Rampant Imperial IPA - New Belgium Brewing

JamesMN

Minnesota

4.23/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Fresh off the truck.

Appearance: Crystal clear golden/bronze hue with a one finger frothy off-white head. Some effervescence slowly making its way to the top up the center of the glass.

Aroma: Similar to their Ranger IPA, there is a soapy hop character. Some sugary malt sweetness and a hint of pineapple juice. Just a touch of tea leaves as well.

Taste: Very cool hop character to this one and different from Ranger. Starts with medium bitterness and some crystal malt flavor but nothing impressive in the first half. Ends very well though with straight up honey-dew melon hop flavor in the second half and finish. The hop flavor evolves slightly and gives a herbal quality at times. There is a nice sugary barley character which keeps the hops in check. At 8.5% ABV and 85 IBUs I was expecting a bigger beer but the alcohol is completely hidden and the chosen hops give much more flavor than bitterness. Although as time goes on you do get a subtle heat from the alcohol and a sort of prickly feeling on the palate (and this coming from a huge hophead like myself). All around it is quite succulent but the sweetness can become cloying.

Mouthfeel: Just above medium in body but feels lighter due to the bright flavors. Exceptionally smooth carbonation and softness on the palate. Above average drinkability.

Final Thoughts: If this is a seasonal then I'll be on board for each years release. If not, then I'll probably pick up a sixer with each fresh shipment. Luckily New Belgium puts an expiration date on all their bottles as freshness is probably key for enjoyment of this West Coast IPA. Melon hop flavor is one of the most delicious in my opinion and I find myself both happy and surprised the Rampant Imperial IPA nails it. Would I drink it again? Yes.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2013 02:48:14 | More by JamesMN

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

flagmantho

Washington

3.64/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from 12oz bottle into a pint glass. Best by 11 August 2013.

Appearance: medium golden hue with a clear body and a strong effervescence. Head is two fingers of frothy ivory foam. A good looking brewski!

Smell: sweet malt with a funky hop character. The aroma manages to smell like a strong beer but be mild in intensity. It also lacks complexity; decent, but a bit one-note for the style.

Taste: again, pretty sweet, although not overly malty in balance. Hop character remains a little funky, although it's also a little resiny with a hint of grapefruit as well. Actually pretty well-crafted, although perhaps a bit tame for a DIPA.

Mouthfeel: medium body with an OK carbonation and a moderate creaminess. Refreshing enough, but the texture doesn't grab me.

Overall: not a bad beer, but I feel like the brewers went more for mass appeal than pushing boundaries -- which is what DIPAs are all about.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 18:12:04 | More by flagmantho

Ajlvt

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +7.5%

05-19-2013 15:17:01 | More by Ajlvt

DannyDan

Michigan

4.75/5  rDev +27.7%

05-19-2013 12:16:33 | More by DannyDan

BlackBelt5112203

South Carolina

4/5  rDev +7.5%

05-19-2013 10:48:07 | More by BlackBelt5112203

jesus808

California

4/5  rDev +7.5%

05-19-2013 07:34:59 | More by jesus808

brewandbbq

New Hampshire

3.79/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

22oz bottle, best before date of July 2013..So in other words I have no idea when this was bottled.

Pours hazy brass with a copper hue and an inch-plus head. Plenty of stringy lacing and a partial skim coat for the duration.

Aromatics lead off with pine, grapefruit, and cut grass. Hoppy enough for an IPA, but not a IIPA.

Medium bodied with a crisp, zippy mouthfeel.

Pine-rubbed grapefruit and a hint of wet hay start the palate. Light malt and a solid bitterness offer some balance.

Finishes dry with lingering pine, grapefruit, and a bit spicy.

Pretty mediocre for a IIPA. The combination of hops is nothing spectacular and the nose is lacking in particular.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 23:44:47 | More by brewandbbq

bzach

Indiana

3.75/5  rDev +0.8%

05-18-2013 23:08:30 | More by bzach

irish01980

South Carolina

3.25/5  rDev -12.6%

05-18-2013 17:51:54 | More by irish01980

BeastLU

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev +0.8%

05-18-2013 15:50:42 | More by BeastLU

Drew26

Wisconsin

3.5/5  rDev -5.9%

05-18-2013 03:12:23 | More by Drew26

GFish

Virginia

3.25/5  rDev -12.6%

05-18-2013 00:29:37 | More by GFish

bexley10

North Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -5.9%

05-17-2013 20:53:00 | More by bexley10

jewellrunner

Missouri

3.75/5  rDev +0.8%

05-17-2013 19:08:16 | More by jewellrunner

BigGingDrinker

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev +0.8%

05-17-2013 18:35:54 | More by BigGingDrinker

EROCK75

Illinois

4/5  rDev +7.5%

05-17-2013 17:06:08 | More by EROCK75

iHeartMNBeer

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +14.2%

05-17-2013 04:56:02 | More by iHeartMNBeer

MickeyMonk

Arizona

3.75/5  rDev +0.8%

05-17-2013 01:07:44 | More by MickeyMonk