Firebrand - Indigo Imp Brewery

Cylinsier

Pennsylvania

3.76/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

12 oz.

Pours a hazy orange and brown. White sudsy lacing.

Smells of honey, citrus, coriander, tart apple and mild piney hop.

Very hoppy up front, pine and grapfruit, with some citrus tartness and a bit of caramel sweetness.

Full body with tingly carbonation on the roof of the mouth.

Much hoppier than most things you would call a Belgian IPA, more like an American IPA. Very good although not especially unique. Definitely worth trying for hop fans.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 20:14:56 | More by Cylinsier

OB1

Ohio

4/5  rDev +20.1%

04-03-2013 02:54:12 | More by OB1

Morey

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +20.1%

03-05-2013 00:05:52 | More by Morey

outoffocus

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -2.4%

01-25-2013 03:42:26 | More by outoffocus

OneDropSoup

Pennsylvania

2.15/5  rDev -35.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 1.75 | feel: 1.75 | overall: 2

Poured into a stemmed tulip: translucent rusty amber under finger of head that drops quickly & leaves a wispy thin coating & a low collar. Nice-looking lacing.

Smells of overripe peach, Juicy Fruit gum, melon, a little band-aid, somewhat spicy, like basil. Sweet, but a flat kind of sweet. Not unpleasant, but almost artificial-smelling.

Taste is kind of blandly citrusy & floral at first, like flavored iced tea, but soon curls up into this stony, bitter greens kind of taste that wraps around the tongue. Burnt plastic. Really unpleasant. There's a decent kind of fruitiness, like strawberry gum, hiding in the middle there, but that super-phenolic taste just...sucks. It lessens a little bit, but is still there. That first mouthful is really putrid, though.

Medium-full-bodied, plenty effervescent, chalky. My mouth also kind of feels dried out & coated with a nasty kind of film, like I was sucking on cough drops or Altoids or something.

This was pretty rough. There's definitely something seriously off with this beer, phenols are waaay over the top to the point of being unpalatable. I think there's something worthwhile hidden in there somewhere, but it's inaccessible through all the nasty by-products. Some of my worse homebrews turned out better than this.

EDIT: The harshness lessens after a bit, but there's still a raw grassiness that's a turn-off, & a drinker shouldn't have to wade through that mess to get to something remotely decent. I'm bumping it up a bit, but damn.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2013 01:44:51 | More by OneDropSoup

durwood64

Ohio

1.75/5  rDev -47.4%

11-10-2012 00:09:25 | More by durwood64

DrBier

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev +5.1%

01-01-2012 00:33:02 | More by DrBier

Exiled

Texas

4/5  rDev +20.1%

12-09-2011 05:16:41 | More by Exiled

ONUMello

Ohio

4/5  rDev +20.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into a pint glass
A: Burnt orange color; thin head that quickly dissipates
S: Orange and butterscotch
M: More orange and butterscotch, also clove. I think this is the least sour Indigo Imp I've ever had.
M: Medium bodied and very balanced compared to other beers from II.
O: I enjoyed this; this is from the 2011 summer batch, it appears all those below are from 2010. II says the beers can vary from batch to batch.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2011 05:07:49 | More by ONUMello

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4/5  rDev +20.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I decided to have two more tastings before a long cutoff. This was the first and was done solo, served cold and into a pint glass, these were consumed on 11/18/2010.

The last of the night for me as it had gone on long enough. I had been staring at this in the fridge for a while and decided to go for it. A nice pour with a light amber color and loads of haziness to it. Really a very nicely done and well crafted offering I have to admit. Aroma is full of citrus hops, pears, hints of banana, and a really nice and mellow light graininess that does not come across as too heavy and keeps the hops in check. Much light then I thought it would be on the feel for sure, really nicely done and kept it very drinkable from the start. Again nice mellow hops balanced against a really well done yeast profile.

Overall a very drinkable and nice, lighter nightcap for the evening.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2010 04:49:18 | More by mikesgroove

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

2.33/5  rDev -30%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Poured into snifter

Pours a light layer of off-white head. Color is an amber brown. Hazed.

Aroma: Very Sharp and spiced. The hops are very grassy, kind of weedy. Has some Belgian notes, but overall this beer just isn't flowing.

Taste: Boozy, weedy, grassy, bitter, spiced, yeasty. The hops are definitely off here. It has some caramel and biscuity malts.

Mouthfeel: Bitter and creamy. Medium bodied with a medium amount of carbonation. A bit boozy. Ends dry and grassy.

Overall, I am not to big of a fan of this one. The hop profile doesn't work with this year. It doesn't taste like many of the other belgian ipas I have had. Not very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2010 23:08:25 | More by mothman

kbutler1

Minnesota

3/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Bottle. Pours a slightly hazed rust orange amber color with a big bubbled white 1 finger head that settles rather quickly. Pretty malty aroma with notes of biscuit and caramel. Minimal hops. Medium mouthfeel. The taste has a sweet start with flavors of caramel and some spice. Hops kick in at the end with a slight bitterness. Ends with a lingering bitterness.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2010 22:59:15 | More by kbutler1

Ricochet

Ohio

3.6/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

I've never slammed a brewery, but I have a suggestion for this one: Born On Dates. First beer was their pale ale and I only continued with my review because other reviews were all over the board. Second was "Gate Keeper" and only had a few sips and didn't review because it was sour and I'd only be slamming what appears a freshness issue. So when I got the slight note with this, and then I sampled, I decided this one must have been fresher because the sour has only just begun.

A:Dark amber, little head, carbonation refreshes the thin lace.

S: The banana/clove scent was at the front and then an oatmeal like finish

M: Strong overhead alcohol with bitter on either side and long lasting bitterness at the end.

T: "Belgian Style India Pale Ale" ..this must be the first I've ever had of the style. The banana is there with a bready back like banana bread in a glass only with the clove like a spike and hops coming through finishing off this nicely. The sour note was slight, again with that olive oil sour but the alcohol masks this well enough.

D: I think I couldn't drink more that one of these. Okay I guess, but not for me.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2010 01:52:05 | More by Ricochet

Mora2000

Texas

3.68/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to blutt59 for sharing this bottle. This is my first beer from Indigo Imp.

The beer pours a yellow-amber color with a white head. The aroma is toffee, orange and cinnamon. The flavor is caramel malt, grassy hops and orange citrus hops. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2010 01:20:25 | More by Mora2000

jampics2

Ohio

2.58/5  rDev -22.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Dark orange and cloudy. This looks lifeless except for just a touch of hazy white foam around the edges. Average at best, please pour carefully as there are NASTY dregs at the bottom of the bottle.

Smells like caramel and spice, actually a very allspice vibe. Apples and sourness round it out. Not a Belgian IPA at all

Taste is nasty to me, with a rotten sweet malt, medium bitterness, and spice. Not good, just missing what makes a Belgian IPA for me - lighter base that's clean and sweet, dryer yeast with perhaps some bubblegum, and the citrus hops. This doesn't have any of those things.

Mouthfeel is OK. Drinkability suffers because of the weird taste. Not something I'd ever want again.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2010 18:57:17 | More by jampics2

Stigs

Pennsylvania

3.03/5  rDev -9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

12oz bottle, served in a standard pint glass

A - pours with nary any foam, quickly settles to a barely there layer of film at the top of the glass. the beer is very hazy, cider-like in color.

S - some fruits (apples, pears, banana), light spice...some very minor citrus hops.

T - very fruity again, notably apples and some lemon zest...pretty big pine-heavy hop bitterness. light caramel and crackery malt underneath. spicy finish.

M - awkwardly thick syrupy body, dull carbonation. finishes with some very biting piney hops and alcohol burn.

D - wasnt a fan. dull and lifeless on the eyes and nose, and just weird from there on out. could barely make it through half the bottle.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2010 18:21:29 | More by Stigs

HeightsEats

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This is a good beer, but calling it an IPA is a bit misleading. Pours a hazy brown, smell is yeasty with just a hint of hops. The flavor is clearly open fermented Belgian-style with just enough hoppiness to slightly counterbalance the subtly sour yeasty flavors, but the bitterness is even less noticeable than in a typical pale ale. Flying Dog's Raging Bitch more distinctly combines the Belgian and IPA flavors. There must be some label better matching this beer than IPA. This is very thirst quenching and drinkable, especially on a hot day. Of the Indigo Imp mix pack--which includes a wit and candi sugar Belgian--this is probably my least favorite.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2010 01:36:47 | More by HeightsEats

wyattshotmaker

Ohio

3.93/5  rDev +18%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

this beer has a cool name.

poured into a dfh chalice. nice amber color, head isn't much of anything. nose has this big fruity ester profile, reminds me of sweet tarts but in a good way. has a bit of a juicy fruit like thing going on too. overall pretty intriguing.

similar to the nose, big fruity esters coupled with a citrusy hop flavor. nice one too punch. the esters aren't out of control though. bit of sweetness balances out the hops/esters. the finish almost citrus/juicy fruit like flavor then turns to a pleasant mineral like flavor.

could use a bit more carbonation maybe that will come with a little bit more time in the bottle.medium to lower body in terms of mouthfeel. drinkability is good. i could have a few of these no problem.

a pleasant surprise. worth seeking out this variety pack imo.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2010 03:08:46 | More by wyattshotmaker

adamette

Ohio

3.2/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from one of the 12 oz. bottles that I bought as a part of the "small batch sampler pack" at Heinen's in Willoughby Hills, Ohio yesterday, the 12 pack box cost of $21.99. Poured into my Cooperstown Beverage Trail pint glass from the bottle which features a "fire" background to the familiar blue with yellow highlights of an Indigo Imp label. No observed "best by" date but this sampler pack was just released so I am sure that it is fine (mine is the first review of the beer anyhow!).

From the card provided in the sampler pack: 6.9% ABV A light amber ale brewed with international ingredients for an Impish take on the India Pale Ale. Malt and light fruit flavors from the yeast are balanced by a bitterness that leaves you wanting more.

A Attractive brown orange body under a too-brief creamy off white head. I have noticed that many of the Indigo Imp beers have heads that are too short lived. Is that part of the "bottled conditioned real ale" experience? The color and clarity (it is opaque) of the body is attractive though. 3.5

S Pleasing Belgian yeast and light spices over a lightly sweet malt background but no hops to my nose. I like the pumpkin like or nutmeg "dark spice" smell. It reminds me of some of the better autumn beers. 4.0

T The Belgian yeast taste comes through and the "autumn" like spices are prominent. Hops are able to be tasted but they are rather buried among many of the other tastes. This is an odd tasting beer that is not easy for me to describe. Repeated sips reveal a bit of a Belgian flanders sour aspect. Reviewing other beers in the Indigo Imp lineup (at least considering the reviews here on BA anyway) reveals that others have noticed this sour taste in other beers, most notably an aged Gatekeeper. Again, I would not be surprised if that taste is due to the brewing process that many of the beers at Indigo Imp go through (the open fermentation...). Overall the taste is probably a 3.5 but I will provide my rating to style which is a Belgian IPA and therefore it is 2.5

M Some good smoothness and thickness which I like and I find in other Belgian styles (most notably a hearty Witbier) as well as something like a Grand Cru. 4.0

D Fair to good. I finished the 12 oz. bottle within a few minutes. Manageable ABV helps that too. 3.5

Notes: I will support Indigo Imp, of the newest breweries in Cleveland and I hope that they continue to thrive and perfect their craft.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2010 00:42:22 | More by adamette