can.

Serving type: on-tap

07-15-2012 02:47:11 | More by Duff27

mrfrancis

Kentucky

2.8/5  rDev -33.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Pours a clear amber with a tight whitish mousse.

S: Aromas of caramel, brown sugar, citrus, garlic, white onion, and radish are present on the nose.

T: Notes of caramel, brown sugar, biscuit, bitter orange, lemon, lime, pine, unripened pineapple, parsnips, grapefruit, white onion, radish, and garlic are present on the palate. The finish is vegetal, fiery, and sticky with a combination of lemon, grapefruit, caramel, pine, white onion, and garlic flavors underscored by peppery, prickly alchol.

M: Medium-to-full in body, viscous, resinous, and sticky. Carbonation is spot on for the style, but alcohol presence is overwhelming. This thing kicks hard.

O: I'm really not sure what to make of this IIPA. It's definitely not what I expected and doesn't display what I generally look for in the style. The flavor is so harsh, funky, and vegetal that I initially thought that there had to be something wrong with the beer. I'm not sure where all of the hype is coming from. This one definitely is not for me.

Serving type: on-tap

07-09-2012 14:45:19 | More by mrfrancis

Tone

Missouri

3.85/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a clear, amber color. One inch head of an off-white color. Great retention and great lacing. Smells of citrus hops, slight flora hops, sweet malt, slight caramel malt, hint of grapefruit, and a hint of pine. Fits the style of an American Double / Imperial IPA. Mouth feel is sharp and crisp, with an average carbonation level. Tastes of citrus hops, alcohol, hint of floral hops, sweet malt, and a hint of caramel malt. Overall, good appearance and aroma, but average body and blend.

Serving type: on-tap

06-20-2012 13:23:01 | More by Tone

Retail1LO

Pennsylvania

3.38/5  rDev -19.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured on draft into a 9 oz. snifter. Pours an extremely hazy amber hue with a single finger's width head that retreats quickly. The nose is dissapointingly tame. Just the slightest air of hops and citrus. The taste is bizarre as hell. This tastes like it's smoked. It's not horrible, but it's both unexpected and offputting. The mouthfeel is bitter with a quality that reenforces the smokiness. Overall, this just isn't my thing

Serving type: on-tap

06-15-2012 16:18:40 | More by Retail1LO

barczar

Kentucky

3.75/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a slightly hazy light golden color with a solid ivory head that lingers, but leaves thick sheets of lacing when it dissipates.

Aroma is heavily citrus, reminiscent of a fruit salad, with grapefruit, orange, lemon, and pineapple opening the profile. There's an underlying dankness and a fairly strong menthol presence. A hint of bready malt ties the hops together.

Alcohol and menthol dominate the flavor early, with heavy grapefruit, pine, and perfumey floral hops carrying into a fairly bitter, peppery finish. Strange as it sounds, there's a seaweed note present. Phenols underlie the entire profile.

Body is moderate, with fairly high carbonation, and significant alcohol warmth.

Overall, a very hop dominant dipa. Certainly a palate wrecker, but not in an unwelcome way. Alcohol is a bit evident, and the menthol is unfamiliar territory for me in a brew. Don't get me wrong, it's a good beer, but I think it's overrated. The phenolic, rubbery character is too overwhelming.

Serving type: on-tap

06-13-2012 03:21:34 | More by barczar

Kadonny

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -15%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

So this was billed as rated "100" by the GI rep I was talking to at Capones during PBW. This was the only keg of this Imperial IPA that made it to Philly (supposedly). A must try.

Poured from tap into a tulip glass.

A: A medium orange color with a one finger white head. Nice glass lacing is left.

S: Sweetness is heavy with caramel and candy notes. This mixes with the fruity hops that are a bit earthy too and I'm getting some slight cat piss smell.

T: Citrus starts off along with some tropical fruit hop flavors. Grapefruit, mango, pineapple. Other flavors creep in after that with more garden notes of scallion, mint and some of that dreaded cat piss. Sweetness comes heavy and lasting with caramel, toffee and some candy notes. Finish stays sweet and the garden/scallion flavors return to finish slightly bitter.

M: Pretty full, coating and nice amount of alcohol. Slight bitterness retains.

O: A decent IIPA that was more on the sweet side, but it cannot live up to the great ones, nor can it even live up to the good ones. Totally disappointing.

I came with huge expectations based on prior reviews from years ago and left very disappointed. The garden hop flavors were off putting a bit. Perhaps back in 2007 (seems to be the last time they brewed this) it was a great IIPA, but today the IIPA bar has been raised by a huge amount and this one missed the cut. Not a bad beer, just nothing to remember. Darn.

Serving type: on-tap

06-12-2012 15:07:43 | More by Kadonny

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On Tap at City Tap House for Philly Beer Week 2012

Goose Island DIPA goes into the tulip glass looking a hazy orange with some gold trimmings in between, on par for a DIPA from out mid- west. The head on this is magnificent, it really looks magical. It is a bright off white color with foamy bubbly appearance. It condenses into a creamy head with a rocky appearance. Billowy.

Smells leap out with vigor including a plethora of hop juice and sweet malts backing that huge hop bill. Getting a load of grapefruit with slight tangerine/orange and some papaya to go along. some real pine up in here. Citrusy but also sweet smelling. You can just smell the sweet malt backing, it does take 2nd place though. No sign of alcohol.

While very citrusy in taste this does contain some of those piney tastes often found in west coast DIPA's (and Troegs). A great mix of hops and malts. Citrus squeezed grapefruit with some papaya and mango although the mango is quite light. Sweet malt with semi caramel. The sweetness is big but not cloying. Not really all that bittering. A touch of alc. in the finish, small potatoes though. Great stuff.

The body is above medium with a semi coating feel that goes away in time. Im not bombarded by a bittering feel more like hop juice coating the mouth. I would not mind just a bit more bitterness, it ain't no thang. This is carbed fine and ample but it sort of gets lost under the body, not overly crisp. My tounge does not hurt after this. I could drink more beer after this and actually taste it, not a palate destroyer.

All in all this is a great DIPA. I could drink a bunch of this and I felt the effects with 9.0% and I would do it again. Im on the prowl for more of this, Great stuff.

Serving type: on-tap

06-09-2012 02:37:12 | More by onix1agr

jegross2

Illinois

3.18/5  rDev -24.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Reviewing the now retired Goose Island Imperial IPA from Goose Island Brewing Company. This is the beer that got me first interested in craft beer many moons ago. It will always hold a special place in my liver.
Score: 81

2007 vintage bottle served in a "The Bruery" tulip and enjoyed on 03/23/12. This bottle is from the very last bottling Goose Island ever did of this beer.

Appearance: Pours a golden orange color that is slightly hazy. Not much information about the head at pour, since the 12 oz bottle was split between several of us. Seems to have decent lacing. 3.5/5

Smell: Honey, heavy barley malt, and stale hops. Lots of malt, to be frank. Surprisingly enough, there is still a light booziness in the nose. Moderate oxidation too. 3.5/5

Taste: Heavy doses of bitter barley malt and caramel. That's about it. At this point, the beer has turned into a straightforward English barleywine with some light acidic tartness on the back half. There is a lingering bitter barley malt finish. 3/5

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, medium carbonation. Oily mouthfeel. Bitter finish. 3.5/5

Overall: While this beer is a shell of its former self, it was pure nostalgia to get the rare chance to try the no longer produced beer that got me into the craft scene several years ago. Thank you so much DP34 for sharing this one with me!

Recommendation: You can skip this once-great beer at this point in its life cycle, but it's certainly not a drain pour of an Imperial IPA five years later.

Pairings: Provolone cheese.

Cost: I do not recall how much this beer cost back in the day, but I believe it was between $10 and $20 for a four pack. I think it also use to cost around $10 for a pint at the Clybourn brewpub.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2012 07:35:47 | More by jegross2

Yimosan

Florida

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

12oz Bottle / Tulip Glass.

A: Hazy, burnt orange almost like apple cider. The head was creamy, off white and a bit sticky. Noticed some sediment as I was pouring it.

S: Malt and more malt. I get the smell of hops as if they had been caramelized in brown sugar; not piney or citric at all. It also smells like Barley-wine and Belgian yeasts. Sherry and muscat grapes hints come across as it warms up in the glass.

T: Again tons of malt up front. The hops are not bitter at all, they are very well balanced. This beer is more Barley-wine than IPA IMO. I also get notes of Sherry and muscat grape in the palate.

M: Creamy and bubbly. Medium bodied.

D: Very drinkable considering the age of this beer (2007). Would have liked to have had this beer fresh and compare the complexity. The alcohol is a bit too warming for my taste, but the sweetness of it makes this a sipping after dinner beer, IMO.

Goose Island needs to bring this beer out of retirement!!

Salud!

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2011 19:43:39 | More by Yimosan

hoppymcgee

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 2007 vintage 12oz. bottle into an Ommegang tulip glass.

A: Hazy, yellow-orange color with decent head retention for a DIPA of this age.

S: Burnt newspaper, musty, and some citrus - notably grapefruit and lemon.

T: Light notes of caramel and toffee are followed by a slight coffee flavor. Oddly enough I get a taste of butternut squash in the middle. Somewhere lurking in the background are the fruity and piny notes of this original DIPA. There is also a distinct flavor of peach too. Complex - I wish I knew how this tasted fresh for a comparison.

M: Pretty nice. The carbonation really held up and the age did not turn this beer into water.

D: This mellowed out nicely. Slightly bitter but above average drinkability for 9% ABV.

Overall, this beer definitely has characteristics of a barleywine at this point. I did enjoy it and it still is worth seeking out if you can get your hands on a properly stored bottle.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2010 01:15:09 | More by hoppymcgee

sweemzander

Illinois

3.9/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12oz. bottle poured into an imperial pint. 2007 Vintage. Many thanks to kstrickler for this bottle!

(A)- Pours a cloudy caramel amber color that produced a frothy off-white head with some good retention behind it. Its leaving behind bits of webbing as it dissipates.

(S)- Toasty caramel-like pine & lemon. Bits of butterscotch & toffee.

(T)- Dry pine that turns to wet wood. Slightly sweet with caramel & toffee. Some bits of pineapple & lemon in there.

(M)- A good carbonation level with a surprising balance to it despite its bottle age. Still has some good hop presence to it, but with a big malt background. Begins to taste burnt & faded with only a few sips left.

(D)- Very surprising despite its age. Still drinkable & enjoyable, but clearly close to being too old. Very impressed & surprised how this has stood the test of time.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2010 00:55:37 | More by sweemzander