Rampant Imperial IPA - New Belgium Brewing

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

4.08/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into a New Belgium globe.
8.5% ABV, 07JUL13 printed on label.

A - Tan hues encase a goldenrod colored beer that's clear enough to show off the trickle of carbonation streaming from the glass' etching to the tall, frothy off white head. Great retention! As the bubbles loosen, chunky webbing is left caked to the globe.

S - Rampant's unique hop aroma blends quite a few varieties of hops for a decidedly American burst of combined citrus and earthiness. Tropical pineapple and mango fruit meld with pine sap and honey sweetness but a hint of that overly Simcoe-hopped cat pee smell starts to peek out in front of the big malty base. While hop-forward, one thing that sets Rampant apart is it's sturdy groundwork of malt; dry, flaky biscuit and undertones of sticky caramel.

T - Sticky sweet pilsner malt flanks the dry biscuit notes which lie behind the burst of citrus hops while earthy suggestions of pine and dirt slowly creep into the scene. Tropical pineapple and mango fruit are showcased though, really powering forwards in the flavor.

M - Crisp and sharp, Rampant balances the big malty body well with a barrage of carbonation and bold dry hop bitterness. Additionally, alcohol aids in drying the finish of this medium-full bodied beer out while remaining otherwise invisible.

O - I feel like saying New Belgium is a little late to the double IPA party with Rampant is somewhat uncool due to their pioneering nature but, by this point, producing a really captivating and wowing double IPA within a saturated market is hard. I enjoy the bigger malt base which keeps this beer from being too hoppy - at first - but I find it inches towards the cloying side of the spectrum after a few gulps. An attempt is made to blend the tropical fruit "style" double with some of the earthier pine notes and it works out just fine, but in the end that's how I view this beer; "just fine". It's a nice, very well brewed, and accessible double IPA from a quality brewery, but I feel the hardcore hop-heads might be dissatisfied with this one.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2013 03:25:03 | More by BeerFMAndy

JeltMaaj

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev +0.8%

05-25-2013 01:57:41 | More by JeltMaaj

brwnchrstpher

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +0.8%

05-24-2013 23:23:41 | More by brwnchrstpher

Fatehunter

Oregon

3.69/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 2.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Poured a big (too big) foamy head. Clear, medium straw colored body.
Nice aroma of pine and lemon; a little blunted grapefruit.
The taste is a dry pine bitterness throughout with an underlying sweetness that takes the edge off the bitter. Nice balance.
The texture is crisp with low to moderate carbonation.
Excellent.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2013 23:13:05 | More by Fatehunter

Spaz7

California

4.5/5  rDev +21%

05-24-2013 22:28:10 | More by Spaz7

AlCaponeJunior

Texas

3.39/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25

Clear and tan, big white head that had good staying power.

Nose has tons of sharp hops notes, very earthy, slightly solventy, slightly metallic.

Flavor is intense bitterness, lots of strong hops flavor, some tropical fruit, plenty of earthiness, and again, a slightly metallic note.

Body is dry, medium, with pretty good carbonation and a strong bitter finish.

Overall it's pretty good but doesn't really stand out. The slightly metallic notes and intense bitterness without a lot to balance it out. It's not something I can drink more than one of in a sitting.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2013 21:53:06 | More by AlCaponeJunior

Jmick28

Texas

4/5  rDev +7.5%

05-24-2013 03:42:17 | More by Jmick28

WBMiller

California

2.5/5  rDev -32.8%

05-23-2013 23:50:27 | More by WBMiller

deadliest

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +14.2%

05-23-2013 20:12:46 | More by deadliest

csfcmitchell

Texas

4/5  rDev +7.5%

05-23-2013 16:01:46 | More by csfcmitchell

SocalKicks

California

3.75/5  rDev +0.8%

05-23-2013 03:37:27 | More by SocalKicks

fitzgerald88

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +14.2%

05-23-2013 02:56:49 | More by fitzgerald88

HardTarget

Texas

3.91/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Slight chill haze in an otherwise clear glass. Holds a good white cover that laces.

Smell: A sharp almost cheese note, sharp cheddar, on top of a truck of hops. Earthy, slightly soapy, with a European tonic water edge.

Taste: Pretty mild for all the hop flavors, finds a good balance, really just a good support as there isn't really any sweetness. Clean profile, long lasting leafy hop finish.

Mouthfeel: Light prickly carbonation, medium heavy body, oily finish.

Overall: A good beer, a little pedestrian for my tattooed tongue but that's not it's fault. Worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2013 00:47:26 | More by HardTarget

richkrull

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev +7.5%

05-22-2013 15:11:48 | More by richkrull

animal69

Louisiana

3.5/5  rDev -5.9%

05-22-2013 02:18:09 | More by animal69

acevenom

Louisiana

3.95/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a pint glass. The beer pours deep golden with a persistent white head and lots of streaming tiny bubbles. The beer has a hop aroma of pine, garlic, and mango with some bready malt. The taste is of some pine and mango from the hops with bready and toffee like malt character. The body is medium with moderate carbonation. The finish is a little dry with some back end hop bitterness coating the mouth. The drinkability is high. This is a very good beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 23:15:05 | More by acevenom

joshbrink

Alabama

3.75/5  rDev +0.8%

05-21-2013 15:44:11 | More by joshbrink

Mattyb79

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev +0.8%

05-21-2013 12:57:33 | More by Mattyb79

Disease

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +14.2%

05-21-2013 00:31:55 | More by Disease

dbell23

Tennessee

4.25/5  rDev +14.2%

05-20-2013 21:47:53 | More by dbell23

tennisoscar1

Delaware

3.25/5  rDev -12.6%

05-20-2013 21:21:50 | More by tennisoscar1

chrishensley

Texas

3.75/5  rDev +0.8%

05-20-2013 02:46:56 | More by chrishensley

Beejay

Virginia

3.2/5  rDev -14%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: A pale yellow straw color in the glass, crystal clear. Barely off white head on top.

S: Resiny with citrus. Orange and grapefruit peel come out first in the aroma. Light floral and honey aromas. There is a goo balance of citrus and hops, and sweetness.

T: The flavor is a bit odd to me. There is something interesting in the hop flavor.. I get the resin, I get the citrus and perhaps pine, but there is something lurking there that is throwing a red flag.. There is just a touch of a flavor that reminds me of dog breath. I'm not sure why, I'm not sure how, but there it is.. I'm on beer 4 of the 6 pack, and each time I try a new bottle the odd flavor persists.

M: Medium to medium thick in body, slightly syrupy. Carbonation is a tad low for me.

O: Overall I like the beer, but it isn't spectacular. Something odd in the hops puts me off of this beer, I've been a fan of a lot of other beers they have put out, but in a time when every brewery has a fairly solid IIPA, this one fell short.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 02:36:16 | More by Beejay

Falcone

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +14.2%

05-20-2013 00:38:05 | More by Falcone

shamrock071521

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev -5.9%

05-19-2013 18:49:29 | More by shamrock071521