Railway City Dead Elephant Ale - Railway City Brewing Company

IdeaSpeeder

Ontario (Canada)

3.68/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Serving Type - 473ml can poured into a nonic pint glass

Appearance - Pours a clear copper colour. Sort of golden with a hint of orange. The initial two fingers of head sticks around for a decent amount of time, leaving behind a considerable amount of lacing.

Smell - Very sweet smelling, likely caramel and toffee malts. Some floral notes as well.

Taste - Caramel dominates, but there are some more subtle notes as well, primarily some fruity-floral hop flavours. There is a decent amount of bitterness, but given the style is quite mild.

Mouthfeel - Medium body, verging on heavy. A decent amount of carbonation leads to a satisfying finish.

Overall - 3.75/5

Serving type: can

06-02-2013 04:13:45 | More by IdeaSpeeder

decimator

Ontario (Canada)

3.34/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Labelled as Dead Elephant India Pale Ale.
473ml can poured into a pint glass. ABV 6.5%.

A - Poured a cleared copper with a 1cm off-white bubbly head. Head reduced to surface bubbles. some lacing.

S - Hint of grains, faint hops, a dash of booze. Rather mild aroma.

T - Light caramel, grains, hint of citrus, tobacco, bitter lasting aftertaste. More flavourful than the aroma let on.

M - Medium carbonation, medium-heavy body, slight creaminess, a bit sticky, somewhat dry finish.

O - Decent but not a stand out.

Serving type: can

05-20-2013 02:06:16 | More by decimator

FondueVoodoo

British Columbia (Canada)

3.56/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.5

Big thanks to cattersley for sending this as part of CanBIF 2013!

A: Extremely clear, golden copper with a good solid and thick microfilm pad of head across the top. Great amount of lacing.

S: Caramelized malts with pineapple and other tropical fruits. Very sweet floral notes and a noticeable lack of hops.

T: Very sweet upfront, toffee, caramel and rock candy with slight notes of vanilla. Hop present themselves n the backend with pithy citrus. There is a nice lingering bitterness.

M: Light to medium bodied with low carbonation. There is a very low viscosity that underwhelms and doesn't support the taste, more similar to a pilsner.

O: This is a different take on an IPA then what we usually have here on the west coast in that it is much more malt forward. It is a very attractive beer with a taste and smell that malt fans will appreciate. This could be a great malt forward pale ale if the mouthfeel had a more syrupy presence.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 03:17:19 | More by FondueVoodoo

HATS4BATS

Ontario (Canada)

3.43/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Full and sharp. Amber in colour. Frothy carbonation that somehow adds to the playful branding. Improves as it warms with a minimal, metallic nose brought on by higher alcohol content seldom yielding notes of toffee, not fully matching the balanced characteristics of this IPA. A drinkable, uncomplicated body that coats the palate with sugared malt, dissolving quickly into hopped bite, settling into a bitter after-taste that lingers longer than necessary.

Serving type: can

01-05-2013 01:00:29 | More by HATS4BATS

jaz58

Ontario (Canada)

2.78/5  rDev -20.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

I always go out of my way to try IPA's. Unfortunately Dead Elephant kinda tells you what you are getting.

The head was thin with a slight carmel colour.

The nose had hints of toffee and weak hints of lemony hops.

Mouth fell was average.

Clear in the glass with a rich reddish gold colour

When quaffed the beer is quite plan. A very flat bitters. No distinct flavour, no hints of tea, grapefruit, lemon.

A ho hum beer.

Serving type: can

11-11-2012 23:47:26 | More by jaz58

JamesMN

Minnesota

3.28/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Appearance: Hazy orange glow with little to no head.

Aroma: Was expecting a big aroma (given the description on the can) but to no avail. A little grainy and slightly sweet. Sort of like a Cream Ale or California Common.

Taste: After tasting this one, I'm not 100% convinced it's even an Ale. Tastes very much like a Vienna/Amber Lager. There is some nice hop bite in there but really no hop flavor profile. Bit of a metallic taste in the finish. Very disappointed in this. Was expecting way more hop character.

Mouthfeel: Medium carbonation and medium bodied. Above average drinkability.

Final Thoughts: The description on the can gave me high expectations for this beer and I was sorely disappointed. All in all, it's a better than average beer, but for the style it is not even close. Would I drink it again? Given that it wasn't actually a bad beer I'd say yes, I would, but only if it was a fresh can and for the purposes of a re-review.

Serving type: can

10-06-2012 05:16:41 | More by JamesMN

mmapes

Colorado

3.23/5  rDev -8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Poured from can into 6 oz. glass. Pours a foamy head that dissipates. Gold/tan color. Smells very faintly. Not much nose.

Follows a Smashbomb from Flying Monkeys and is better balanced. Nice slightly sticky mouthfeel -- good body. Smoother to drink -- maybe a little too soft, but not by much. An herbal note (anise?) on the finish. Nice, balanced IPA. Pleasantly strong but not harsh.

Serving type: can

09-08-2012 22:14:02 | More by mmapes

tbeckett

Ontario (Canada)

2.9/5  rDev -17.4%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

From notes.

A - Poured bright and copper with a one finger beige head. Strong carbonation coming up. One finger of retention and nice lace rings.

S - Butter, touch of caramel. IPA? Me thinks not.

T - Some earthy hop, caramel, buttery, mild citrus in the finish with some peachiness.

M - Good carbonation, medium body, slight bitterness.

O/D - As an IPA, this is a giant failure, but as maybe an ESB, this would pass quite well. It wasn't bad, but needs a rebranding for sure, and isn't really what I was expecting or wanting out of it. That said, it was tasty, and worth a try, just not like a pale ale or IPA I would actively seek out in my home province.

Serving type: can

09-05-2012 16:35:43 | More by tbeckett

Jeffo

Netherlands

2.95/5  rDev -16%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Got this one at the LCBO while at home this past summer. I see they've started to can it.

From a 16oz can into a snifter

Note: Tested this one as part of the Great Ontarian IPA Showdown against Nickel Brook's Headstock IPA, Muskoka Mad Tom IPA, and Double Trouble's Hops & Robbers.

APPEARANCE: Pours a small, medium looking, off-white head with good retention. Perfectly clear burnt orange with lower levels of carbonation evident. Head fades to a slight wisp and sticks to the sides of the glass. A splotchy wisp remains until the end leaving some nice lacing down the glass.

SMELL: Milder nose on this one. Caramel and pale malts with some honeydew melon. Touches of floral hops as well. Fine, but far too mild for the style.

TASTE: Pale malts, honeydew melon and soem caramel sweetness up front, then some piney hop bitterness at the swallow. Mild yet lingering aftertaste of pale and caramel sweetness and some piney, floral hop bitterness as well. very balanced, but unfortunately not all that memorable.

PALATE: Medium body and medium carbonation. Slightly creamy, though a touch prickly on the palate as well. Goes down fine and finishes a touch dry. Decent.

OVERALL: Alright, but nothing special. A bit boring if I'm honest. This one finishes third in the lineup, only beating out Double Trouble's brew. Nothing wrong with this one, but there are better options out there.

Serving type: can

08-28-2012 19:49:46 | More by Jeffo

NV9

Ontario (Canada)

3.28/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a very nice golden orange colour with a pillowy white head.

Smell is very cirtusy - lemon, with some hops and alcohol evident as well.

Taste is bitter, bready, citrusy and hoppy all at the same time, they go well together. The alcohol is evident and adds a slight metallic taste and finish.

medium in body and carbonation.

Good beer, as others have said, not sure if it`s an american IPA.

Serving type: can

08-23-2012 21:50:01 | More by NV9

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +14%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clean orange-ish to yellow color with an off white head. In the aroma, mellow orange citrus/ pineapple/ mango. In the taste, dry pine to citrus hops, the mixture of orange/ pineapple/ mango is all in there. A small bite and a medium bodied mouthfeel, with a small dryer pine hop and note of citrus hops in the aftertaste. Nice hop presence, and a good flavor, I can dig it!

Serving type: can

08-23-2012 16:10:42 | More by OWSLEY069

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

2.63/5  rDev -25.1%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Can: Poured a golden color ale with a medium size foamy head with OK retention and minimal lacing. Aroma of light bitter hops with dry malt notes. Taste is a light mix of subtle bitter hops with a medium-sweet malt backbone. Body is about average with good carbonation. This one is seriously lacking a hop punch.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2012 17:24:07 | More by Phyl21ca

andrenaline

Ontario (Canada)

3.78/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

In the latest LCBO mixer pack...

A - pours a light copper color, two fingers of head with solid retention, and some sporadic lacing

S - caramel hop notes, light musty citrus, hints of toffee and buttered bread

T - buttered caramel off the top, breaded malts alongside a hint of citrus, bitterness lingers with a leafy green finish

M - medium, smooth and a touch of dryness on he finish

O - a tasty IPA leaning more on the buttery caramel malt side, with a lighter citrus flavor on the finish. Easily drinkable and worth a try for sure

Serving type: can

05-12-2012 23:31:18 | More by andrenaline

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

3.05/5  rDev -13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Can from the LCBO, alcohol on this one is 6.5%. No canning/best by date on the can - into a tulip.

Golden orange with a mild haziness. Relatively dense head with solid lacing and pretty good retention. Nose is fairly mild, some citrus, a bit of sweet malts. Maybe a touch grassy, and perhaps a bit stinky. Simplistic at best. Taste is bitter right off the bat, citrus fruits, perhaps a bit of orange and some grainy malts notes. Alcohol is more pronounced than it should be. Hops are bitter into the finish, some odd metallic notes as well. Something's a bit off here. Medium high carbonation, medium mouthfeel. Gets a bit better as it warms, but relatively uninspiring.

Serving type: can

03-31-2012 18:52:15 | More by liamt07

SebD

Ontario (Canada)

3.23/5  rDev -8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: It has a nice golden/yellow color to it. It has a white head that dies down quite fast and leaves some lacing.

Smell: The aromas give out hints of toasty/bready malts, some caramel, and some citrusy and grassy hops.

Taste: Like the aromas, it has a toasty/bready malt character with some caramel and a very light hop presence giving it a citrusy/grassy note. Where the hell are the hops in this IPA?

Mouthfeel: It has a low carbonation with a nice overall balance and feel but I expected a bit more hops and bitterness in this one.

Drinkability: It's a very smooth drinkable beer accompanied with decent flavors and aromas.

Serving type: can

03-22-2012 19:34:53 | More by SebD

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

3.03/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

473ml can from the LCBO

Appearance - Clear amber/copper colour with a small size fizzy off-white coloured head. There is an average amount of carbonation and there is some fair lacing. The head lasted for 2 or 3 minutes.

Smell - Malts, caramel, herbal notes, hops, corn

Taste & Mouth - There is an average amount of carbonation and most of the taste is made up of caramel, light hops, corn, and malts. There is also some farm like flavours.. hay/straw and lots of grains. It almost tasted like it could be brewed by Beau's. It ends with a malty caramel aftertaste with some odd herbal notes and a bit of lingering bitterness.

Overall - Not a fan of the odd herbal flavours and the farm like taste. The beer tasted like it was along the lines of a home brew. I wouldn't pick this one up again.

Serving type: can

03-09-2012 16:15:05 | More by spinrsx

bryehn

Ontario (Canada)

3.7/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Re-branded can, now seeing pretty wide LCBO distribution. Now listed as 6.5 ABV. BB of AUG 21 2012. Served at 40-45 in an American pint glass.

Pours a golden-amber colour with a relatively small white head that doesn't leave much lace and survives as a string-thin collar.

Toasted grains come forward in the aroma, with the traditional IPA fruit (red berry) and citrus (grapefruit) tones taking a back seat. Some caramel as well.

A nicely bittered grapefruit flavour is much more prevalent in the taste and is joined by a slightly sweet dark caramel tone, as well as a biscuit-like one.

Full-bodied with almost no carbonation beyond the first few minutes of pouring, yet there is a bright pop on the tongue followed by a heavy yeast note. The finish is bitter and the aftertaste is oily and grainy, with a subtle fruit tone.

Pretty solid effort, I appreciate the sturdy grain backing. Could become a regular pickup for me.

Serving type: can

03-02-2012 22:00:05 | More by bryehn

TheSevenDuffs

Ontario (Canada)

2.98/5  rDev -15.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Can to Founder's tulip. Best Before JUN 16/12.

A - Poured a light to medium yellow/orange colour. Two fingers of thick, foamy white head formed with good retention.

S - Lighter nose than expected. Some grassy and herbal aromas up front with a mild bready malt backbone present. Not overly inviting for an IPA.

T - Grassy and herbal notes up front with a decent bitterness that is more reminiscent of a pale ale than an IPA. Some bready malt flavours in the background. The finish is slightly bitter. Very average and forgettable.

M - Medium body with a very slight chew present at times. Moderate carbonation.

O - I was surprised that this is listed as an American IPA. Tastes more like an English IPA to me (and not a very good one).

Serving type: can

02-02-2012 03:23:15 | More by TheSevenDuffs

heebes

Ontario (Canada)

3.53/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

500 ml bottle.
Best before 15 Oct 2011.
6.5% abv, not as listed.

Pours a clear light golden with a massive foamy white head, sticky lacing. Nose is some citrus hops, English maltiness, dried fruit, faint spiciness. Taste is creamy malt forefront, typical lack of hop presence here, bready, some spiciness still but mainly a malt forward brew. Mouthfeel is dry, light to medium bodied with a slightly watery slickness.
Overall, a fairly mild English IPA is what it comes across as to me, or maybe an amber in taste, with some really nice elements such as appearance and a good aroma. Ive only ever seen this beer in the Queens Quay LCBO and its name on some draft handles, not to aware of the Railway City brewery but this bottle was a nice introduction. Pretty decent label & bottle going on. As an American IPA though it falls short.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2011 21:58:21 | More by heebes

3.48/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance - Pale copper with a nice, frothy white head that dissipates to a thin cap leaving great lacing. Lots of fine carbonation bubbles visible.

Smell - Toasted malt, bread, light caramel, and a whiff of fruity hops.

Taste - Bready and a bit fruity with a light bitterness and a biscuity aftertaste.

A solid Engish-style IPA.

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2011 22:16:04 | More by

thehyperduck

Ontario (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a foggy amber colour, topped with a modest half-finger of foamy white head that soon dies down to a patchy cap. Aroma is quite nice but weak in intensity; biscuity caramel malts and butterscotch with some citrusy hop notes as well.

Most of the same notes from the nose are found in the flavour as well - lots of biscuity caramel malts, toffee and butterscotch. A little buttery. Some grapefruit hop bitterness takes over in the finish and lingers for a bit. Feels slick on the tongue and a bit creamy; medium-bodied with low carbonation. I didn't notice the alcohol, but I served this pretty cold.

I love IPAs, and it has been a while since I last reviewed one. This is not a hop bomb by any means but still, it's a tasty example of the style with no glaring faults. Maybe a little more English than American. Definitely worth a try, and something I may begin to pick up regularly.

Serving type: bottle

07-25-2011 19:07:32 | More by thehyperduck

Stocean1

Ontario (Canada)

3.73/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - poured only a half finger head despite my best efforts, no apparent carbonation - light amber - brandy colour - zero lacing

S - sweet malt and floral notes - clearly lots of hops

T - sweet malt and spicy hops up front - floral - not overpowering -well balanced - bitter in the aftertaste

M - seems a little syrupy given the sweetness with no carbonation - light to medium bodied like a watered down liquor

O - very nioe IPA - a little more carbonation would be nice - will grab some more from the brewery when I head to the trailer next weekend

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2011 04:12:43 | More by Stocean1

Roke87

Ontario (Canada)

4.13/5  rDev +17.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Growler fresh from the brewery, chilled and poured into a Duvel tulip.
Bottled on date: April.15/2011

Appearance- Pours an amber colour with a nice fluffy 2 fingers of off white head that very slowly dissipates to a nice ring around the glass leaving very nice lacing throughout.

Smell- Amazing smells coming from this one, you have a nice fruity scent on the one hand with a sweet toffee on the other, followed by the usual bready malt smells.

Taste- Just like the smells you get a nice fruity sensation with that sweet toffee coming through, appearances from the bready malts and a very small flavour of hops thrown in there.

Mouthfeel- Light-Medium bodied with great carbonation this one goes does easy and finishes smooth and crisp.

Overall- Easily the best offering from Railway City brewing co. this award winning ale hits home on all fronts, the smells are just out of this world good, and the taste comes through just like the smell fruity and sweet, looks great, tastes great, with a great carbonation on it as well. Hides the higher ABV very well and definite go to for me and my new local favourite, well done.

Serving type: growler

04-27-2011 17:20:49 | More by Roke87

peensteen

Ontario (Canada)

3.78/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pale golden copper colour, small soapy white head, some lace. Smell is biscuity, sweet notes, malty, caramel, light hop presence. Nose is fairly weak. Taste is grassy, sweet biscuit, caramel, honey, malt is there, light bitterness, hoppy finish. Good creamy mouthfeel, carbonation is well used, good weight overall. Good brew overall, would revisit often. Wouldn't call this an IPA though.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2011 15:00:49 | More by peensteen

TerryW

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev +14%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A clear orange-gold brew with a chunky white head settles to a heavy ring that gives up spotty lace.

This beer is dominated by caramel through and through. Nose is full of caramel, butter, and hops. An interesting aroma. medium mouthfeel, nice bitterness. Distinct caramel flavour from the malts. Buttery and creamy on the palate.

Easy drinking, tasty, a lot interesting characteristics that come together nicely. Worth a try

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2011 00:10:54 | More by TerryW