Jester - Indigo Imp Brewery

Stigs

Pennsylvania

2.7/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

A - pours with a short lived inch of loose, light tan foam, settling to a thin film. the beer is mostly clear, light copper in color with active bubbling.

S - bright and yeasty, with some fruity apples and banana. slight mildewy mustiness carries throughout, with some slightly cooked veggies and grains.

T - some flashes of fruit, red apples, pear, and some over-ripened banana. chiming in after that is some yeast, complete with phenols. complete lack of hops leave this unfinished at the end.

M - thin body, with a little below average level of carbonation. extremely odd and sticky after the swallow, and a bit unpleasant.

D - drinkable, bordering unpleasant. held back severely by an awkward, sticky and irritating mouthfeel. not much good to pull out of this.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2010 02:05:18 | More by Stigs

Ryan011235

Ohio

1.58/5  rDev -43.8%
look: 2 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

On tap in a pint glass at Hal & Al's on 9/10/10

Unfiltered. Cloudy tangerine, pineapple juice highlights. Very murky. Poured no head. No lace.

The aroma is a weird cluster of bland, past-prime fruit - banana, apple, pear & hints of orange. A touch of Belgian style yeast, though lacking spiciness.

The taste isn't quite a bland, but is by no means good. Tart apple notes & some banana. Hints of hops. Slightly more spicy. Finishes kind of medicinal. Tastes as murky as it looks.

Medium body. Carbonation is moderate but not enough to augment the mild spices. Rotting fruit esters linger beyond the finish.

Certainly the shaker pint didn't help, but I doubt a tulip would cure what ails this beer. It's just not enjoyable at all. Indigo Imp is going to have to step up their game to hang in Cleveland.

Serving type: on-tap

10-06-2010 00:31:05 | More by Ryan011235

MbpBugeye

Ohio

3/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

On tap at Hal and Al's. The bartender said they were the first bar to get Indigo Imp stuff outside of Cleveland.

A- Served filled up all the way to the rim of my pint glass. No head. The been is a cloudy, dirty yellow- almost orange.

S- Spices like coriander and orange peel. Belgian style yeasts and fruity malts.

T- Pretty standard here except for the tart, almost sour taste to the finish. I was guessing this was a witbier that has a higher ABV.

Not too impressed with Indigo Imp, but this was the better one of the few that Ive tried.

Serving type: on-tap

09-28-2010 02:33:59 | More by MbpBugeye

Ricochet

Ohio

2.05/5  rDev -27%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

I read about this brewery last year but never gave it another thought until I found them at my local and thought I'd give them a go. Reviews of this pale have not been kind, and judging by the sour smell coming the pour, I have a feeling...

I wouldn't even say the smell is like sour wine, but more like olive oil. I looked for a born on date, with none to be found. A bit of the grain used and a hint of hops.

Looks the standard orange to amber, little head and little lace. There was a good bit of carbonation which kept the slightlace alive.

Mouth :DAH! WHAT IS THIS? My honest reaction as i puckered from the sour but it is slightly creamy and goes down like water.

Okay. I'll be objectionable as possible. I don't know if this could be called a Pale Ale, but it reminds me of some low end pales I've tried at a BA. Totally lemon, sour with a hit of hops but the sour isn't like a lemon head sour, but a "turned beer" sour. There is a mid note of some sort of pale ale, but then the olive oil taste comes through.

Sorry, it's a drain pour for me. Bad batch perhaps, but seeing the reviews before me. I'll let this stand.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2010 01:24:43 | More by Ricochet

ABOWMan

Ohio

2.88/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

A: Poured a copper-orange color with substantial yeast haze. Three fingers of cream colored head provided the best rating component of this beer (appearance).

S: Malt and ripe fruit.

T: Sweet malt then sour after-taste. Not very complex or desirable. The acidic after-taste became more pronounced as I drank and ultimately required me to "force down" the last few sips since it was my first beer of the evening.

M: Full and rich on the palate with lively carbonation.

D: Not very, unless you don't mind a beer with a sour after-taste.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2010 17:17:50 | More by ABOWMan

tlazaroff

Virginia

3.35/5  rDev +19.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured orange with no head. Had a somewhat barnyard experience while drinking it, but it was expected and nice. The alcohol isn't hidden very well, I didn't know what the ABV is while drinking it, but it defiantly wasn't masked well at all. I could drink this again but probably wouldn't go out of my way to find it.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2010 17:49:39 | More by tlazaroff

AdamGarcia

Pennsylvania

2.2/5  rDev -21.7%
look: 1.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

12oz bottle served in shaker pint.

A: Pours a deep, murky, dirty gold. Not much different than a blended Arnold Palmer. Head is small and after a very short time it has completely disappeared. This one is not off to a good start.

S: Initially smells of a very weak version of weizen yeast. Some fruity, estery aromas are hanging around as well. Maybe a slight lactic sourness is lingering in the background. Meh.

T: This one is kinda messy. Very bland up front, pale malt and not much else. Followed up with some cidery flavors. Finishes with a vague sweet and sour note. Aftertaste is mildly sour, but not pleasantly so.

M: Undercarbonated. Weak mouthfeel. Has a slightly chalky feel in the finish.

D: Very low. I'm considering a drainpour, which is something I NEVER do. It's not that it's disgusting or undrinkable, I just find it completely boring. I feel like I'm wasting my time by drinking this beer.

I appreciate that fact that this brewery uses some open fermentation in an attempt to create unique beers. Unfortuneatly, it doesn't really work out in the final product. Since this is a (semi)local brewery I hope that they get it all sorted out. Hopefully the the bottle of porter I have from Indigo Imp is better than this offering.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2010 01:33:02 | More by AdamGarcia

zhooker

New York

3.3/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured from a 12oz bottle to a stemmed pilsener glass. Exceptionally hazy golden honey in color. No head -- given the bottle-conditioning, I poured it off very slowly to minimize particulate in the glass.

The scent is all citrus -- a little sharp and stingy in one whiff, then a little sweet in the next. There is a bready malt backbone to this, which is probably where the sweetness is coming from. Banana bread! That's it!

Vinegar-like sourness or spiciness, typical of some Belgian brews, overcomes the mouth. This does a lot of work to counteract the fruit flavors that were so present in the nose. The malts and hops seem well-balanced, but again, these also take a backseat to the the strong flavors imparted by the yeast. Despite the slight disparity in style, this really reminded me of Sly Fox's Chester County Bitter, if you're familiar.

This might be one to age in the basement. Conveniently, Indigo Imp dips the cap of one bottle in each six pack in some thick wax (a la Maker's Mark), which I suppose serves no real purpose, but for some reason it seems proper to age it. A bit of maturation might counteract some of the strong yeastiness.

On another note, Indigo Imp could really use a new graphic designer.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2010 06:55:53 | More by zhooker

bigdeuce

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a hazy hue, almost like strawberry blonde. Scents of very yeasty esthers and lemon, maybe rind. Flavors are a bit off. Too yeasty of a taste, maybe could be a bit more mellow..with age. Pretty easy to drink. Very fruity and overwhelming. Not bad but not great either.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2010 17:03:43 | More by bigdeuce

samie85

Illinois

3.05/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Originally reviewed 4/17.

A- Pours an orange/amber with a white head.

S-Smells of coriander and belgian yeast. Going into this one, I expeced more of an APA as it said nowhere on the bottle anything about it being stylistically Belgian.

T-Tastes predominantly of Belgian yeast with some slight sourness.

M-Medium bodied and pretty effervescent.

D-Pretty drinkable but not at all what I was expecting.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2010 19:17:03 | More by samie85

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.22/5  rDev +50.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

What can I say I've had the Blonde Bombshell and this one so far and I like these funky sours. These aren't the most refined versions, rustic Cleveland open fermentation with water from the filtered Cuyahoga? I don't what their water source is but this Belgian style funk pale ale is a hazy unfiltered copper orange hue with a white bright head that dwindles pretty damn quick. Minimal scattered lacing, nose has a nice banana bread yeast note with hints of spice and mild citrus notes. Something gives off a lactic creamy yogurt sensation. Flavor is sour makes you pucker enough but nothing that drys the throat leaves a bit of dryness in the finish. Fruity with citrus and banana mild clove and spicy tones, a bit of a solvent chemical touch as the sour apple and lemon citrus flavors peak but it blends in without much harshness. Again the creamy lactic notes brings out hints of citrus fruit and greek yogurt blended. Mouthfeel is medium bodied not cloying just a bit sour with a dry presence after each sip, I could see the acidity bother the faint at heart or the GERD suffering community a bit. Drinkability is good, I'm actually able to gulp this sour ale and enjoy the flavors or I could slowly sip and really analyze the complexity from the open fermentation, I'm a fan.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2010 03:55:40 | More by WVbeergeek

cpetrone84

Pennsylvania

3.03/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A-good looking golden amber color, very hazy in transparency. The head is thin and bubbly, an aggressive pour gives off little foam that dissipates immediately and leaves no lacing on the glass

S-big nose of belgian yeast, cloves, hints of banana, lemon, and a touch of peppery spice.

T-the taste follows the nose, big on the yeasty cloviness, lots of sour lemon, a touch of banana, and some belgian spice

M-very smooth and creamy, a little thinner and watered down, a high level of carbonation but not too much

D-very sour and spicy, the mix is ok, the body is good imo. Not something I'm too interested in though.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2010 19:03:04 | More by cpetrone84

CrazyMacHarris99

Pennsylvania

1.48/5  rDev -47.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

This one poured a hazy yellow orange with a 1/2" head that left a thin ring of bubbles around the edge. The smell is cotton candy, bubblegum, light sweet fruits, and a slight hint of some sour lemon. The taste is actual really bad. There is a strong mouth puckering sour lemon flavor that dominates everything. The sweetness tries to come through but is beaten back by the sourness. There is no carbonation at all in the feel of this one and it is very thin and watery. The drinkability is horrible and this was a very rare drainpour for me. I really wanted to like this but I guess my wife is still the only good thing to come out of Ohio.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2010 07:54:02 | More by CrazyMacHarris99

TurdFurgison

Ohio

2.85/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

12oz bottle purchased in Kent OH, first time I've seen it in a store. I was kind of excited to try a new OH brewery but this beer wasn't all I'd hoped. First off, the appearance was marred by absolutely NO HEAD. I could see bubbles and some carbonation inside the hazy translucent gold body but nothing on top. The aroma seems Belgian, lightly hoppy and a good amount of esters. The taste was OK I guess, some bubblegum and a little bit of Unibroue yeast profile, kind of hits the mark. The body is thick and lightly carbonated, probably too thick for the style and a bit of a chore to drink. I'll pass on it in the future.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2009 23:48:18 | More by TurdFurgison

tpd975

Florida

2.58/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

A: Hue of amber brown with a rather weak head. No retention or lace at all.

S: Spicy aroma with hints of corn, lemon, and yeast, and plastic.

T: Plastic. This one has a strange sour lemon, subtle sweetness going on. Hints of Belgian spice and more plastic. It's all over the place, in a not so good way.

M: Light in body, lacking carbonation.

D: Not really.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2009 12:11:37 | More by tpd975

schoolboy

Ohio

2.28/5  rDev -18.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

I am a native (and old) Clevelander, but still I passed on this the first couple times I saw this. I guess I should have kept passing. Hopefully this brand will pass too.

There isn't much to like with this one. I will be careful to not pour ANY of the sediment on the next one, as it obviously imparts a nasty bad-homebrew type taste. Often I relish some tasty yeast sediment, but not here. This one is not so good.

It reminds me of the bottom of your fridge - that rotted unindentifiable stuff with a sweet smell. I will wait until I have had a few to drink the rest of these and avoid this brand in the future.

Edit 2-17-2012. I met a nice young man that works at this brewery today and looking at this review I realize I was EXTREMELY harsh. I'm sorry, Cory. I am trying Dragon Stout and I may try others. Bob

Serving type: bottle

07-25-2009 00:15:14 | More by schoolboy

Norsebrew

Colorado

3.08/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Strong apricot rotten fruit smell with belgium yeast. not very pleasant.

poured a orange lightly carbonated hazy appearance with a head that vanished almost instantly.

The taste is probably its saving grace. Not bad. Not really a pale ale. More like a belgium-pale hybrid.

Overall, the aroma was very funky. The head was dismal. The taste and drinkability was good when cold, but after about 10 minutes of sitting and acclimating to a warmer temperature, the taste did get a little sour. This would be a good beer on a nice hot day in the summer to quench thirst. I will not buy it again.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2009 01:26:54 | More by Norsebrew

UDbeernut

New York

3.58/5  rDev +27.4%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle poured into snifter

A: hazy gold orange color, no head what so ever

S: light malt aroma, nice belgian yeast aroma

T: light buttery malt, little bitterness. Slightly watery, but ok none the less. A lot better than I was expecting

M&d: light bodied, nice amount of carbonation. Certainly fits the belgian pale style well

Cheers!!!

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2009 18:49:34 | More by UDbeernut

adamette

Ohio

3.68/5  rDev +31%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2 | overall: 4

Live Review. Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into my Cooperstown Beverage Trail clean, clear pint glass. $1.50 single bottle at Heinen's in Willoughby Hills, Ohio.

A Orange brown glowing body and almost no head whatsoever. I do remember a brief head but after 30 seconds it is completely gone and I was trying to pour a head. Nice unfiltered yeasty body with sediment observable. No lacing.

S Belgian like malt and yeast, maybe some hops? It is not unlike a Belgian Dubbel but it is watered down. Inviting smell albeit a bit weak. I had to smell 3 times to get this information from this beer.

T A nice Belgian Dubbel like taste that reminds me a lot of Willoughby Brewing Company's Abbey Road Dubbel. I think that this is certainly more Belgian than it is Pale Ale. I do not taste much hops which I thought was a key aspect of a Pale Ale. Like the Blonde Bombshell that I tasted and rated earlier tonight, this beer is fairly simple in its taste, not changing much at all from first sip through to the aftertaste. I will make an educated guess and say that the ABV is likely about 7.0%

M Little to no carbonation. This has the feel of a thick, alcoholic punch.

D Good. I could have many of these.

Notes: A bit simplistic in its taste spectrum, this is a welcome taste to the Cleveland market and certainly the national market. I would not be surprised to see excellent things coming from Indigo Imp in the future. Great start guys!

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2009 05:23:57 | More by adamette

TheNightbird

Ohio

3.68/5  rDev +31%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A- Bright orange color, not too much head to talk about.

S- Upfront banana aromas. Followed up with bread and clove smells. Hops are there but they are over powered by yeast profile.

T- The bavarian style of yeast comes through first. Soft hops and grain then follow. Some faint acidity is present towards the end of the sip. There is a yeasty aftertaste that lasted a while.

M- Solid medium body. The carbonation goes well with the body of the beer.

D- Solid drinkability.

A unique beer out of my home town. If I did not look at the color of the beer, I would have thought that I was drinking a nice Bavarian Wheat. Overall I am happy that I sampled this beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2009 00:39:30 | More by TheNightbird

UA8

Washington

2.25/5  rDev -19.9%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

A- Pours a orangey red with a thin off white head. Wait its not even the right color for Belgian pale?

S- Pear, spices, and Bavarian yeast.

T- Wow this is officially the worst attempt at a Belgian pale I've had. Flavors are thin and disjointed. Leads with bland malts and moves to spice note and yeast sourness.

M- Thin body with unrefined carbonation.

D- This is just bad how does this company justify asking what it does for a six pack of beer($8.99 I believe). I'm going to play Nostradamus and say this company will not survive. Third beer I've had from them all bad.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2009 23:36:53 | More by UA8

MCDuhamel

Ohio

3.2/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours a very hazy amber, exhibiting significant chill haze. A half-inch head forms on the pour, falling to a film over the beer. No lacing at all.

S: Yeast, banana, some clove and overripe fruit are present in the nose. A bit funky.

T: Some maltiness is evident on the palate at first, followed by fruit and some spiciness. The beer finishes fairly dry. Hops are not really evident.

M: Mouthfeel is fairly light; the carbonation is unobtrusive, but present.

D: Neither quaffable nor a sipper, this beer is easy enough to drink without being a real session beer.

Overall: Nothing on the label suggests that this "pale ale" (as it is described in the notes on the back label) is brewed with Belgian-style yeast (I figured that out only after visiting the brewer's web site), so a drinker expecting an American or English pale ale will be very surprised by this beer. Understanding that caused me to re-evaluate this beer; as anything other than a Belgian style it would be way out of bounds. As a Belgian-style pale ale, it's decent enough, if not in any way outstanding. It has a nice drinkability without the overwhelming strength of the bigger dubbels or "abbeys" on the market. There is a bit of funkiness throughout the beer, I suspect due to the open vessel fermentation. I'll come back to this beer when looking for something different and "Belgiany" without the high gravity. If only it were prettier in the glass . . .

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2009 22:46:28 | More by MCDuhamel