Watch Man IPA - Empyrean Brewing Company

StoneTSR

Colorado

3.93/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

APPEARANCE: Orange and mostly clear with the faintest of hazes apparent. The foamy head is about an inch thick at first, but quickly subsides to about half of its size before a slow settling. The lacing is strong with a new ring every sip of the way.

SMELL: The pine is the dominant flavor in this one. It is complimented nicely by a nice lemon aroma with a bit of grapefruit lurking beneath.

TASTE: A strong dose of malt seems to pop at the very beginning of the sip, but quickly gives way to a relatively strong, very earthy bitterness. Citrus, particularly grapefruit and lemon are also strong.

MOUTHFEEL: The lighter carbonation combined with the earthiness of the hops gives the Watch Man IPA a feel that is less crisp than I would have preferred. The finish is dry, however, setting up the palate nicely for the next sip.

OVERALL: This is a solid IPA from a brewery that does not regularly make one. The carbonation could be a little stronger, but it is otherwise a good-looking, solid IPA.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2012 21:43:10 | More by StoneTSR

sethcroisant

Nebraska

4.5/5  rDev +24.3%

05-13-2013 19:40:55 | More by sethcroisant

skyisland

Missouri

3/5  rDev -17.1%

04-30-2013 01:36:38 | More by skyisland

Pacioli1445

South Dakota

3.5/5  rDev -3.3%

04-29-2013 18:00:15 | More by Pacioli1445

JuicesFlowing

Kansas

3.56/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a beer mug.

Look: Hazy, cloudy orange amber. Lots of yeast bits swirling around. Soapy off white head that recedes to a film, decent lines of lacing.

Aroma: Bright hops with grapefruit mix with faint malts, some sweetness.

Taste: A good malty sweet caramel note to begin, then a drier, hop citrus body. Some spiciness in the finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium body, slightly dry.

Overall: Doesn't taste bad, but majorly disappointed in all of the yeast sediment. Way too much.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 23:39:30 | More by JuicesFlowing

baxter94

Kansas

3.5/5  rDev -3.3%

04-14-2013 05:35:15 | More by baxter94

Eric908

South Dakota

3.75/5  rDev +3.6%

03-30-2013 19:42:32 | More by Eric908

Whiskeydeez

Kansas

3.75/5  rDev +3.6%

03-13-2013 16:26:58 | More by Whiskeydeez

Bear1964

Nebraska

3.5/5  rDev -3.3%

03-10-2013 18:07:27 | More by Bear1964

teleforce

Nebraska

3.75/5  rDev +3.6%

02-28-2013 17:54:33 | More by teleforce

TheQuietMan22

Iowa

3.75/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

Serving type: 12-ounce bottle. The notched, “BEST ENJOYED BY” month is “JAN.”

Appearance: Poured into a pint glass. The color is hazy honey amber. A little more than a finger of fluffy, off-white head left a spotted, bubbly lacing, a ring around the edge, and trails of foam along the glass.

Smell: Very faint scents of grapefruit, orange, and pine. The strength improves a little as the beer warms, though. However, a hint of Tang becomes apparent. There is also a nice pale malt, caramel, and toffee foundation.

Taste: Very nice, full-bodied mouthfeel. The taste is pretty weak but mostly mirrors the aroma: grapefruit, orange, lemon, pine, pale malts, caramel, and toffee. The bitterness is adequate and lingers on the taste buds after each sip. No Tang, thankfully.

Drinkability: It is pretty good. There are better IPAs, and hopper pale ales, but it will do.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2013 05:01:24 | More by TheQuietMan22

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.55/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

a tasty, if intentionaly approachable ipa on tap at lazlos in omaha. the pour is clear golden with an inch of white head. looks like the other three empyrean beers i had with that meal. the nose is hoppy, but nothiing super bitter, high alpha, or particularly dank. a mild citrus profile, but its not a major hop bomb, a very drinkable ale more in the american pale ale tradition i think. flavor is identical to the nose, a refreshingly crisp beer, with a medium body and enough snappy carbonation. it does get a little filling though. i cant taste anything distinct about the malt bill, but it gives a little weight to this beer. its good not great, works with most everything on the menu, and is probably the best beer ive had from them aside from the vanilla porter.

Serving type: on-tap

01-02-2013 21:57:06 | More by StonedTrippin

gcamparone

Rhode Island

3.18/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass. Purchased in Providence, RI.

A- Pours a hazy honey color with a decent sized white head with high retention and thick fluffy lacing.

S- I'm straining and not getting much. Grassy, wheaty, citrus, pine.

T- Wheat, orange peel, caramel, and slightly funky on the finish. Leaves a slight bitterness on the tongue.

M- Watery, pretty flat.

I was unimpressed with this "IPA". Lacked any hop character or body. Pretty unflavorful. Skip this one.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 05:04:00 | More by gcamparone

brandon911

Texas

4/5  rDev +10.5%

12-29-2012 04:54:47 | More by brandon911

zeff80

Missouri

3.88/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Poured out a clear, copper color with a one-finger, khaki colored head of bubbly foam. It left thin rings of lace on the glass.

S - It smelled of pine, citrus and roasted malt.

T - It tasted of bitter piney hops with a citrus kick. There was a nice burnt toast maltiness with some sweet caramel.

M - It was crisp, sharp and smooth. A medium bodied ale with a dry, clean finish.

O - This is a nice IPA. Another solid brew from Empyrean.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2012 02:50:52 | More by zeff80

GringoKid

4/5  rDev +10.5%

11-18-2012 16:32:32 | More by GringoKid

morimech

Minnesota

3/5  rDev -17.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Pours a slightly hazy pale amber color with an attractive head that had good retention. The head eventually settles to a thick cap. Moderate amount of sticky lacing is left down the glass.

Very timid aroma. Slight citrus hop smell. A little woodsy with a hint of mint.

Flavor is better but still a little weak in the hop flavor department. I do get some citrus and herbal hints. However the bitterness is all there. Malt is relatively dry for an IPA and adds some cracker like flavor. Finishes bitter and dry.

Lighter body but has good carbonation for an IPA. Nice smooth, pleasant texture. Just wish the body had more heft.

A mediocre IPA. With shelves crowded with so many better IPAs, no real reason to revisit this one. Not really easy to drink either because there is little hop flavor payoff for the bitterness.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2012 17:08:18 | More by morimech

beerdhabelly

Nebraska

3.25/5  rDev -10.2%

10-26-2012 03:58:47 | More by beerdhabelly

Chucker17

South Dakota

3.5/5  rDev -3.3%

10-23-2012 06:07:03 | More by Chucker17

YalovaIA

Iowa

3.5/5  rDev -3.3%

10-03-2012 02:11:00 | More by YalovaIA

spacemonkeysoda

3.5/5  rDev -3.3%

09-26-2012 04:11:20 | More by spacemonkeysoda

Hellpop65

Kansas

2.25/5  rDev -37.8%

09-23-2012 17:54:07 | More by Hellpop65

u2carew

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz stubby
A) Pours with a finger thick head. Settles to a thin lacing on top. Hazy copper body. Thin semi-sticky lacing on the drink down.
S) Orange. Grapefruit. Subtle Hints of pine.
T) Earthy hop bite up front. Underlying caramel malts but the hops are the dominate trait. Lingering hop bite in the finish.
M) Lightly carbonated. Medium body. Dry, gritty and tannic finish.
O) A good IPA. I'd drink another.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2012 00:32:37 | More by u2carew

RyanToney

3.5/5  rDev -3.3%

08-30-2012 02:12:33 | More by RyanToney

xroywadex

Kansas

4.28/5  rDev +18.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a normal pint glass. Very thick, two inch head, doesn't leave quickly. Relatively clear amber color. Strong citrus and floral hop aroma.

Taste - breads, citrus, lingering grapefruit taste. Light on the malty and yeasty flavors.

Mouthfeel - medium-light.

Great lighter summer IPA. Would definitely drink again.

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2012 02:27:43 | More by xroywadex