Old Wylies IPA - Rivertowne Pourhouse

allboutbierge

Austria

4.93/5  rDev +33.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

An incredible IPA that shows you can have incredible depth of flavor without the over the top ABV of DIPAs. Its a 6.2 abv here.

Color is richer and darker than most competing AIPAs. Its color reminds me more of some EIPAs I've had. Theres some brown color in there.

Its got an almost chewy malt profile going on to go along with its heavy floral hop flavors. You can taste the oils in it. Amazingly fresh flavor. Hops hammer away at your tongue, but the malt content is enough to keep them from burning out. A little bit of fruity character to go along with the pine flavors. I can't complement this IPA enough. Its a refreshing alternative between the IPAs which seem to achieve balance from putting a little less hops in the kettle (Im looking at you Titan, Mojo) and the over the top West Coast hop bombs. Theres insance hop depth going on, but enough malt in there to keep one from burning out.

Serving type: on-tap

09-07-2009 18:05:13 | More by allboutbierge

DrDemento456

Pennsylvania

4.72/5  rDev +27.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

All the great taste of Rivertowne beer... Now in a bottle!

A - Pours a nice copper amber color with an inch of the foamy white stuff I love.

S - You got hardcore piney and herbal hops dancing on a balanced bready malt.

T - Pretty timid actually so maybe it's been bottled for a while. First time I had this it tasted more "dry hopped" but now I am getting semi bitter hops with the nice caramel body that does finish pretty bitter.

M - Light to medium body. Defiantly could finish a sixer no problem.

D - Well it still was really enjoyable but IDK I still love it on tap. What was cool was a sixer of bottles was only 10 bucks, which is cheaper than a growler fill and still delicious.

A cheap way to enjoy the great taste of local beer!

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2010 01:26:27 | More by DrDemento456

beerphan

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +17%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a slightly hazed copper amber with a fluffy white head that deposits sheets of dense spiderwebbed lace. When held to a light the brew shines a hazed orange. Carbonation appears average.

Nose: Hoppy nose, citrus, some sweet malts

Hoppy up front with balancing caramel malts. This brew seems to be all about the finish. Bitter and fruity. Citrus rind and a lingering bitterness.

Easy to swill, could drink this all night long. Go steelers!!

Serving type: growler

11-27-2007 01:54:26 | More by beerphan

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a murky brown with a reddish hue. Off white head and a fair amount of lacing. Real strong perume tones on the nose. Fruity tones that are extremely vibrant and full, but not massively defining the character. Flavor is a distinct bitter tone, but seems balanced by a load of malts. Thick and earthy. Heavier on the malt side it seems, but nice. Smooth feel. Very easy to drink. One of the more unique IPAs I have had in quitesome time.

Serving type: on-tap

02-01-2008 09:01:42 | More by RblWthACoz

prdstmnky

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a pint glass, nice amber body with 2 fingers of frothy white head that settles to a foamy cap - lots of lacing. Picking up nothing but citrus / floral hops in the nose, which is always a good sign for my preferences. Was hoping for a hop-forward IPA and boy did I get one! The taste follows right in line with the nose, a burst of bitter hops upfront with just a bit of balance from some sweet malts in the middle, and ending with a somewhat floral / bitter finish. Medium bodied with adequate carbonation and fairly dry. Really nice IPA!

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2011 00:20:59 | More by prdstmnky

IronCitySteve

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: A nice dark copper color with some amber twinges. Provides a nice off-white foam head with more than sufficient lacing.

S: Although a tad mild, there are definite scents of hops with some bready and caramel malt.

T: For me, this was a beer that really came through on taste. Ample amounts of hop flavor that is balanced nicely with the caramel malts.

M: Leaves a lingering bitterness on the palate.

D: I find this easy to drink. The ABV is only 6.2% so I could enjoy several of these easily in a sitting.

Serving type: on-tap

07-14-2010 13:30:43 | More by IronCitySteve

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.1/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Nice to see all of a sudden many of the hometown brewers bottling, thanks to the MKGFB, INC up in North Versailles this is the project with Rivertowne/North Country collaboration production brewers. Full Pint is th combined label, than each brewer is bottling certain brews as well. This is a nice local IPA for sure pours out a nice deep amber copper hue with a light off white cream colored head. Lacing was fine detailed evenly coating my imperial pint glass. Aroma has upfront hops with grapefruit/floral/citrus/earthy hops going on, a little bit of everything. Brewers Andrew Maxwell and Barret Goddard have fine tuned this recipe over 20 yrs according to the label. This is a quintessential Pittsburgh IPA, really quality big on malt and hops balanced and ballsy. Flavor is great I could only imagine what it would taste like with whole cone hops, these hop pellets are detectable in this beer. Not off putting with the pellets but it's evident in this case. Hop bitterness upfront with a nice balancing act with the caramel bread malts, finishes with hops across the palate coated on the teeth. Earhy, herbal, citrus rind hops are aggressive but definitely an enjoyable creation overall. Mouthfeel is medium bodied sturdy carbonation, these guys are making some nice beers I will continue to support the local guys. Drinkability overall like I said enjoyable packed full of flavor light years ahead of Church Brew Works bottled offerings, it's time for Scott Smith to befriend these guys and package some Kvass so I can have some trade bait.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2010 22:13:52 | More by WVbeergeek

ckaufman

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at the Rivertowne...

This beer is named for "Wylie" the fish mascot at the Rivertowne Pourhouse... in case anyone was wondering!

Served to me in a tall pint glass... cloudy reddish copper in color with a nice two finger head. Medium lacing with strong retention down the inside of the glass. I was expecting a little more in the nose for an IPA... you could smell the pine and floral hop aroma alongside a caramel malt, but again I think perhaps a dry-hop would help increase the aroma, or a longer dry-hop if one is currently used.

This beer, on the other hand, had a good "east coast" IPA taste. 55/45 balance of hops to malts. Very resinous in the mouth with a nice hop finish. Medium carbonation and a nice full body make this beer very drinkable.

The ABV on the batch I had was 6.2%.

Serving type: on-tap

09-12-2008 15:51:14 | More by ckaufman

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.05/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Another new one for me, huge thanks to the halloween bif for getting me yet another beer i had never heard of before! poure into a pint glass and enjoyed on 10/22/2010.

good pour here with a clear amber color and lots of carbonation bubbling up in to a nice one inch head of white that really had some legs.

aroma is fresh hops, nice touches of citrus with hints of light pine and a nice mix of light buttery malts that could be picked up later in the session. near perfect medium feel led to an outstanding profile that featured just enough hops to make me a very, very happy man. nice dry finish with a good bit of grapefruit an pineapple.

overall a very solid offering and one that i would do again in a heartbeat.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2010 00:56:16 | More by mikesgroove

wvsabbath

West Virginia

4.05/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Serving Type - Can

Appearance - Rusty tan/brown, nice 1 inch creamy head and lots of lacing.

Smell - Grapefruity hops, pine, cherry, caramel malts, spices, honey and yeasty sugars.

Taste - First sip is piney hops with a malty backbone. Caramel malts really work nice with the hops and added yeasty sugars. Nice grapefruit and lemon kick is present after the malts die down. Strong bitter pine comes out at the finish.

Mouthfeel - Tongue gets lots of hops and malts. Palate gets tons of pine, some sugars and lemon. Aftertaste is dry, bitter and hoppy.

Overall - A nice local ipa, been drinking this one for years, finally in cans, had to buy and finally do a review. Love the huge pine hop kick it has, alcohol is masked, and is a pleasure to drink. Ultra fresh and in cans, adds to this moreso then in the past. If your in the Pittsburgh area, grab a can or two and enjoy.

Serving type: can

05-09-2012 21:59:03 | More by wvsabbath

goblue3509

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a dark amberish copper color with a slight off white head that is about one finger thick. The aroma is of a caramel malt backbone with piney and earthy hops present over the top. The taste has a big malt backbone with caramel malt and sweet malt being balanced out by piney and earthy hops. The carbonation is moderate. Overall its a solid ipa, nice malt backbone and characteristic with a nice balance off hops. Enough going on to make you come back for more.

Serving type: on-tap

06-21-2010 21:43:48 | More by goblue3509

PittBeerGirl

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Review #800- thought I would go local with a brewpub that recently started bottling! I've had this on-tap before but was pretty excited to see a bottled sixer at GE Market District.

A- Body is a nearly transparent rich amber hue. Pours with a foamy 2-3 finger off white slightly rusty head that slowly fades to about one finger and sticks from there. Lots of lacing all the way down the glass-this is what an IPA should look like!

S- The nose isn't as rich or bright as the draft version but is still decent. Herbal hops, hay, pale malt and caramel malt come through the most-with a hint of pine in the back.

T- Herbal hops and a mild caramel malt backbone. The finish is all refreshing pine-but its not as bright as some west coast IPAs-it takes its time to come through and grows in strength gradually from the back to the front-a moderate refreshing pine hop flavor and bitterness linger.

M- Feel is fantastic-medium prickly carbonation and a light to medium weight very smooth, oily body.

D- This is a very good IPA- the bottling decreases the freshness and the brightness of what I remember from the brewpub-but the mouthfeel is exceptional and this is still wonderful either way overall.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2010 21:43:24 | More by PittBeerGirl

WoodBrew

Illinois

4/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a dark amberish copper color with a slight off white head that is about one finger thick. The aroma is of a caramel malt backbone with piney and earthy hops present over the top. The taste has a big malt backbone with caramel malt and sweet malt being balanced out by piney and earthy hops. The carbonation is moderate. Overall its a solid ipa, nice malt backbone and characteristic with a nice balance off hops. Enough going on to make you come back for more.

Serving type: on-tap

08-02-2012 03:00:30 | More by WoodBrew

akorsak

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on-tap in Monroeville.

A: The IPA is a full amber color, golden possibly in lighter conditions. As it is, I can't see through it. A half a finger of dense white foam arrived with the glass.

S: The nose is piquant, nicely spiced with an excess of citrusy, floral hops. The ale isn't all hops though, with a streak of caramel malts cutting through it.

T: A refreshing IPA, this is long on hoppy flavor without sacrificing the malts. Citrus and flowers, with a hint of pine resin, drive the hoppy side. The flavors are sharp but not too bitter. Caramel malts are abundant, strengthed as compared to Pucker Up. Overall, the IPA hits the spot without too much boozy or bitterness.

M: The mouthfeel is lively, a little resiny. Either way, the hops are full and carry the mouthfeel with their full flavors.

D: Enjoyable, if not a little heavy. Definitely a drinkable IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

03-07-2010 20:47:36 | More by akorsak

Cylinsier

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

tap at new North Shore location

Bronze amber pour, whitish lacing

Smells of floral and pine resin hops with some light bready malt

Caramel malts with some strong but not overly bitter hop character.

Medium body with a sting of carbonation.

Really a pretty decent IPA, light and drinkable but not short on flavor or body. Good balance and sessionable beer, would have again.

Serving type: on-tap

05-16-2012 20:43:19 | More by Cylinsier

Stigs

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

16oz pour at Fatheads, served in an English style pint glass

A - pours a pretty dark amber/copper color. nice slightly off-white foam, very frothy and coats the glass at each sip on the way down.

S - pine resin, bitter with some freshly cut grass. malts fairly present, bright caramel and right in that "East Coast IPA" comfort zone. a bit mild.

T - Again quite heavy on the pine...a bit one-sided with the hop profile, though it is quite tasty. ample amounts of caramel malt add sweetness which stops this just short of being a hop bomb, assertive yet good balance.

M - medium bodied, carbonation was alive but worked well with all the pine, grass. finishes with a lingering bitterness which isnt overwhelming.

D - very good IPA, faulted by the fact that you need to either be a fan of or in the mood for piney & grassy hops without much else. so many stellar IPA's out there this may get lost in the mix but ill glady give it another shot.

Serving type: on-tap

05-26-2010 03:18:34 | More by Stigs

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.78/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass. A rich copper in color with a large soapy white head and chunks of lace. A sexy looking IPA.

Smell: Floral hops and some malt sweetness.

Taste: Earthy, herbal hops with a good bite to it. Leafy and bitter, but pleasing at the same time. Caramel malt adds some balance but still a hop forward ale.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a mild bite and lingering bitterness.

Drinkability: A nice beer from Rivertowne, nice to see it in bottles locally.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2010 03:27:00 | More by Stinkypuss

mikereaser

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a deep rusty orange with an inch of white foam that quickly fades to a layer of soapy bubbles. I'm getting a bunch of lemon and honey with the hint of a malty background. Bitter hops dominate along with the lemon and pine flavor. Alot strong IBU wise than I was expecting. It has a crisp carbonation and medium body. There just seems to be an underlying brewing system. There just seems to be more off flavors than good flavors

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2011 05:47:40 | More by mikereaser

TheMultiYeast

Pennsylvania

3.65/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Picked this up at a local beer market because it's a Pennsylvania IPA I've never heard of.

Looks lovely with a nice bright orange haze. A thick white head gives way to some lacing while sipping.

Smells pretty bitter. Basic "hoppy" smell with a little grass and a touch of sugary sweetness.

Taste is bitter throughout. Just a touch of malt balance peaking through but hops and more hops dominate the taste buds. Despite it's bitterness, Old Wylie is citrusy crisp.

Mouthfeel is watery which adds to it's quenching qualities. Nicely carbonated.

Overall this beer is a decent IPA. Not sure if I'd reach for it again, but I'd like to see what else Rivertowne has to offer.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2011 02:11:02 | More by TheMultiYeast

Fish113d

Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a pint glass chilled, it pours golden-copper color with a fairly dense 2-finger thick white head w/ some haze.

Quite aromatic! A grainy citrus aroma hits my nose along with some floral hops. Biscuits also are there. Nothing very spectacular about it, but it IS very pungent.

Sipping reveals a very bitter hops flavor that seem old english-type taste. Maybe warrior hops used (one of the four) that comes out very apparently. A very bittering finish with a bit of caramel malt coming through on the swallow. The aftertaste is a floral and grassy finish.

Decent body and basic IPA feel. Nothing real exciting here. CConsidering it is 7.00% abv, it is quite-well hidden however, which is fairly nice and quite dangerous.

Overall drinkability is average. A bit too bitter for my likings, but overall, I've never heard of this brew or this brewery in that case, but not a bad brew at all. Worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2010 02:14:08 | More by Fish113d

DavoleBomb

Ohio

3.63/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a pint glass.

4.0 A: Hazed amber brown color. One and a half fingers of creamy off-white head with average retention and a good bit of lacing.

4.0 S: Pretty good aroma. Equal mixture of hops and malts. Malts offer a good bit of toffee and caramel to a lesser extent. Hops are citrusy and earthy with orange being more apparent. A bit of Chinook-like cat piss and yeastiness too. Pretty good.

3.5 T: Earthy and refreshing. Moderate-heavy bitterness, earthy hops with some citrus and pine, and caramel and toffee malts. Yeastiness is a bit heavy handed, but otherwise pretty good.

3.5 M: Heavier medium body. Good moderate carbonation that is just a tad bity. Could be a bit creamier and a bit less chewy yeast.

3.5 D: Not a bad beer, but I'd prefer it to be a bit cleaner. I like yeastiness to a degree, but this is a tad too much for this beer

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2011 02:03:35 | More by DavoleBomb

AdamBear

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A-nice amber with a nice cream colored head

S-herbal and grainy. Not very hoppy at all. Not a great scent for an ipa.

T-comes in with a very bitter taste of herbs and pepper. The after-taste is also very bitter with a touch of floral flavors to it. Unique. 

M-bitter. Medium carbonation with a creamy finish.

O-It's just a decent ipa. To be honest, it reminds me more of an old English ipa than the american style common today. I suppose I'd drink it again if offered, but I'm not gonna search this out.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2012 01:08:23 | More by AdamBear

IronLover

Pennsylvania

3.54/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Golden honey in color with a slight haze. Poured with a short, rich white foam that slowly reduced to a wispy cap that left sheets of sticky lacings on the glass. Malty grain, biscuit, earthy grass and light orange citrus hop aromas in the background. A bit light on hop character for an IPA. On the lighter side of medium bodied with pleasant, creamy, rich carbonation. Biscuity malt up front with floral and light citrus hops to the end. Finishes with a piney hop aftertaste. A local brew with lots of potential. Needs a bit more hop aroma and a touch more hop bite through the middle to be a true American IPA. If there was such thing as a German IPA, this may qualify.

Serving type: can

05-18-2013 02:36:20 | More by IronLover

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

3.51/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Hazy pond water light brown. Big sudsy cap stood tall and dug in. Lacing is pretty.

Piney and herbal hops in the nose. Competing somewhat is a sweeter toasted malt and semi-flamboyant yeast presence. Not a fruity nose.

Crisp, but with some papery elements. Dry pine, toast, bitter grapefruit pith, vegetable-like herbaceous-ness, mucky yeast, and finishing nutty bitterness. Mineral qualities make it a bit salty. In fact, it tastes like there is salt in the beer. Might have worked without the caramel malts.

Carbonation is low-medium. Semi-scrubby in the end. Wet body. Not a satisfying gulp.

This was better we hen I've had it in the past. Can't tell if my can isn't fresh without decipherable code stamping. An average local IPA.

Serving type: can

05-09-2013 21:18:02 | More by thecheapies

dtivp

West Virginia

3.45/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured a nice clear dark amber with a white two finger head that settled into a nice cap with light lacing.

Aroma of floral hops and lemon.

Taste followed the nose with bitter hops, lemon and a hint of pine.

Mouthfeel was medium body with moderate carbonation, very crisp with bitterness the whole way through.

Overall was a refreshing crisp slightly above average IPA.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2011 22:23:37 | More by dtivp