Apocalypse IPA - 10 Barrel Brewing Co.

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.48/5  rDev -11%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Coppery orange rind with polished gold trim and a good looking lid of sandstone colored cream that is marshmallow sticky. It's still early, but the upper reaches of the glass are beginning to be plastered with thick sheets of lace and chunks of foam.

The nose pays equal homage to malt and hops, which is not the way to go in an American IPA. The main issue is that Victory malt (similar to Munich in terms of earthy nuttiness) is one member of the grain bill. It ends up taking a bite out of what could have been a killer aroma, with such notables as Centennial, Amarillo and Cascade (along with Horizon) in the house.

Apocalypse IPA is decent beer that is in no way apocalyptic. It needs a larger percentage of pale malt and it needs more hops. Both, of course, are personal preferences. It tastes like most of the original 65 IBUS are still present, so the bomber is reasonably fresh. Good hop flavor, though, is somewhat lacking.

Each mouthful delivers lightly toasted bread, a small handful of baked nuts, grapefruit zest, orange zest, and a woody spiciness whose origins are a mystery. This is an okay version of my favorite style, but it definitely needs some work.

The mouthfeel is more APA than IPA. It's thinner than it should be, doesn't bulk up as it warms, and the bubbles are within the wide range of acceptable. Not exactly a ringing endorsement.

Apocalypse IPA is one of those beers that is impressing less and less with each passing ounce. That isn't such a good thing when the bottle contains 22 ounces rather than 12. Hopefully, 10 Barrel Brewing will deliver the goods with S1nist0r Black Ale, a bomber of which is biding its time in my cellar as we speak.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2010 12:29:59 | More by BuckeyeNation

UCLABrewN84

California

3.65/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to DrAwkward82 for sharing this one at jmgrub’s tasting.

Pours a murky honey orange with a foamy orange-tan head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of citrus fruit and citrus zest. Taste is of citrus zest, herbal hops, and some earthy flavors. There is a medium amount of bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer with a better smell than taste in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2012 05:05:22 | More by UCLABrewN84

oberon

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into an oversized wine glass a hazed deep orange with a sticky one finger white that left broken rings of lace as it settled slowly.A mix of resiny and earthy hop mixed with caramel/biscuit malt and sweet alcohol,almost candy-like in the sweet alcohol note.Big earthy tones at the onset along with pine resin hop flavors,a big sweet alcohol dipped fruit element comes in late.This is a very earthy toned hopped ipa,a bit different but I like it.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2010 22:44:56 | More by oberon

Brad007

Vermont

4.26/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Pours a light gold with a one-finger head into my glass. Lacing on the edges. Nice colors overall.

Jimmy said so, eh? Well, he didn't tell us what kind of hops were used. I'm guessing they're of the NZ type. Citrus mango tango?

Flavor confirms the aroma. It's not your usual pine/grapefruit affair. Refreshing. Not much dough.

Lingering dough and citrus notes make up this ale. At 6.8%, it drinks like something much lower in ABV.

I think I'm falling in love with Oregon and its' marvelous beers. I give 10 Barrel mad props for putting out such an enjoyable IPA.

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2013 17:52:08 | More by Brad007

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

4.18/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Copper with a white head, excellent retention & lace.

S: Grapefruit rind, pine, hint of tropical fruit.

T: Grapefruit rind, pine, sponge toffee, candied pineapple, great malt (biscuit), good bitterness.

M: Smooth moderate body, light hop acidity, dry finish.

D: A really good drinker and well-crafted. Not a pallet bruiser... I thoroughly enjoyed this one.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2011 04:57:04 | More by Derek

JohnGalt1

Idaho

4.08/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Picked up last night at the COOP.... poured into my little CC goblet.. the brew is slightly hop hazed orange.. only okay retention with a good head.

Nose is good citrus zest... slight caramel malt.. maybe some pine in there.

Pithy citrus... tangerine? and some piney hops... sorta oily and yummy... a touch too much malt for my liking, but it is a minor bitch..

Nicely balanced PNW IPA... I dig it overall, but it could stand to be a touch drier on the palate.

3.5/4/4/4/4.5

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2012 02:39:46 | More by JohnGalt1

ccrida

Oregon

4.4/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bomber poured into my large St. Feuillien goblet, Apocalypse IPA is a lightly hazed ruddy bronze with a small off-white skim of head with a bubbly collar that leaves elegant, draping lace.

Smell is dank and resinous hops, skunky, with some sweet gingerbread malt notes. Robust, perhaps the only knock is that it smells like the alcohol might be dirty (which it it very well may be the hops style, but as I'm enjoying it, the fusels are hidden on the palate).

Taste is also robust, classic NW IPA with the huge, fresh hops, and a fairly substantial malt base as well, mostly bread, some sweetness. While the hops have some substantial bitterness, they combine with the sweetness of the malt to bring out some tropical citrus that you don't get in the nose. The lingering aftertaste is hop resins, like you've chewed on one.

Mouthfeel is oily, a bit chewy. The tongue is really coated with hop resin in hurry, did I mention this beer is dank? I like it for the audacity it reminds you this beer brings.

Drinkability is great if you're a hop head. Wow, what a great IPA, glad Bend finally sent us some bottles!

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2010 01:17:30 | More by ccrida

dgilks

Australia

3.5/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Hazy golden colour with a fluffy, white head. Fair head retention.

Resinous piney hops with some grassy notes. A hint of caramel malt too. Good.

Slightly malty flavour with resinous, piney hops. Fine but it could be brighter.

Medium body with moderate carbonation. Fine.

A decent if unexceptional IPA. Reasonable hop character but nothing more.

Serving type: on-tap

10-05-2011 22:04:22 | More by dgilks

AgentZero

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Recieved as an extra from someone, unfortunately I did a ton of trades at one time and lost track of who sent what.

A - Orange colored beer, opaque, head rose up fairly high but was a little thin.

S - Citrus and tropical fruits, some grass, little bit of pine, and some sweet malts. There is a slight chemical smell on the end that detracts but doesn't make it unpleassant.

T - Taste is about in line with the nose, although the chemical part comes through stronger as it warms up. Sweet malts, grapefruit and tropical fruit hops with a little bittering on the end. Not bad.

M - Carbonated, medium bodied.

O - This isn't great, but I was able to enjoy drinking it enough. Wouldn't turn it down, but not something I would seek out.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2011 15:09:14 | More by AgentZero

flagmantho

Washington

3.96/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Poured from 22oz bomber into a pint glass.

Appearance: medium golden hue with only the faintest touch of haze. Effervescence is quite light bu tthe head is a thick finger of tenacious foam with a chunky lace on the glass. Not bad!

Smell: lightly sweet malt aroma with a citrusy, piney and lightly floral hop aroma. A standard composition for an IPA around here, but well-balanced and quite enjoyable.

Taste: sweet malty flavor with a little bit of caramel character thrown in. Hops are resinous with a little bit of grapefruit in the works, but in general there is less character than the aroma. Bitterness is strong, yet balanced. This beer is unremarkable on paper, but it just rubs me the right way.

Mouthfeel: medium body with a decent carbonation and a moderately creamy texture -- not bad for the style.

Overall: a totally drinkable IPA. Perhaps its familiarity breeds quaffability, but in general this is a well-executed NW IPA.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 01:46:30 | More by flagmantho

superspak

Michigan

4/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22 ounce bottle into pint glass; no bottle dating, but was purchased recently. Pours lightly hazy golden amber color with a nice 1-2 finger dense white head with great retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Spotty soapy lacing clings down the glass. Aromas of big grapefruit, orange zest, tangerine, floral, pineapple, orange rind, lemon zest, pine, honey, light caramel, and floral earthiness. Damn nice aromas with good balance and complexity of hops and malt sweetness. Taste of grapefruit, orange zest, tangerine, pineapple, lemon zest, floral, pine, grass, honey, light caramel, light bread, and floral earthiness. Moderate floral and citrus bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of citrus, citrus zest, pineapple, floral, light pine, honey, light caramel, and floral earthiness on the finish for a bit. Very nice balance and complexity of hop flavors; with a great balance of hops/malt that still showcases the hop flavors; and zero cloying flavors present after the finish. Medium carbonation and body; with a lightly creamy and fairly sticky mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a slight warming present after the finish. Overall this is a damn nice IPA! Great balance and complexity of hop and malt flavors; and very smooth to drink. No complaints at all, very well done.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 04:39:15 | More by superspak

Reidrover

Oregon

3.95/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bomber from Capital Market,Salem. Once again I like the way 10 Barrels do their packaging. very handsome. Amber/burnt orange coloured, with a lovelly light tan head..that is volumtious and creamy. Strong resiny,piney hop aromas here..seems quite fresh. taste is not as hoppy as i expected..but it certainlly fills the mouth with the taste of a pine forest..the mats show too semi-sweet. Not a very sweet IPA which is a relief. Ok on the palate, nothing special ,nothing bad. Overall a nice PNW style IPA.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2010 17:53:35 | More by Reidrover

flexabull

California

3.8/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

From notes.

Pours a bright orange color, slightly hazy, with a thin white head.

Wonderful hoppy aromas. Very resiny and green, herbal, with some earthiness, and pine as well.

Taste is light up front, not the hoppy blast that the nose suggested. Slightly sweet and creamy, light caramel malt notes, with some granulated sugar flavors. Finish is crisp, and does provide some hop flavor, mostly herbal and resiny.

Mouthfeel is pretty good, smooth, and nicely carbonated, but a little thin.

Drinkability is good. This is a pretty nice IPA. If it had more body and taste it could be a great one.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2010 19:23:29 | More by flexabull

LiquidAmber

Washington

4.1/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a Seattle Beer Week pint glass. Pours a hazy golden amber with hints of copper. Fine two finger off-white head with great retention and pillowy lacing. Nice aroma of piney and herbal hops, citrus, fruit juice. Flavor follows with pine and citrus hops, sweet malt and complex fruit flavors. Good pine hop finish with residual sweet malt. Medium bodied and light creaminess. A well made IPA with a great balance of hop and malt with interesting fruit juice flavors to keep interest high.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2013 03:14:07 | More by LiquidAmber

brewandbbq

New Hampshire

3.93/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle.

Pours burnished copper with a rocky, two inch head of eggshell white. Plenty of smeary lacing and a solid foam cap for the duration of the glass.

Aromatics are a mild combination of citrus, pine, and husky malt. Lacking much floral character or pungentness.

Medium bodied with a crisp, drying mouthfeel.

Citrus pith and pine resin start the palate with a fairly substantial bitterness stepping forward quickly. Biscuity malt and traces of honey follow through.

Finishes with lingering grapefruit, pine, and slightly grainy malt.

Decent enough but certainly sub-par given the locale of the brewery. More hops please, all around.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2010 23:46:04 | More by brewandbbq

inlimbo77

Delaware

3.89/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz, no date but certainly fresh
Unmarked Riedel tulip

A: Nice color, clear bright orange. Two fingers bright white head. Good carbonation. Sticky lacing.

S: Nics bouquet on this: citrus, over ripe peach, mango, etc. big fruit. Light malt.

T: Very nice beer. Upfront bitterness, not totally agressive. Really just a balanced brew. Great hop character: sweet fruit and some light pine. The malt bill marries great here. It's near perfect balance to me....but I could be wrong. Finish is great. Almost empty.

M: Light medium.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2013 16:27:40 | More by inlimbo77

jdense

Oregon

3.63/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22 oz. bottle from John's Marketplace PDX poured into Dogfish Head pint glass 4.18.10.

Two fingers rock white head, slow dissipation and significant lacing. Pretty hoppy nose, piney and citrus with bready and caramel malts. Taste is hop forward, a bit spicy but well balanced, sweet from caramel malts. Mouthfeel is a bit thin and finish got more spicy as the beer warmed. Fairly drinkable but quite unremarkable.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2010 00:35:43 | More by jdense

Docer

Washington

3.43/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Grabbed a bottle at a Whole Foods... can't find a date stamp.

- Amber copper color, clear.... nice fluffy light white head... leaves a good pinky finger lingering around.

- Very roasted grainy scent.... barley... wet towel... perhaps just a touch of bittering hop... pine.. but not much hops to speak of in the scent... odd.

- Interesting taste... and it changes throughout the process. Starts as a light free flowing caramel malt... hits a wet blanket taste... then a bitter hop hits you.... a little grain, alcohol.. then sweetness... then a pine hop, slight sweet citrus... a biting bitter punch to the face followed by the mouth feel with strong flavor. Unique... and a grassy beltch.

- Medium bodied... sticky, grassy... grainy.... and sticky again, while slightly chewy.

- Overall this is a very interesting beer... smells of sticky burned roasted grains all over.... super bitter hops that are almost so bitter they fade... almost smells like a meal.. Not bad, and very unique... but I wonder if their IPA always tastes like this?

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2010 03:07:51 | More by Docer

GreenCard

Oregon

3.98/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: orangey-copper brown, hazy, thick layer of tight-beaded yellowy foam

Aroma: caramel, passion-fruit, lemon rind, strawberries

Flavor: biscuity malt profile with a mellow sweetness offset by a really balanced hop bitterness; hint of orange; finishes dryish with a lingering hoppiness

Mouthfeel: medium body, gentle carbonation, crisp

Other comments: This is a really well-balanced IPA. Tasty and easy-drinking. Not overly hoppy and not overly malty. It's in the Goldilocks Zone!

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2011 21:45:11 | More by GreenCard

Patrick

Massachusetts

4.4/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a clear dark amber almost copper color. Not a lot of head, but some frothy white lacing is left behind.

S: Smells of pine needles, ripe grapefruit, and some toasty brown bread. Nice aroma.

T: Whoa, didn't expect this! A piney assualt of hops up front with some bitter grapefruit following soon after. The middle has some breadiness, but is mostly pine and grapefruit hop flavor. The finish is of grapefruit rind and some light caramel.

M: Bitter, dry, medium bodied, well carbonated.

D: This is a fantastic IPA, thanks for shipping the growler mychal! This beer reminds me a lot like Blind Pig, though it is darker.

Serving type: growler

10-31-2009 17:36:24 | More by Patrick

Scotchboy

Idaho

3.63/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

22oz bomber poured into a Sam Adams Perfect Pint. 10 Barrel hasn't been in the market too long, so while this bottle isn't dated for freshness I'm assuming its not more than 1-2 months old.

A: Pours a brilliant clear deep gold, with a white head that leaves behind a little lace.

S: Interesting profile, though nothing *pops* or is as prominent as I would like in an IPA...there is tropical fruit, caramel, overripe mango, touch of honey.

T & MF: Really follows the nose, no surprises here...balanced, smooth and creamy, maybe even a faint hint of alcohol? Muted tropical fruits, mango, banana, bready caramel but not too sweet, a dab of honey, some good dryness on the back end. Lighter, crisp body.

O: Overall I really wanted more from this brew. Their ISA impressed me more. This has some of the same characteristics as Hopslam (which you think would be awesome), but they're very muted. This is balanced in once sense but the hops seem muted. Maybe this batch/bottle is older than I thought...

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2012 14:40:22 | More by Scotchboy

draheim

Washington

3.89/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle into a tulip. Pours a rich copper/amber w/ a big frothy white head, leaving behind webs of lace.

Aroma is fruity, earthy, almost perfumy. Not your typical IPA.

Taste is a delicate balance of caramel and pale malts, and bitter/floral hops.

Mouthfeel is soft, medium-bodied, surprisingly dry finish.

Overall a unique IPA, balanced, well-crafted.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 06:52:37 | More by draheim

Spikester

Oregon

4.22/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Full amber with a large cream color head. Plenty of lacing. Aroma is very prominent floral, piney hops. Taste is immediate hop bitterness with plenty of resins. Pink grapefruit with some leather and pine resins. Plenty of sweet malts to support all that oily bitterness. Mouthfeel is better than average and well carbonated. Drinkability is very good. I haven't seen many R.R. products around lately and this tasty brew would be a fine stand in. Last pour was quite hazy. If you can find it buy some now. Found at Market of Choice in West Linn, Oregon. About $5.00 for the bomber.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2010 06:37:03 | More by Spikester

ericj551

British Columbia (Canada)

4.08/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Apocalypse IPA pours a hazy straw color with a really nice head. The aroma is citrus and herbal hops and just a hint of light malt. There is a nice balance of citrusy hops and light, sweet malt. The finish retains the balance, with a nice resiny character. Overall a really nice IPA.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2012 06:59:57 | More by ericj551

loren01

Oregon

2.15/5  rDev -45%
look: 1 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

A: Pours an orange color, huge head like most of the glass huge...about 5 finger widths.
S: Smells like an English IPA, maybe Kent Golding hops? Slightly earthy/grassy
T: Slight grassy hoppiness, not much malt balance here.
M: Too overcarbonated, light bodied beer
O: You shouldn't have to wait 5 min for the head to go down so you can drink a beer....seriously overcarbonated. The taste really wasn't impressive at all either...probably wont get this again.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2011 03:25:26 | More by loren01