Dragonmead Crown Jewels India Pale Ale - Dragonmead Microbrewery

brentk56

North Carolina

2.35/5  rDev -36%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

Appearance: Pours a hazy amber color with a tight-bubbled cap that performs like a champ, retaining and lacing

Smell: Really fruity, with an overripe apple character as well as an earthy, dishwater tone

Taste: Opens all over the place, with the overripe apple, herbacious mineral water and spearminty tone; after the swallow, the spearmint tends to dominate the other flavors; perhaps some acetone in here as well

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: Not particularly good, unfortunately

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2010 02:31:50 | More by brentk56

BMoney575

Michigan

2.95/5  rDev -19.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Sampled on 3-10-07

Pours a reddish brown with an intense amount of floaters. Extremely thin head lingers.

Smell is very bready with an almost sour quality.

Taste isn't bad, a noticeable sweetness followed by a fair amount of floral hop flavor. The bitterness blends very well with the flavor.

Mouthfeel is decent, a little thicker like an IPA should be.

Drinkability is decent, a little too sweet.

Overall a decent beer. Nowhere near worth the $3.39 I paid for the bottle. You can do a lot better for the style.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2007 03:11:42 | More by BMoney575

rudylaw

Illinois

3/5  rDev -18.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Copper pour with a gushing head. Had to wait a long time for it to settle down.

Smells grassy and malty. There are some hops here but those are muted. Tastes pretty much the same with some caramel and biscuit flavors making an appearance but this is the epitome of average. I'm bored with this beer which means a boring review.

I can see the drinkability being better than average, but I don't need to have another one of these. It's an IPA which would get lost among the dozens and dozens of better ones out there.

Serving type: bottle

08-20-2009 00:23:23 | More by rudylaw

mikesgroove

South Carolina

3.05/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Another local goodie I received as an extra recently. This one I decided to crack open last night with dinner. Served cold and poured into a pint glass, it was consumed on 06/03/2009.
.
The pour was decent, rich copper amber in color with a nice head of white coming up and over the top of the glass that settled down with a nice amount of lacing up and down the sides of the glass. Aroma was all over the place. Light herbal notes, a touch of grass and citrus and a deep malt bill, but seemed to me to be a bit mashed up to really make an impression in any one way or another. Smooth, even flavor but again nothing to write home about, it just seemed to really not dominate in any one way.
 
Overall forgettable. Not terrible but it was painfully average. I would not really go for it again.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2009 20:46:23 | More by mikesgroove

LilBeerDoctor

New York

3.05/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Reviewed on 6/19/2010. On tap at the brewery. Pours a clear orange with a small white head. Aroma of caramel malt, crystal malt, and a slight hint of citrus. Flavor of caramel malt, sweet malt, some sweaty hops but mostly this was dominated by the caramel malt. Much too sweet for an IPA and not to my liking.

Serving type: on-tap

12-23-2010 23:26:54 | More by LilBeerDoctor

hopdog

Pennsylvania

3.08/5  rDev -16.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

On tap at the Dragonmead Brew Pub.

Poured a medium amber color with a smaller sized off white head. Aromas of citrus, earthy, and with some caramel. Tastes of the same citrus, earthiness, and toasted caramel. Not really bitter and definitely a British Style IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

01-03-2009 03:41:08 | More by hopdog

MABZ

Nebraska

3.15/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This is probably the least IPA-ish IPA I've tried since my first attempt at homebrewing. It pours to a very dark color and lacks enough hops to even make it an English IPA. Weird.

The beer pours to a nutty brownish amber color. Still fairly clear and supporting a thin white head that recedes to nothing. If I was handed this in a blind tasting, at no point would I venture to guess this beer is an IPA.

The aroma is not exactly pleasant either. Has that "homebrew flavor" to it, in both the nose and the taste. Like malt extract maybe. Smells a bit buttery with very little hops. Oh... silly English people. How something like this could have evolved into the beautiful American IPA boggles my mind, but I'm glad it happened. Because if this is what I thought an IPA was supposed to be, I'd probably never want to try another.

It doesn't make too terrible of an amber ale, or an irish red or something. Either way, it's not getting past mediocre, if that. I have one or two more Dragonmead beers sitting in my DBF awaiting judgement, but so far I have not been pleased with this brewery. Oh well.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2006 07:58:25 | More by MABZ

brewcrew76

Wisconsin

3.18/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

$2.69 for a single seemed a little pricey

A - Murky copper, amber, brown with a thin tan head.

S - Caramel, buttery diacetyl and a very faint spicy hop.

T - Biscuit, sugary caramel, buttery, the slightest touch of floral hops. The hops are hard to pick out.

M - Thin to medium and a little watery.

D - Don't think I would give this one another try.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2007 00:58:58 | More by brewcrew76

MuddyFeet

North Carolina

3.2/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Another bottle thanks to tangfoot.

Pours a murky wood-stain brown. Thick head that holds up well. Lace just coats the inside of the glass in thick layers. Nose is a bit like wet paper. Not carboard but wet newspaper.

Flavor is heavy on the malts--particularly caramel. Hops would rise wuickly to provide balance before dissipitating and not leaving much in a balance that sustains throughout. Medium body and maybe a bit sticky even. Decent enough for the style but there is something missing to make this a more noteable beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2007 20:24:34 | More by MuddyFeet

MIBeerRanger4

Michigan

3.28/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

This was reccomended to me at a recent tasting event. It's an English style IPA. It poured very foamy from the bottle.

A= Deep amber color, lot's of rich foamy head. The beer never settled down and laced the glass like crazy.

S= Very malty with little hop nose at all.. lacking on the nose for sure.

T= Again, too malty for my liking but much better balance of malt and hop in the taste than on the nose. Second and third sips were better than the original front taste.

M= Good but a bit too heavy. Leaves mouth feeling malt coated.

O= Did not hate this beer but don't really have much good to say either. Average at best. I think I would like this beer much better if I were drinking it with some food. Not a beer that I would order or buy.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2011 19:34:29 | More by MIBeerRanger4

jdoolin

Ohio

3.3/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Thanks to sopor for the sample!

Presentation: 12oz bottle, poured into imperial pint glass.

Appearance: Dark copper, with a 3 finger, frothy, fluffy tan head that dissipated very slowly. Very nice lacing.

Aroma: Ahh.. smells like an English IPA. Very nice malt aroma and floral hop.

Taste: The first few sips were utterly delightful. Bready malts, caramel, toast. Assertive hop bitterness, but a subdued hop flavor. The bitterness lingered, however. After the first few sips, I found it difficult to taste the wonderful malts from before. Smooth, slightly creamy mouthfeel.

Notes: If the whole beer tasted like the first few sips, this would have gotten a much higher rating. But the bitterness just sort of took over and dominated.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2006 05:08:22 | More by jdoolin

jujubeast6000

Texas

3.33/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Reviewed 10/26/2007 (Sampler @ Dragonmead Brewery, Warren, MI):

Pours a clear brown colored body, with a small head, whitish colored. Has a hoppy aroma, with some grapefruit. Not too strong. Hoppy sweet nutty taste, balanced. Slight bitter aftertaste. Tasty but a little sour.

Serving type: on-tap

02-22-2009 19:34:20 | More by jujubeast6000

organicbrewer

Pennsylvania

3.35/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A-Full copper. Clear. Very tiny tan head.

S-toasty malt. some stone fruit esters. low hop aroma.

T-moderatly bitter. Fairly sweet. Carmally malt and some biscuit. Moderate earthy hop flavor.

M-feels thick for an IPA. low carbonation ok. No alcohol burn.

D-Nice beer. Could be dried out a bit more, seemed sweet even for an english ipa.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2010 19:29:15 | More by organicbrewer

JordanEllwanger

Michigan

3.38/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Deep copper and cloudy amber in tone with a big bubbly off white head leaving little ridges if lace. A small amount of sediment at the bottom of the bottle, just enough to take away most of the ale's transparency. Smells is very fruity and sweet drizzled in hops. Tastes like hops up front with a very watery grapefruit aftertaste. Lots of citrus sting and bitter bite. That dirt grapefruit taste covers my tongue. Nice and citrusy.
Cheers.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2010 07:15:40 | More by JordanEllwanger

superspak

Michigan

3.38/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12 ounce bottle into pint glass, no bottle dating. Pours super hazy reddish orange color with a huge 2-3 finger light khaki head with insane retention that reduces to a thick cap that lingers. Loud hiss upon opening, and it took a while to pour this one. A lot of carbonation. Decent lacing on the glass. Aromas of orange, caramel, lemon zest, bread, pineapple, and herbal hops. Very malty aromas with decent strength. Taste of orange, caramel, biscuit, floral, lemon, herbal hops, pine, light tropical fruit, and a touch of pepper. Good amount of bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of citrus, biscuit, herbal, and caramel on the finish for a bit. Very good malt balance with the bitterness make this easily drinkable for 7%. Medium-high carbonation and medium bodied; with a creamy, slick, and fairly crisp mouthfeel. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a slight warming after the finish present. Overall this is a pretty good IPA. Definitely drinkable and balanced.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2012 01:52:10 | More by superspak

CRJMellor

Arkansas

3.4/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured hyper clear amber color with some red highlights and smallish tan head. Minor shet of lace on the glass.
Aroma was some buttery diacetyl, some caramel and a whiff of spiced hop. Little mellow for an IPA.
Flavor has some bready/biscuit malt notes along with just a hint of caramel. Sweet to some extent with no really hop bite at all.
Mouthfeel was sweet and more sweet. No balance whatsoever with any hops.
Drinkability was OK but this is no where near and IPA. Sort of amber if anything. But disappointing when expecting an IPA but a semi-tasty brew nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2006 16:29:16 | More by CRJMellor

david131

Michigan

3.4/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- A deep, rusty orange liquid with a lot of small floaters. The off white head rises and falls pretty quickly and leaves a splotchy, thin covering.

S- Lots of caramel malt and a touch of citrus. Pretty mild smelling.

T- Caramel, citrus, and grass. There is a bit of alcohol noticeable as well. The bitterness is kept in check and coincides well with the flavors. Still, a bit mild.

M- A nice amount of carbonation and an almost oily bitterness from the hops.

D- An enjoyable take on the style. I'm still more of a fan of the American IPA.

Serving type: bottle

07-02-2009 03:16:25 | More by david131

BierFan

Michigan

3.43/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into a pint glass. I don't see any freshness date on the bottle.

One finger of light tan head lasts longer than I thought it would. Hazy orange/brown body. Malty and citrusy aroma. Smooth feel with quite a bit of citrus rind flavor. Nothing about it really wowed me but it's a solid example of Michigan IPA's.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2009 01:02:23 | More by BierFan

Wildman

Ohio

3.43/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

This beer poured a murky light amber color and formed a large foamy off white head that coated the glass with lace as it subsided. A small amount of sediment is present. A mild aroma of hops and citrus. The flavor was of hops, pine and candy. The body was medium light and the finish was bittersweet. Really sweeter than I like my IPAs.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2009 02:47:30 | More by Wildman

BrewerB

California

3.43/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to michiganbrewer for the hookup on this one!

Pours a hazy, light amber with a thin, very light tan head resting on top and holding up well. A toasty/caramel malt presence hit the nose first followed up with floral hoppiness. Moderately bittered, the flavor seems again skewed towards malts. Toasty with a touch of breadiness, spicy alcohol, mild hop presence focused on floral characters. Medium bodied with a moderate level of carbonation.

Overall a decent example of the style but more focus on hop flavor would help increase enjoyment.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2011 02:47:04 | More by BrewerB

mcallister

Ohio

3.45/5  rDev -6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Thick caramel colored. Bad pour results in no head but you get the feeling this beer screams drink me.

A caramel malt backbone with grapefruit, lemon, tangerine zest, and other citrus notes. A bit floral as well.

Not the biggest most complex IPA but a very nicely balanced one and hell it is an English style. Citrus hops covered in caramel, or just plain candied, sweetness is a bit cloying. Could have used more carbonation as well to help round things out. A flat keg?

Serving type: on-tap

05-01-2007 20:39:41 | More by mcallister

TheBungyo

Washington

3.48/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Thanks to Northertimber for this one!

Pours dark autumn colors into my La Fin Du Monde glass. Head is a solid half inch but sadly leaves no lacing as I taste.

Nose is rich malt, like sugary berries coupled with orange from the hops. Pretty nice, but not in the realm of good IPA's here in the US. This is closer to a barleywine but not strong or weak enough in the hops to be of either the English or American variety.

Taste is nice too. I get lots of caramel, orange and maybe a bit of lime and toffee. It's nice but I'll never think of this when I thirst for an IPA.

Mouth is lush like the floor floor of a jungle. Sadly drinkability suffers as this is NOT on par with American IPA's even though I love the way it tastes.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2007 07:07:47 | More by TheBungyo

GbVDave

Illinois

3.48/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a 20oz imperial pint.

A: Pours a nice tarnished-copper color. Huge bubbly head! About four inches worth. Off-white head eventually settles and leaves a lot of lace blanketing the glass.

S: Strange combination of caramel malt and musty, dirty hops. Some citrus and wet dirt aromas as well.

T: Caramel malt and bitter, citrus hops dominate. Decent balance between sweet, spicy and bitter.

M: Creamy and prickly. Spicy hops play on the tongue long after the mouthfull is swallowed.

D: Drinkability is good, but it loses points because of the strange aromas with this. The aroma reminds me of some of the "off" bottles of XX Bitter I've had. Would do in a pinch, but definitely not my first choice.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2007 22:35:35 | More by GbVDave

sweemzander

Illinois

3.48/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12oz. bottle poured into a tulip glass. No bottled date.

(A)- Pours a hazy reddish amber. Minimal sized off-white to yellow head with great retention.

(S)- Very dry pine funk with a respectable malt backbone.

(T)- Initial hop bitterness quickly followed by a really dry middle with a fairly creamy and rich malty finish. Citrus of a funky grapefruit & lemon.

(M)- Great carbonation level implemented with the rest of the beer. Good creamy factor paired with the immense dry and hoppy dimension.

(D)- A good IPA that isnt too earthshattering, yet good hop and malt balance. Not too shabby. I would certainly try it again. My only gripe is that I have no idea hold old or fresh it is due to no bottled date.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2009 00:37:00 | More by sweemzander

zoso1967

Michigan

3.48/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Crown Jewels pours a very deep and tawny amber color with a reddish hue to it. The beer is a bit cloudy and supports a great looking head that has wonderful retention and leaves nice lace.

The aroma consists mainly of floral and slightly citrusy hops with a bit of bready malt sweetness and some toffee. Without even looking it up it is obvious that this is an English style IPA, but with an American twist.

The flavor similar to the aroma with a barrage of floral and orange hop character hitting my taste buds right off the bat and then transitioning to a bready and toffee like malt character. The brew is very well balanced with the hops and malt complimenting each other, but I find that this beer has a bit too much of a minerally profile in it and is perhaps just a bit on the sweet side.

The mouthfeel is on the fuller side of medium with a good amount of carbonation. It finishes very well with a fairly unassuming aftertaste and a good balance between sweet and dry.

This beer is fairly drinkable, but I found it to be a bit confusing. Is it English or American? Hoppy or Malty? It just did not really satisfy me in terms of a total package. The quality may have been there, as were some very nice flavors, but it just left me only partially impressed.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2011 02:13:52 | More by zoso1967