Alimony Ale - Buffalo Bill's Brewery

Alimony AleAlimony Ale

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BA SCORE
78
average
-
242 Ratings
THE BROS
89
good
-
read more »
rAvg: 3.4
pDev: 17.06%
Reviews: 123
Hads: 119

Ratings Help


Brewed by:
Buffalo Bill's Brewery visit their website
California, United States

Style | ABV
American IPA |  6.80% ABV

Availability: Year-round. bottle (121), on-tap (2)

Notes:
Buffalo Bill's Alimony Ale was originally brewed back in 1987 for a customer going through a divorce. It has gained reputation as one of the most eccentric brews, from reports in the Wall Street Journal and Newsweek. No longer one of the bitterest beers in America, just one of the best.
View:  Beers  (9) |  Reviews  (10) |  Events  (0)

Reviews

Sort by:  Latest | High | Low | Top Reviewers | Read the Alström Bros Beer Reviews and Beer Ratings of Alimony Ale Alström Bros  | Show Hads:
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Reviews by SmLance:
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SmLance

Arizona

3/5  rDev -11.8%

07-07-2012 18:05:14 | More by SmLance
More User Reviews:
Photo of MidwestBA
MidwestBA

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -4.4%

05-18-2013 02:34:34 | More by MidwestBA
Photo of TonyTalon
TonyTalon

Wisconsin

3/5  rDev -11.8%

05-18-2013 02:33:09 | More by TonyTalon
Photo of Remdog
Remdog

Massachusetts

3.25/5  rDev -4.4%

05-10-2013 00:57:31 | More by Remdog
Photo of KYGunner
KYGunner

Kentucky

3.73/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Coppery color with a dense, thick head this IPA sets up quite nicely. The head was roughly a fingers width, creamy and pronounced it sat atop for the entire experience.

The scent was quite simple. An almost metallic malt aroma there is a certain spiciness but far too light to discern what spice.

The taste is dry, malty and even a touch fruity. Possibly cinnamon spice with a lemon zest, the malt breadiness and cracker dryness are near the front. There is a strange metallic taste and feel near the end.

Overall a very well constructed ale that could use a few more hops to truly set it apart.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 00:45:13 | More by KYGunner
Photo of beernads
beernads

Florida

2/5  rDev -41.2%

05-08-2013 08:16:50 | More by beernads
Photo of blknikon
blknikon

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev +2.9%

05-08-2013 00:08:25 | More by blknikon
Photo of DarthGuitarHero
DarthGuitarHero

Minnesota

3.75/5  rDev +10.3%

04-29-2013 16:03:08 | More by DarthGuitarHero
Photo of spycow
spycow

Illinois

3/5  rDev -11.8%

04-28-2013 22:22:30 | More by spycow
Photo of Omnium
Omnium

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Bottle > Lagunitas Mason

A - Pours hazy copper big two finger off white head, and some nice dense lacing.
S - Big on caramel malt here, some interesting spices though, definitely a little cinnamon and some spruce, really earthy hop scents coming off this one, and a little banana at the end.
T - I really let this beer warm up to close to room temp, just a bit cool and it got better as it did. Aggressive earthy almost herbal hop bite that comes after the big sweet caramel malt wave that hits you, then you get some pine and those mixed spices. This really isnt as bad as everyone is making it out to be, that said there is a slight plastic taste to it. I dont know if there's any Belgian yeast in this, but it has a slight quality in that sense at the finish.
M - Too sticky sweet for your average IPA, but there is some lingering bitterness.
O - I dont see how everyone is making this out to be a terrible beer, no its not your standard IPA, but it sure is unique in a lot of ways. If Buffalo Bill's could find out what is causing that weird artificial or plastic taste and remove that, that'd be a great step in the right direction.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2013 00:34:07 | More by Omnium
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mcewesr

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -11.8%

04-22-2013 20:57:02 | More by mcewesr
Photo of hurdjg
hurdjg

Iowa

3.25/5  rDev -4.4%

04-21-2013 14:36:01 | More by hurdjg
Photo of mobud
mobud

Delaware

3.5/5  rDev +2.9%

04-20-2013 22:07:54 | More by mobud
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Rozyravens

Texas

1.75/5  rDev -48.5%

04-02-2013 20:45:52 | More by Rozyravens
Photo of Boilerbrando
Boilerbrando

Kentucky

2/5  rDev -41.2%

03-26-2013 23:32:03 | More by Boilerbrando
Photo of freduardo
freduardo

Alabama

3.25/5  rDev -4.4%

03-21-2013 01:50:14 | More by freduardo
Photo of tectactoe
tectactoe

Michigan

3.39/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25

Pours a hazy amber color with some orange-ish highlight streaming along the sides of the glass. The foamy and chunky, ever-so-slightly beige cap rests quietly at about a quarter-inch as it leaves some thick and spotty lacing on the way down, especially near the top of the glass.

Alimony Ale smells pretty good. It's packed neatly with a caramel-laden network of malts; bready, sweet, and graham cracker-ish, upon which a brighter wave of hop flavors coast through your nostrils - light citrus, grapefruit, and orange peels leading the way. There's a solid balance and harmony of malt and hops, for sure, but this beer is lacking any real punchline or "it factor" that would make it stand out to me amongst a lineup of other, readily available IPAs. Maybe I'm being too hard on it... I haven't even tasted it yet.

But it tastes pretty much like I expect. Again, not a "bad" thing, in any sense of the work. Bread, light caramel, and graham cracker malt rolls out a carpet across the palate, opening with a bit of sweetness and mouth-coating stickiness. The hops aren't far behind at all, and quickly follow up with a one-two combo of grapefruit and pine resin. Pith-like and peel-y is the fruit profile as the leafy, piney, and oily nature of the hops play in the background. Medium-ish body with a slightly sticky and oily mouth feel. Medium-high carbonation provides a neat little snap on the tongue that cuts through the slick body just a bit.

I like hop profiles that are densely resinous and piney, but again - this one falls just short of packing an acceptable wallop. It doesn't cut my tongue enough. It doesn't spark my senses like an IPA should. And at 6.8% ABV, I'd rather choose a Pale Ale with less alcohol and just as much, if not MORE flavor. Alimony Ale isn't bad or offensive at all, but it gives me no reason to walk in the store and choose it over the myriad of other IPAs that I could walk away with for the same price or flavor. You get the point.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 16:37:49 | More by tectactoe
Photo of countrocula
countrocula

New Jersey

1.68/5  rDev -50.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

I don't know if I got an old sixer of this stuff... and believe me... I am one to get pretty verbose in my reviews, but all that comes to mind on this wretched brew is that it STINKS. Totally gross stale malt flavor. The nose was like grandpa's rayon blend slacks that he hasn't laundered in 30 years. I almost barfed from this. First time in 15 years that I discarded 3 unopened bottles. The other two I shot with a 12 gauge.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 17:56:40 | More by countrocula
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gtermi

Texas

3.5/5  rDev +2.9%

03-15-2013 03:44:40 | More by gtermi
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TheBeerAlmanac

Kentucky

3/5  rDev -11.8%

03-14-2013 19:56:12 | More by TheBeerAlmanac
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Cvescalante

Texas

3.5/5  rDev +2.9%

03-11-2013 19:51:52 | More by Cvescalante
Photo of jniagar1
jniagar1

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +10.3%

03-04-2013 23:59:09 | More by jniagar1
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sixerofelixir

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev +10.3%

02-27-2013 19:41:57 | More by sixerofelixir
Photo of Tex-Mex08
Tex-Mex08


3.75/5  rDev +10.3%

02-27-2013 02:52:40 | More by Tex-Mex08
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MarshMan71

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -4.4%

02-24-2013 02:49:33 | More by MarshMan71
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Alimony Ale from Buffalo Bill's Brewery
78 out of 100 based on 242 user ratings.