Cant Dog Imperial IPA - Marshall Wharf Brewing Company / Three Tides Restaurant

Bowdoinbeerboy

Maine

3/5  rDev -28.4%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

This beer pours a gorgeous copper-amber color with a very nice finger width head that fades to lots of good lacing.

This beer looks great, but it is really lacking in the nose in my opinion. I don't get much of a hop aroma at all, in fact, based upon nose alone, I would almost guess this was not an IPA (let alone a DIPA) but a brown ale.

This beer is very malt-forward in flavor, at first there is some hop bitterness, but this fades quickly to a strong malt-backbone. This is a fairly sweet beer, the initial hops are fruity and not piney in the least.

Overall this is a decent beer. I think it would be an interesting IPA, but as a DIPA it really falls flat in hop character both in the nose and body. If this were an IPA, I would rate it a bit higher. Decent, but not mind blowing.

Serving type: can

12-31-2012 23:23:50 | More by Bowdoinbeerboy

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.35/5  rDev -20%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

First had: on tap at Three Tides, Belfast, ME
Limited to 2 per person.

Good, but a little flat taste-wise I thought. This was listed as their "biggest IPA," but honestly, I liked the the Big Twitch IPA a lot better in most regards.

Poured a clear copper-brown with a nice off-white head that retained well. Floral aroma with citrus hops apparent. Not much maltiness in the aroma, but definitely a malt presence in the taste, balanced nicely with the floral and citrus hops. However, the taste was overall a bit thin and subdued. Some alcohol bite. Medium mouthfeel, and generally drinkable, but the Big Twitch is better.

Serving type: on-tap

05-14-2011 20:02:37 | More by Rifugium

andrewinski1

Maine

3.45/5  rDev -17.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to Joe for bringing this by! Poured into a tulip. There is a nice light tan foamy head; lots of sticky lacing.

The aroma has a touch of pine and lots of melon.

The taste has a nice dose of graham cracker malt with a good piney melon hop backbone. The melon flavor really lingers in the finish.

This is medium bodied, with a nice crisp carbontion.

This is pretty good. I would prefer it if it was a bit lighter in body. This has a nice dose of hops for a quote, east coast, end quote IPA.

Serving type: can

11-16-2012 05:06:35 | More by andrewinski1

sprucetip

Alaska

3.53/5  rDev -15.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

From notes. On tap at the brewery. Pours somewhere between golden and copper. 1 finger head recedes to film and leaves lacing. Very clear. Citrusy, floral hops hit first and lead. Not getting much of the huge malty base. Some heat. TASTE follows nose. Grapefruity and floral hops flavors, malty support is there and tries to balance, but the hops are in charge. Some sweetness is noticeable but dry sharp bitterness lingers past the finish. A bit out of balance toward the hops. FEEL is of moderate carbonation and slightly viscous. Medium/full body, dry bitter finish. OVERALL I wouldn't be disappointed if I made it, but it is out of balance with overly bitter lingering finish. Keep working on it, tweak it a bit and it could be outstanding.

Serving type: on-tap

02-20-2009 05:21:29 | More by sprucetip

smakawhat

Maryland

3.6/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from the can into my Dogfish Ale House glass. Thanks Toasterchef!

Real nice amber body, hinting to red but mostly a nice burnt orange. Real nice three finger head forms with pinhead bubbles, off white. Clumps nicely also very nice looking brew.

Nose is subtle airy hop, light malts and whisps of herbal notes. Nothing quite impressive but perfectly fine, doesn't hint of large hop dipa territory.

This is real interesting flavor on the palate. Hits with lots of sweet honey and malt cinnamon. Afterfinish has some oily presence, and an odd aftertaste. Hints at medicine. A good malty palate feel, hints with juice hop tastes. A little noticeable bit of citrus orange and honey toast bread.

This is quite nice not too bad, but the sweetness angle on it is a bit much for me, with nice honey, but slightly unpleasant medicinal bitterness. Worth trying.

Serving type: can

12-09-2012 18:58:31 | More by smakawhat

ThePorterSorter

New York

3.65/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Canned on 1/22 according to bright orange sticker taped to the side of the can.

The beer pours a clear, rusty orange/amber with an inch of a dense, creamy, off-white head that laces. The nose is potently bitter with notes of pine wood, caramel, grain, and a subtle hint of citrus and alcohol. This beer smells more of a fresh barleywine than a DIPA. It definitely drinks like a barleywine as well with a huge boozy, malty backbone and resiny, lingering, hoppy bitterness. The mouthfeel is quite sweet and chewy upfront, although well carbonated, and finishes with caramel and hoppy bitterness. This isn't really my type of DIPA with a masked/obscure hop profile, far too much malt and alcohol, and even fresh...drinks like it's 6 months old. Although it's a relatively enjoyable beer, I wouldn't recommend this to others, nor would I seek out more cans. A local beer that drinks similarly to this would be Good Nature's 1 year anniversary DIPA.

Serving type: can

02-07-2013 23:42:00 | More by ThePorterSorter

05Harley

New Hampshire

3.68/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Purchased on 5/6/12 @ Marshall Wharf Brewery, Belfast Maine.
(300 calories)

The appearance is a beautiful shade of deep amber with a layer of off white thick creamy suds. Speckled lacing covers the glass from head to toe after a short stay from the creamy covering.

Aroma is sweet with fruity tones from start to finish. Citrus fruit hops and caramel malts dominate with maybe a slight hint of pine, very faint but is buried in there.

The flavor is sweet fruity hops draped over a caramel backbone and dragging along some booze. Very sweet, bordering cloying and unbalanced.

Body is medium with a slick feel. Aftertaste is pleasent due to the sweetness. After several glasses a good amount of bitterness and dry feel bring closure.

Overall this is a decent beer, however I do prefer the BA version over this example which is weird in itself (a barrel aged IPA), but it was f_ck_ng good.

Serving type: growler

05-12-2012 20:07:59 | More by 05Harley

brentk56

North Carolina

3.91/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a clear amber topped by a prodigious amount of foam that leaves a drizzling pattern of lace behind

Smell: Caramel and piney, resinous aromatics

Taste: Opens with a brown sugar and caramel flavor that is subsumed by the piney hops, in the middle; still, after the swallow, the sweet malts stand tall and just edge out the hop flavors through the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with moderate carbonation

Overall: A tad too sweet for my type of DIPA, this is still a well-brewed example of the style for those who like a lot of malt balance

Thanks, wildcats10, for the opportunity

Serving type: can

02-06-2013 01:05:05 | More by brentk56

divineaudio

Michigan

3.93/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

16oz can courtesy of valdieu2 into a wine glass.

a - pours a hazy, reddish amber color and forms an inch thick, dense, creamy, tan head right away. foam takes its time calming, but eventually winds up as a thin film with an island of bubbles in the middle and sheets of lacing on the sides of the glass.

s - grapefruit, toasty, grassy, faint honey. standard ipa aroma.

t - light citrus over a sweeter, toasty malt base. hops shine through as notes of grapefruit, grass, and light pine. bitterness is on the mild side. very well balanced, all the flavors seem to blend together in a nice, delicate way.

m - medium in body with just enough carbonation and a finer co2 profile. smooth and creamy.

o - solid all around and quite enjoyable. given the many ipa's that are out there, this one stands out for it's delicacy. it's not a hop bomb, or a malt bomb, and doesn't have anything odd or unusual going on. just a well crafted, well balanced double ipa.

Serving type: can

01-05-2013 03:21:06 | More by divineaudio

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.93/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Its with the strength of an Imperial IPA, but with the balance of Pale Ale that sets this beer apart. Its a testament to everything that's appreciated about even-keel malt and hops, and does it all on a hotbed of near 10% abv. and the power in taste to boot. Marshall Wharf has done something special with this strong ale.

Mid-amber in color, the honeyish tone takes hold with the crystal-clear brilliancy that makes American Pale Ales so attractive. A dense, creamy, and almost rocky, almond-stained head builds upon the beer and retains like meringue on key lime pie. Every sip yields a buildup of another ring of lace that trails with decorative lace. This is one nice looking ale!

Creamy malt, caramel, light toffee, and mild underlying peanut notes sculpt the beer's aromatic value. But lying just below the grain surface lies an undercurrent of hops that display citrusy oranges, grapefruit, and even pine that peaks through ever so often. Light spice of alcohol tingles the senses like ginger as I dive into taste.

Where the scent may seem malt-balanced, the taste shows no favoritism. Toffee malt sweetness may strike the front of the mouth first, but a quick rebuttal of citrus takes the shape of grapefruit juice and dried orange peel at middle palate and morphs into a piney, sappy bitterness to close its taste. There's still something in the deeply caramelized malts and alcohol that reminds me of gingersnaps to go along with the barley/hop balance.

Dangerously smooth, the effects of nearly ten percent alcohol never registers in taste nor texture. As the beer starts creamy, frothy, and semi-sweet- the beer fades nicely and slowly toward a malty-dry finish of alcohol warmth, resinous hop bitterness, and receding sweetness. The dialogue of hops and malt remain balanced even in lingering aftertaste... ok, maybe the hop bitterness outlasts the barley, but briefly so.

I really don't see this beer as an Imperial IPA. It really does capture the essence of the classic American Pale Ale, but the flavors are all elevated as the ingredients have to be ramped up to create the high alcohol levels. But the beer retains a remarkable balance and lures me in with its high rate of drinkability- A dangerous proposition for my naive taste buds.

Serving type: can

03-22-2013 05:03:58 | More by BEERchitect

bishopdc0

Maine

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

Served in a mug at novare res.

A nice amber color withh a sticky head.

The aroma is very hopped citrus with a full nose. The nose is full of flowers and a wonderful fresh hop

The taste matches the nose full of citrus hops up front, the hops continue mellowing any sweet malts to finish bitter but not offensive at all veryh nice.

Serving type: on-tap

06-26-2011 18:47:37 | More by bishopdc0

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

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

Poured on-tap at Three Tides, the beer was served in a tulip glass. It pours a bright, pale, orange-amber color with a thin, filmy head. Malty and scotchy smell, with roasted characters. Flavors remain light, with a lemon-lime zest sweetness and a light hopping. Good lacing, and the aftertaste is tangy caramel and light citrus. The finish is dry and slick, but always light. Very refreshing beer despite the flavor bursts and booze content. Very tasty!

Serving type: on-tap

08-25-2011 02:02:48 | More by GarthDanielson

Bierman9

New Hampshire

4.03/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This was my second bier of the night, a 1/2-pint, during a visit on 09DEC11 with Alewife.

The tall, slender glass was filled with a clear, copper-hued liquid. Carbo was steady, and the head was off-white, creamy and thin, with decent lacing left behind. The body is a bit more than medium, and the feel is smooth and graceful while going down. The aroma is quite inviting, if you're a hop-lover! Lots of citrus wafts about and draws you in for more.

Some toasty malt is first on the palate, leaving a smidge of sweetness behind. Fruitiness then appears, with some apricot melding in with the citrus. It was a touch pithy, with solid, puckery citrus lingering long and well. Very nice bier; quite enjoyable! Zum Wohl!!

4.03 rDev -2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

1419

Serving type: on-tap

12-13-2011 15:27:59 | More by Bierman9

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

4.03/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

16 oz can poured into a snifter.
9.7% ABV, no date.

Thanks Rochefort10NH!

A - Deep caramel cube colored, this amber-ish beer is lightly hazed and produces a nice plump ivory head that drops to a skim, leaving rings of lace on the snifter.

S - Strong hops play a big role in this beer but this double IPA is malty as all get-out. Bold caramel, honey, and toffee with a candy corn sugar aroma break through the moderate citrus nose. This one has potential for big bitterness but it certainly doesn't seem heavily dry hopped. Passion fruit, over ripe pineapple, and a powerfully hopped burnt rubber nose finish out with a hint at faint solvent alcohol.

T - Despite indications hops might be stronger in flavor, the malt still blasts through with big sweetness without breaking the trend; caramel, honey, and candy corn all show up again. Exotic tropical fruits enter, forsaking the rubber quality.

M - Cant Dog is medium-full bodied with a lingering sweetness that tops hop bitterness which still remains in play, just underwhelming. Alcohol keeps surprisingly quiet, remaining nearly invisible behind the big sweetness.

O - Cant Dog labels itself as an Imperial Pale Ale. It's much more true than a double IPA as this beer has a good hop profile in aroma, flavor, and bitterness but it's not the dominating aspect. The balance still leans towards deep malty sweetness for a nice finishing beer.

Serving type: can

12-18-2012 00:59:07 | More by BeerFMAndy

cbeer88

Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

16oz can poured into Duvel tulip. Bottling date 4/2.

For starters, this beer is very different from your typical DIPA. It's neither west coast style hop bomb, nor east coast (english) style chewy and thick malt forward IPA. It's thinner than you'd expect and quite balanced.

A: Nice clear orange-y brown body. There are floaties, otherwise the body is quite nice. Head is thin, but lacing is excellent.

S: Pine, toffee, nut. More malty than anything, and hard to say it smells like an IPA. But it does smell good.

T: Balanced. Very interesting fruits and honey, balanced out by a great malt backbone. Enjoyable.

M: Medium to thin body and moderately carbed. Creamy, solid.

O: Good, solid beer. A bit unique. If I could create my own style here, I'd call it a Double Pale Ale. The hops and balance are Pale Ale, but the ABV is obviously something much stronger. Well worth trying if you are ever in Maine.

Serving type: can

04-07-2013 23:00:00 | More by cbeer88

Durge

Connecticut

4.05/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Another find at Nosh in Portland Maine, this shows a copper edged mahogany color with a fairly decent white crop of bubbles on top and lots of lcing to spare. The aroma is woodsy lemon and skunky. I like it. The flavor brings a syrupy lemon grain with grassy malt. Near full bodied with mild carbonation and a slightly cloying feel. Some brandy nuances with rootbeer background. Lots of malt and some alcohol. Very nice.

Serving type: on-tap

05-11-2012 04:59:24 | More by Durge

kangarooAdam59

Maine

4.05/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Into a snifter:

A: clear hazy orange colored body, a one finger white foamy head lays very nicely around the sides of the snifter.

S: strong hop centered with nice doses of malts and caramel backing up a very nice aroma.

T: practically the same.

M: medium with nothing harsh on the tongue. A nice smoothness coats the tongue and makes it fairly drinkable.

O: a very good DIPA tha I would gladly come back to.

Serving type: can

12-28-2012 00:24:41 | More by kangarooAdam59

thekevlarkid

Maryland

4.1/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Off tap this beer was an amber color with a yellowish-beige head. The retention was good as a cap and the lacing also above-average. The aroma was complex with lots of floral hops, citrus hops, alcohol, light esters and a light musty maltiness. The flavors were big and bold. Starting sweet on a malty note I then tasted bitter orange rind, grapefruit, some herbal notes and alcohol before the pine-and-resin finish. For 10% the alcohol was rather well-hidden but they wisely limit customers to only two of these beers per visit. The mouthfeel was smooth and rich, the body medium/full and the carbonation medium. It is worth noting that the MW brewery really does 'big' beers well in general and this one was a fine example of that.

Serving type: on-tap

07-06-2009 21:28:36 | More by thekevlarkid

AlexFields

Tennessee

4.23/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Very dark color for an IPA, huge thick head, really nice.

Smells of dank juicy hops. Oranges and maybe bitter pine.

Wow, taste has a huge sweetness I didn't expect. Like puréed fruit. Also very hoppy, oranges and other citrus, some mild bitterness but this is not a very bitter DIPA overall. Delicious.

Extremely drinkar and mouthfeel is pretty unique--thick and syrupy but also nice carb and easy to drink.

Pretty unusual DIPA but I like it a lot!

8.5/10

Serving type: can

01-31-2013 04:54:20 | More by AlexFields

warriorsoul

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Filled at the brewery 11/22/08
Light copper in color, slightly hazed with a pillow soft head, bright white in color and 1" thick w/ a gentle pour. Beautiful lacing and incredible head retention.
Spicy hops up front, partially floral and some citrus with a lingering nose.
Taste is where this one wins you over...a boatload of citrus hops, with that spiciness adding some balance. A bittering finish with the malt backbone adding some serious depth to this double.
Mouthfeel is thick...slightly sweet w/out being cloying.
Finishes fairly clean, with just a hint of citrus lingering on the pallet.
Alcohol is very well masked, making this one a dangerously drinkable brew.
Word has it there is a 2 beer limit on this one at the restaurant...I say good call.
Proceed with caution.

Serving type: growler

11-25-2008 03:07:36 | More by warriorsoul

CaptCleveland

Ohio

4.26/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

16oz can, dated 12/18/2012, extra received from BA trader KalH.

Amber colored elixir poured into SA Glass. Huge white head, copious lacing throughout the tasting.

Wonderful piney hops, Grass, earth and subtle citrus.

The citrus really comes out with the tasting. Orange, grapefruit. Nice bitter pine. Some malt at the back end.

Medium body, smooth, nice.

Well done IPA. The can is an extra bonus.

Serving type: can

01-19-2013 22:06:01 | More by CaptCleveland

Casey10

Maine

4.28/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I have had a bunch of DIPA's this one is so different and while I can't give it the highest marks it was a great time having and blew me and my friends away with how dank this really was like.

Got a growler and took it back to my friends place near Belfast drank with fresh clams steamed(all from the same place)

A - A little dark didn't have the best glassware but poured a impressive head.

S - wow strong, citrus, flowers, pungent different from the norm.

T - So good somewhat strong and bitter again different.

M - Left you with a impression lingering bitter aftertaste and not in a bad way.

D - A must have I think a lot of people will either love or hate this but everyone should at least try it for themselves I really liked it.

Serving type: growler

07-22-2010 04:16:55 | More by Casey10

Flounder57

Massachusetts

4.28/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

16 oz can was poured into a large tulip glass.

Appearance: This beer poured s two finger head that reduced to a thin layer and left some nice lacing on the lacing. It is a copper color with good clarity and bubbles coming up through the glass. Crazy lacing on the glass as the beer was drank.

Smell: Malty and hoppy. Lots of citrus, but it's hard to distinguish hop aromas.

Taste: Tropical fruit heaven. Pineapple, mango, passion fruit, tangerine, and grapefruit all followed up by caramel malts. Mild hop tingly bitterness in the back of the palate.

Mouthfeel: Smooth, a little chewy, tingly, medium carbonation, and medium bodied.

Overall: Super awesome DIPA from mid Maine. I need to get more.

Serving type: can

05-04-2013 03:39:23 | More by Flounder57

mikeale

Maine

4.33/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the source...6/18/09

A. Dark copper, thin white head nice lacing.

S. Very sweet, honey soaked biscuits, citrus, grapefruit,

T. Sweet citrus, pine, some malt..

M. Smooth, rich, malty finish...

D. Well I'm siting here and the limit is only two... I could drink a few of these... The alcohol is hidden at 10% it's sneakin up on me...

Serving type: on-tap

06-18-2009 23:24:58 | More by mikeale

Jayli

Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had on tap at Novare Res 6/27/09
This beer pours a deep amber color with a nice thick, creamy, 2 finger white head. Head retatins pretty well, receding to a film eventually leaving thick sticky lacing on the glass. Nose is a fantastic blend of floral and citrus hops, not much in the way of malt can be detected. Taste follows the nose. Incredibly blended floral and citrus hops to it. It has a good deal of bite to it, but here's where the malts come through to even out the finish. This is a medium body, light to medium carbonation. Very smooth body, the alcohol is hidden dangerously well, no aftertaste to it. This is the best offering from Marshall Wharf that I've tried thusfar.

Serving type: on-tap

06-29-2009 16:32:59 | More by Jayli