Imperial IPA - Garrison Brewing Company

patre_tim

China

4.56/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Unfiltered amber with particles large and small floating in it. Medium low carbonation, 4 finger tan fluffy head. Very appealing.

S: Pineapple, floral, pine needles, buscuity malt. Again, very appealing.

T: Buscuity malt, floral, pineapple, pine, really bitter on the aftertaste. It lingers.

M: Syrupy, resony, thick, medium low carbonation.

O: Very well balanced for an Imperial IPA, it has all the right characteristics. Love that its from Halifax, Canadian, traditional bottle even has its Garrison's emblem and ‘Halifax’ embossed in the glass. Overall, really cool.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2013 02:19:08 | More by patre_tim

Groulxsome

Ontario (Canada)

4.4/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle into a tulip.

Looks: Great. Thick, firm head with little mountains of foam. Great orange-ruby red colour. Cloudy (it's unfiltered).

Smells: It smells balanced. Pine and citrus hops combined with a some roasted, earthy malts. It has this almost soft, fresh pine bark smell from the combination of the two.

Tastes: Big citrus hops on the front (Amarillo?) are followed by more pine hops and caramel malts. The finish is some combination of pine and a little grapefruit bitterness (Cascade?).

Feels: A little thin to be honest (most other reviews note that it's dense, maybe I am!). Not as creamy as that head might of had me think. Nice medium carbonation.

Overall: The hop profile in this beer is really close to my favourite. That pine, citrus, and grapefruit are the classic East-coast style hops that I love, so it get's bonus points for hitting my taste so well. Garrison have a signature taste too, which I really like, partially because it smells a little like the Quidi Vidi Brewery in St. John's, NL, which is no where near! Google maps tells me they are close to salt water, so I'm going to assume its the North Atlantic Ocean smell, the terroir if you will, which makes me like it so much. Anyway, I really like this beer!

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2012 03:28:48 | More by Groulxsome

nickfl

Florida

4/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours with a small head of off white foam on top of a hazy, copper colored body. The foam settle fairly quickly but leaves nice lace on the glass.

S - Lots of pine and sweaty hops with caramel and toffee malt in the background.

T - Sweet, bready malt up front with some pine flavor. Orange and grapefruit show up in the middle and the beer finishes with toffee, pine, and moderate bitterness.

M - Medium body, moderate carbonation, and a balanced finish.

D - Nicely done, this is a solid IPA, with lots of pine hop character and good balance. It ain't Pliny, but it certainly gets the job done.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2012 04:26:17 | More by nickfl

kylehay2004

Florida

3.65/5  rDev -11%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: no head really on a cloudy amber with golden hues body.

S: caramel, candied fruit, earthy and citrus hops with a sweet maple syrup note as well.

T: I like how this one tastes but it is still a little bland. Up front you get caramel and earthy hops which moves to bitterness and a metallic taste which lingers for quite a while.

M: medium body and moderate carbonation.

Overall: Nice degree of hopiness, it just isnt very complex. The malt base is very good though and this is a decent beer overall.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2012 04:26:14 | More by kylehay2004

Mdez

Virginia

4.43/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Tried several of these while on vacation in Canada in August 2012. I tried a red of theirs and then this, their flagship beer. After having quite a few tedious beers while on the trip, this one hit the mark and I believe I had 5 of them (they were 5 or 6 ouncers) while waiting for my wife for 90 minutes or so. This is a very good IPA that surprised me and made me happy waiting that day. Thanks, Garrison!

Serving type: on-tap

09-03-2012 20:28:05 | More by Mdez

smcolw

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Modest, but lasting head. Leaves a ring of lace after each sip. Hazy, copper amber color.

Fresh, floral hop aroma. Some grapefruit, some pine.

Starts with a malt base, relatively dry. Strong spicy, hot pepper bite in the swallow. There's a long aftertaste that is like sucking a hop pellet. A true hop-head's delight. The flavor completely covers the increased alcohol level. Rich bodied.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2012 01:28:43 | More by smcolw

trippinbillyrmc

4.35/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Hazy copper color, big and light fluffy off white head.

S - Normal citrus/pine and hops smell but was taken back by the strong caramel and cereal aromas for a beer of this style.

T - Caramel malty flavor dominates at first but that is followed up by a huge blast of citrusy hops at its climax and then leaves lasting piney bitter finish.

O - One of the best of this style I have had in Canada. Easily the best out of Atlantic Canada. Big and powerful flavors. Recommend to any Hop Head.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2012 03:43:23 | More by trippinbillyrmc

Beelzebeer

Newfoundland (Canada)

4.15/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a spearhead tulip. No date on bottle.

A - Pours a dense, unfiltered, brown copper colour. Great amount of creamy head, good retention, nice lacing

S - Strong pine, bitter hops. Smells a little boozy, but mixes well

T - Bitter, pine, resinous hops, mixed with a sufficient malt backing. Similar to DFH 90, but a little sharper. Maybe some biscuit in there too. Medium-high amount of carbonation. Great for the style

M - Dense, like a real beer should be.

Very nice offering from Hali, and a good rep for the style. Not my fav, but pretty high up there.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2012 23:00:38 | More by Beelzebeer

Brianhophead

Alberta (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A- Imperial IPA is a slightly hazy, burnished copper colored beer. Modest pinpoint carbonation supports a fluffy, cream colored head. Retention is decent.

S- Aroma is pleasantly hoppy up front, with hints of malt supporting. Hop profile is very North American, giving me pine needles combined with a resiny woodsiness. Beneath that I'm getting caramel malts and a faint earthiness. Malt gives a nice backbone to support the hops.

T- On the palate, Imperial IPA is impressive. Somehow walking the fine line between assertive and overpowering. Flavor starts off malty, giving flavors of caramel combined with a medium bodied, buttery mouthfeel. Finish is bitter. Assertively bitter, full of the sort of woodsy bitterness you might get from the English rather than American hops.

One of the better examples of the style.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2012 23:19:36 | More by Brianhophead

leaddog

Alberta (Canada)

4.48/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance - Pours a cloudy copper/amber hue with about a finger width of creamy head.

Smell - Piney hops, citrus (orange peel), hint of tropical fruit (passionfruit).

Taste - Strong piney hop bitterness, with a hint of the fruit notes detected in the aromas. Very pleasant tasting bitterness.

Mouthfeel - Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Nice fluffy body to it.

Overall - I quite enjoy this imperial IPA. The hops characteristics was bang on for this style. ABV is well concealed. Very nice pine and fruit aromas to this brew as well. One of the better imperial IPAs I have had in a while.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2012 04:51:19 | More by leaddog

CAMRAhardliner

Ontario (Canada)

4.68/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Pours a chill hazed orange with a huge, creamy, rocky head. Lace drapes the glass. Citrusy hops and fresh bread fill the nose. The taste is a a hop barage. Thick pine resin notes mix with grapefruit rind and tropical fruit of some description. A big caramel malt flavor provides good balance. The mouthfeel is full and textured with billions of tiny carbonation bubbles. The finish is very bitter and lasts forever. Its wonderful.

A great DIPA. Very bitter and balanced. ABV is well hidden.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2012 23:10:47 | More by CAMRAhardliner

mintjellie

Ontario (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Deep amber orange colour, unfiltered and hazy, with a massive topping of off-white head. Head is tight, retentive, and sticky, leaving a ropey lace on the glass. Mango, citrus, pine needle, and cookie dough aromatics. Solid tropical and citrus fruit flavours up front with a mild sweetness developing midpalate. The finish is leafy and firmly bitter, and lingers long. There is some big bold flavour to be had here. Even with that mild sweetness, the hops still get all up in your face. If that unbalanced quality bothers you, this probably isn't your IPA. This is my IPA.

Medium bodied with low carbonation. Feels creamy and smooth, with an oily slick sensation left on the roof of the mouth between swallows. With loads of raw leafy hop bitterness and a blast of citrus, Garrisons Imperial IPA makes for a satisfying hop fix.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2011 01:54:25 | More by mintjellie

NightINgale

Quebec (Canada)

4/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Nice 500ml bottle...

A - Cloudy amber body, with a nice reddish-orange hue. Pretty tan-coloured frothy head. Very good head retention.

S - The aroma is not particularly strong, but it is quite hoppy nonetheless. Some citrus, some pine, and a little bit of pleasant tropical fruit notes. It also smells a little confectionary, with hints of toffee and biscuits.

T - In my opinion, from the very first sip, the beer lets you know that you're not drinking a single IPA. It starts out with a powerful and bitter citrus hop punch with a slight syrupy quality to it. As you swallow the first couple sips, you will get some caramel, some sweetness, and a little pine. The finish is full of lingering citrus notes, with a nice pithy grapefruit texture. After a while, the flavours wear out a little. However, I discovered that if you take small sips and refrain from gulping it down, the flavour profile can be quite rich, even after the beer has warmed up. Some slight mango and passion fruit notes, a bit of orange.

M - The mouthfeel is definitely on the thicker side, with some stickiness to it. Somewhat astringent but not too dry, which is nice. Not at all boozy and not ruinous on the pallate. Pretty nice!

O - This is a very solid and enjoyable Double IPA. Definitely one of the best Canadian DIPA's I've had. Not a session beer, despite the seemingly not-so-high ABV. It's nice to take your time with this beer. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2011 02:37:04 | More by NightINgale

4.1/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance - honey-orange in colour with a thin head that dissipates to a persistent cap.

Smell - The aroma is a wonderful belnd of hops and malt featuring caramel, biscuit, pineapple, grapefruit, and pine.

Taste - The taste is heavy on hops, as one would expect with an imperial IPA. Upfront its malty and fruity, but the hops are right behind bringing a really intense bitterness. The finish is a bit biscuity, with a lingering bitterness. I could do with a little more hop flavour and less bitter punch, but this is still a very good IIPA.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2011 00:43:42 | More by

bryehn

Ontario (Canada)

4.03/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy marmalade-like orange colour with hints of copper and a fair amount of suspended sediment. The head is light beige in colour and very frothy. It has good retention and leave a healthy amount of lace behind as it settles.

The aroma has a malt-forward caramel character balanced by a mild grapefruit-like citrus tone. I also get a ripened cherry note and one of freshly cut grains.

The taste finds a nice balance between sweet caramel and bitter grapefruit or orange peel citrus. A dark chocolate flavour pokes through as it passes the tongue and the bitterness really kicks in during the finish.

The beer is full-bodied with a nice pop on the tongue despite a rather low carbonation. The long-lasting collar and sediment create a creamy sensation as it goes down. The aftertaste is dry and bitter with a lingering citrus character and a subtle strawberry or cherry fruitiness.

If I were to strictly review Garrison Imperial IPA as a Double/Imperial IPA, my opinion would be far less favourable because of its relatively low ABV and light character. It's more in line with "single" offerings like Southern Tier IPA or Red Racer IPA. That said, this is an excellent and thoroughly enjoyable beer that is one of the best Canadian-brewed IPAs and one that I snap up any time I see it.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2011 16:44:00 | More by bryehn

GabesAles

Ontario (Canada)

4.72/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: very nice looking brew - typical orange IPA color, some haze (which i like)

Smell: you can smell this as your pouring it! lots of nose

Taste: very tasty brew that will most likely make your face cringe (in a good way). Being as it's an imperial IPA, that is exactly what i expected. Loved the flavor of both malts and hop.

Mouthfeel: It's there, nice mouth coating sensation

Overall: Quality brew, would buy this again any day.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2011 20:52:10 | More by GabesAles

mmmbeer

Massachusetts

3.45/5  rDev -15.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

500 mL brown bottle with no freshness date. Pours a chill-hazed toasted gold, with medium carbonation and a thin tan cap that retains well. Smells of biscuity and caramelly malts, piney/citric hops, a few esters and a hint of pleasing diacetyl. Lots and lots of juicy hops on the palate, with piney/herbal notes, sharp white grapefruit and a strong bitter linger on top of a smooth, moderately-carbonated body. Not much malt, but there is a light sweetness. Tasty enough; raw and hoppy, but it isn't quite balanced right.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2011 00:24:46 | More by mmmbeer

Stocean1

Ontario (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - poured a big off white three finger head with great retention and plenty sticky patchy lacing - a deep amber orange colour

S - sweet malt and citrus hops - grapefruit and grass

T - a beautiful balance of barley malt with a strong citrus hops - grapefuit and papaya - oranges - grass and pine - a pepper note in the bitter finish - bravo

M - medium body with plenty of carbonation - still smooth for a brew with this much bitterness

O - A very nice Imperial IPA that is really well balanced - I will definitely grab another box of this stuff

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2011 02:41:16 | More by Stocean1

jrenihan

Ontario (Canada)

3.53/5  rDev -13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle date appears to be July 3, 2011, which means it took just over two months to get to Ontario and make it through the LCBO labs. The joys of regulation...

Pours a dark amber orange with an enormous amount of frothy off-white head. Mild lacing, good retention.

Pleasant smell of citrus (grapefruit) and caramel malt. Pleasant but neither strong nor remarkable. A bit muted.

Taste is bitter with some caramel malt. A bit of grapefruity citrus but it is not particularly strong. Some pleasant flavours as the beer sits in my mouth for a little while and more becomes apparent. Finish, however, is bitter without much else happening.

Full bodied, and quite carbonated. Somewhat irritating to me. Pretty creamy feel. Pretty good once the carbonation dies down.

Overall, this beer has some good qualities, but I was somewhat disappointed. I found the bitterness was not fully accompanied by other flavours- seemed to be bitter for bitters sake. This was particularly so in the finish. Whereas there are some nice flavours balancing the bitterness for awhile, the finish is simplistic and not particularly enjoyable. I prefer this to Garrison's Hop Yard, but do not think it is a great DIPA.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2011 23:38:54 | More by jrenihan

sholland119

Pennsylvania

3.65/5  rDev -11%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Picked this one up at Premier Wine & Spirits in Halifax.

A-Pours a hazy orange amber with a fluffy off white head and great sticky lacing.

S-Malty with very light hoppiness.

T-Nice bitterness hits you right away. Earthy and citric, lots of grapefruit rind. Not very balanced but very tasty.

M-Medium bodied, a bit slick.

O-Pretty nice. Low ABV for an imperial IPA so more drinkable, Nicely bitter.

HV

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2011 00:07:12 | More by sholland119

hopsolutely

Ontario (Canada)

3.9/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A lot more flavour than expected from a 7% ABV, although the alcohol burn is also suggestive of something boozier. The lingering bitter finish is almost overpowering, but as I enjoy that dimension of IIPA's, I would still recommend trying this particular one.

Beautiful almost iridescent amber with the unfiltered sediment unnoticeable until the bottom of the bottle. One of the clearest unfiltered beers I have enjoyed. Aroma is very malt-forward, with caramelized and fruit notes. The flavour is pleasantly sweet and malty, followed by a truly bitter finish. Not certain where this sits in IBU, but it is pronounced.

However, I would still consider this a well-balanced and enjoyable representative of the American Double style. Look forward to any future Garrison offerings in Ontario!

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2011 17:17:09 | More by hopsolutely

Jeffo

Netherlands

3/5  rDev -26.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Got this one in a trade with cjbmcdon. Thanks for sending this one out east for me man!

From a 500ml bottle into a snifter.
Drunk right after the Black IPA

APPEARANCE: Pours a one finger, medium thin looking, off-white head with good retention. Head slowly fades to a good film cap and ring. A clear burnt orange in color with no carbonation evident. A thick ring remains until the end leaving some dots of lacing down the glass.

SMELL: Milder nose of pale malts, toffee, some melon notes and some nice floral aromas. Nice enough, but simply too mute to be noticeable.

TASTE: Pale malts, toffee, and a good amount of floral hops through the middle. A blast of bitter hop and pine flavors crash through after the swallow, which wasn’t really expected. Big and lingering aftertaste with piles of hop bitterness and a touch of pine that tries to give it some flavor. Started out nice, but became bitter just for the sake of being bitter.

PALATE: Medium body and medium carbonation. Semi creamy on the palate, goes down fine and finishes slightly dry on the palate.

OVERALL: An interesting brew, much like their Black IPA. The flavors start out nice and enjoyable, but after the swallow, it becomes overly bitter without any real flavor to match. It’s almost bitter for the sake of being bitter. While these two brews weren’t highlights for me, they have definitely gotten me interested in what else this brewery can do. Thanks again for sending this brew my way cjbmcdon!

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2011 12:35:03 | More by Jeffo

evlu1441

Alberta (Canada)

4.03/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is a nice looking beer. A finger of fluffy tan head sits on top of a pale, hazy amber brew.

The aroma is mainly fresh hops, with a hint of black pepper. There is a nice caramel malty background too.

The flavour is . The hop aroma is more restrained compared to some west coast IIPAs, though it is still quite intense. The hoppyness if balanced by a nice and slightly sweet malty backbone.

Overall, not the most exciting IIPA I've had, but a very solid example of the style.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2011 22:30:15 | More by evlu1441

peensteen

Ontario (Canada)

4.03/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

bottle from mmurphy525

Hazy deep amber colour, 2 fingers of white head, sticky and dense, lots of lace left behind. Smell is very hoppy, soft citrus, grapefruit, pine is present as well but more so in the background wrapped up with a soft malty backbone. Taste is bursting with hops, pine is at the forefront while citrus takes the background role, malty, very well balanced, grapefruit and tangerine present as well. Full body, good weight, fairly oily, medium carbonation. Very solid brew, have had this a few times before but never as fresh as this bottle, more of a big IPA than a IIPA but its still really good.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2011 22:37:56 | More by peensteen

Hornet2003

British Columbia (Canada)

4.45/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Dark copper, amber colour. Cloudy at the bottom of the bottle due to hop flakes. Decent (1/4 inch on pour) head.

Smell: Very fruity and malty. I'm thinking this is more of an Imperial English IPA. Dates, prunes and raisins (almost Old Ale-ish), but with a huge, citrusy hop aroma.

Taste: Much like the aroma, this beer has a lot of dark fruitiness, as well as an intense piney hoppiness. Really amazingly strong flavours on all fronts.

Mouthfeel: Malt gives a great biscuity sweetness while the hops provide a huge punch of bitterness. Good carbonation!

Overall: Let this one warm up a bit to at least cellar temp. (10 degrees C ~50 degrees F). So smooth and creamy while poking your tongue with bitterness. This beer is even more impressive given the (relatively) low ABV for an Imperial IPA. 7% with such great flavours/mouthfeel makes this a sipper that won't get you wrecked. Big props to Garrison!

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2011 23:17:19 | More by Hornet2003