Simple Malt IPA - Brasseurs Illimités

Ralphus

Ontario (Canada)

3.3/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

This one has a dark copper / light mahogany color depending the background. It's cloudy and the offwhite head settles to a small ring of foam. Some lacing.

The smell is spicy toffee malts with floral notes as well. Just ok.. not terribly interesting.

The taste is full of rich cocoa and chocolate malts with a significantly bitter english finish. It's probably a bit full on for the style but it's not bad.

Mouthfeel is light with prickly carbonation. Drinkability is average.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2010 21:23:57 | More by Ralphus

Whatup14

Quebec (Canada)

3.25/5  rDev -9.5%

04-17-2013 13:54:39 | More by Whatup14

ThinkAgain

Ontario (Canada)

3/5  rDev -16.4%

03-05-2013 21:56:00 | More by ThinkAgain

Mack

Quebec (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +18.4%

01-29-2013 15:06:00 | More by Mack

KalanM

British Columbia (Canada)

4/5  rDev +11.4%

11-29-2012 00:40:40 | More by KalanM

cfalovo97

Ontario (Canada)

3/5  rDev -16.4%

11-06-2012 16:21:06 | More by cfalovo97

4ster

Quebec (Canada)

3.63/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a half tulip.

A: Pours a darker/burnt amber colour, quite dark for an IPA I'd say, some decent carbonation and off white head that as others mention disappears almost completely but with faint traces.

S: Light hop smell, but overwhelmed by a very heavy caramel malt smell, not what you'd first expect for this style.

T: First taste, leans pretty heavy on the malt flavours though not nearly as caramel as it smells. Malts are balanced quite nicely with the hops which are quite light on the palate at a mere IBU of 42(20 less than the Pale Ale!) This IPA is not overbearing on the hops but brings out the favour of each individual hops nicely, some flora, citrus and grassy flavours with a light bitterness ending

M: Decent carbonation, nice balance as mentioned reflecting the tastes, pretty easy drinking with the low IBU's..

O: On the lighter range of typical IPA's, which might not appeal to the hop heads out there. But overall a nice easy drinking beer and still worth a try as it is a decent IPA that these days is getting over shadowed by your big IPA's and DIPA's which have their place, but often one at a time..this beer plays up its classic IPA flavours and for a nice day on the patio this beer will go on a long way. Would drink on tap more than once but probably won't buy more singles.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2012 01:21:42 | More by 4ster

Melomanemusher

Quebec (Canada)

4/5  rDev +11.4%

09-28-2012 20:20:06 | More by Melomanemusher

MattPS

Ontario (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +18.4%

09-26-2012 01:06:06 | More by MattPS

Molson2000

Ontario (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +25.3%

09-20-2012 22:35:28 | More by Molson2000

Jeffo

Netherlands

3.85/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Got this one in Quebec at Peluso in Montreal this past summer. Awesome shop for sure.

From a bottle into a snifter
IBU: 62

APPEARANCE: Pours a small, medium looking, off-white head with good retention. Head fades to a faint wisp and ring. Color is an opaque burnt orange with medium levels of carbonation evident. A splotchy wisp remains until the end and leaves some dots of lacing down the glass. Looks pretty solid.

SMELL: Caramel, toffee and some faint melon notes. Pineapple and cantaloupe as well. Pretty nice, though could be a touch more forthcoming.

TASTE: Pale malts, caramel and some light melon sweetness, then some nice floral bitterness and toffee sweetness at the finish. Aftertaste is mild but persistent, including some piney hops, floral bitterness and caramel and toffee sweet notes. Very nice and well balanced.

PALATE: Medium body and medium carbonation. Smooth and creamy on the palate, goes down fine and finishes with a touch of dryness. Pretty nice as well.

OVERALL: This is a solid English IPA by a more than solid Quebec brewery. Very tasty with plenty of complexity, this is well worth checking out if you get the chance. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

09-06-2012 18:39:11 | More by Jeffo

beerhunter13

Ontario (Canada)

3.25/5  rDev -9.5%

07-02-2012 14:44:17 | More by beerhunter13

ygtbsm94

Virginia

3.25/5  rDev -9.5%

04-24-2012 07:33:18 | More by ygtbsm94

Pencible

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -2.5%

02-11-2012 19:36:17 | More by Pencible

oldp0rt

Quebec (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -2.5%

02-10-2012 19:17:11 | More by oldp0rt

jrempel

Quebec (Canada)

5/5  rDev +39.3%

01-31-2012 03:27:50 | More by jrempel

ctgui

Quebec (Canada)

3/5  rDev -16.4%

12-04-2011 22:35:14 | More by ctgui

hopsolutely

Ontario (Canada)

3.53/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Dark brown amber with cream coloured head. Malt-forward aroma, with more caramel notes than the taste itself. Flavour is also very malt-forward with emphasis on toasted elements, followed by an abrupt bitterness. 6.4% ABV is evident in the finish which is otherwise pleasantly bitter.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2011 02:30:26 | More by hopsolutely

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.63/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A nice serviceable IPA. Pleasant mid-brown coloured body with lots of off-white lace. Very faint hop aroma. Lots of caramel sweetness and British hops. Very drinkable, a bit above average mouthfeel and on the dry side. Pretty hoppy for an english IPA.

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2011 02:22:01 | More by northyorksammy

Digimaika2

Ontario (Canada)

3.63/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Hazel or burnt almond colour with a rich and creamy foam head. Milky blanket sticks around for a while.

S: Rich caramel/molasses-like malts, grapefruit aromas, earthy and nutty tones. Nice on the nose.

T: Caramel-tasting roasted malts, citrus tangyness, nutty flavours, and picking up some smoke. Quite a rich and full tasting IPA that leaves quite a lingering bitterness.

M: Light and creamy mouthfeel considering the rich taste, with about average carbonation.

D: Not exactly feeling the caramel/nutty taste of this, but it still offers a satisfactory IPA taste. Still prefer the Cascade IPA offering by Illimites, but this is still a nice IPA that's worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2011 22:50:22 | More by Digimaika2

zachariaIPA

Ontario (Canada)

2.08/5  rDev -42.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Picked up a bottle of this in Montreal about a month ago along with some other Simple Malts. No freshness date.

Pours a hazed-copper with an inch of lingering creamy off-white head. Lots of carbonation and thick concentric bands of lace.

Mild aroma and flavor of malts and citric hops. Unfortunately, I'm also getting wet cardboard- possible oxidization. Hopefully it's just a bad batch or something.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2011 03:57:00 | More by zachariaIPA

TomStew

Quebec (Canada)

3.9/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured in a pint (Just bought a nice St-Ambroise pint yea!)
I like this beer! Very malty and moderately bitter, I find that it is well balanced in terms of bitter-sweetness. The appearance is really great, halfway between pale and amber I would say. Great head, and the carbonation is good.

Tastes of sweet caramel and hops.

I am fairly new to this style and I really enjoyed my first English IPA. It makes me want to try more beers of this style to compare and see where this one stands (if there is better then it must be very yummy). I would definitely recommend trying this beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2011 14:08:15 | More by TomStew

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

3.68/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle.

Pours a clear dark amber, a few orange highlights in the corners, medium sized white head forms and settles to a medium ring around the glass, thin layer, some lace spots stick.

Smell is decent, very English, solid maltiness, a bit of caramel and biscuit, floral, noble hops, lightly fruity, very faint citrus, touch of corn syrup, not bad.

Taste is similar, simple and a bit plain but nice, caramel up front, lightly toasty, floral hopping, light citrus, lightly earthy, a touch of mint, bit of a strange background flavour I couldn't figure out, lightly bitter.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied with low to medium carbonation. Smooth and drinkable IPA if nothing special.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2011 21:33:19 | More by Viggo

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

3.48/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is clear and dark amber in color, with a half inch of head that leaves some good lacing on the glass.

S: The aroma is of toasted bread, malt, toffee, candies, and lastly, hops. While the aroma offers some pleasantries to the olfactory senses, the low profile hop component is a bit of a disappointment.

T: The flavor is enjoyable, with malt being in the driver seat, while hops play a supporting role. The beer is slightly sweet, with hop bitterness making a showing near the finish.

M: The feel is medium bodied with plenty of carbonation.

D: Pretty drinkable and a decent beer, with nothing too exciting happening. Of course this is an English IPA and not a typical American hop bomb, but I generally prefer more hop forward offerings from beers of this ilk.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2011 02:24:17 | More by Huhzubendah

Daniellobo

District of Columbia

4.13/5  rDev +15%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Very rich take on an English IPA with a shiny caramel malty side and hops supporting it, and not the other way around (aged version...)

Presentation: 12 oz brown twist capped bottle. Simple label design centered on contemporary and informal typography with a minimal green element in the background. Front narrative includes a short description (in French), the back elaborates on the context and careful craft of the brew. Lacks evident date of bottling, shows IBUs (62), and 6.4% Alc. Served in a tulip glass.

A - Hazy deep amber to amber brown pour, medium foamy head. Nice surface memory with rich lacing.

S - Caramel, toffee, hops pushing it up with a rich fruity sense, sugar coated orange peel...

T - Taste follows with dexterity, expanding the malty side, which is rich, long and pleasing: caramel, toffee, sugar, candied fruit... Minimal bitterness, the hoppy edge is there as a nice undercurrent complementing the malt.

M - Medium body, medium/light carbonation with a smooth and creamy finish.

D - Whoa, very nice actually, but if one is expecting a hoppy IPA this is not the brew... Now, as a malty long and softly hopped English IPA this is a charm.

Notes: Quite a surprise, revisiting this brew slightly a year after the first time and it feels entirely different. This time it is better, although it strays more from what would be typically expected of an IPA. If this is an aged IPA (and I believe it is) it has aged graciously and it is well worth the experience.

01-12-2010 Review
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | drink: 4

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2011 19:29:40 | More by Daniellobo