Old Grogham Imperial IPA - Natian Brewery

tone77

Pennsylvania

3.55/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Another beer from a big box courtesy of woodychandler. Poured from a 16 oz. can. Has a pretty mahagony color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is very hoppy. Taste is hoppy and bitter up front, some malts kicking in at the finish. Alcohol is also present. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall is a pretty good beer.

Serving type: can

02-09-2013 18:33:55 | More by tone77

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75

I am CANfounded by this one! I know that msubulldog25 sent me some CANs as I passed one onto my local, in-person trader, tone77 but I scored this CAN at the Friendly Greek a few days ago. Did a review disappear into the ether? Has The CANQuest (TM) finally addled my mind to the point that I CANnot keep track? I dunno, but it is just a wee tad disCANcerting!

From the CAN: "Pint In A C[AN]"; "Imperial India Pale Ale"; "Old Grogham [-] Named in honor of the 18th Century British Vice Admiral whom wisely joined spiced rum and beer during long voyages to keep his sailors healthy and hydrated."; "na-tian [ney-sheh n] - Noun 1. We Brew Beer. That's About As Definitive As It Needs To Get".

As a retired US Navy sailor, this is the kind of beer that speaks to me. I would LOVE to get underway again and to do so under sail as opposed to engine & screw(s) would be even better! Cheers to VADM Grogham for having the sense to realize that we sailors are on the water and do not necessarily want more of it. I remember LCDR DeGeorge chastising me for not drinking enough H2O while on watch on Mount 501 during Gulf War I and being very angry when I asked for advance ration of beer in lieu of water. I could only try ... Below decks M/Fers ... Allow me to reiterate - Cheers to VADM Grogham!

A good bit of offgassing occurred during the Crack and I was initially CANcerned about a potential gusher, having experienced such events previously, but it did not come to fruition. Instead, the Glug o' the 'Grog (ha, beat that, you scoffers!) did create the disaster that I had hoped to avoid. This was one carbonated beer and I could not control its creation of head! I had beer and foam exploding everywhere like the climax (ahem!) of a gang bang on an adult website. Once things settled, I had two-plus fingers of dense, rocky, tawny foam like the top of a chocolate meringue pie and even better was its staying power. I signed my name with my finger in it as it slowly fell. Take that, Guinness, with your shamrock head! It may have been Father's Day, but I heard my Mom-Za, "Woody, quit playing with your beer!" Aw, Ma, it just cried out for my finger! Color was a hazy deep-amber and the nose was very spicy. The hops and the alcohol were involved in an interplay that caused it to have a raw, eye-watering intensity of pine, black pepper, alcohol heat, yeasty mustiness and light caramel. Literally eye-watering as I teared up and then sneezed. HO! I may need a lie-down following this little number. By the time that I finally got the remainder of the CAN into the glass, I estimate that I lost just under four (4) fluid ounces in the initial debacle. Mouthfeel had an initial heat that filled my sinuses and refused to die down. It was also a little on the watery side and once I finally caught my breath, I felt as though I had been gargling with minty mouthwash. Speaking of mint, I have some growing wild in my backyard. Okay, a short break later, it was still pretty intense in its flavor and the mouthfeel still seemed loose, swimming on my tongue, rather than embracing it. Finish was also quite intense between the multitude of flavors, the heat and the extreme dryness. It was ironic that I was now ready for some water. Phew! What would VADM Grogham think of this beer? He would probably order me into the crow's nest to get myself together.

Serving type: can

06-16-2013 20:04:58 | More by woodychandler

RonfromJersey

New Jersey

2.73/5  rDev -26%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75

$3.25 tall boy can from Abe's.

Hazy dull amber body, topped a monstrously billowing off-white head. Leaves good stretchy lace.

Earthy hop aroma with a smidgen of background citrus.

Super sweet malt base gives way to a pile of pine and buckets of bitter.

Medium smooth mouthfeel.

A rather unexceptional PA debut.

Serving type: can

06-06-2013 03:51:47 | More by RonfromJersey

BraveGator

Georgia

4/5  rDev +8.4%

05-21-2013 02:18:03 | More by BraveGator

johnnyboy76

Oregon

4/5  rDev +8.4%

04-11-2013 00:47:59 | More by johnnyboy76

BESTIALEX

Oregon

3.5/5  rDev -5.1%

04-04-2013 02:43:46 | More by BESTIALEX

bluckbeyes

Oregon

3.75/5  rDev +1.6%

03-16-2013 06:02:51 | More by bluckbeyes

Wetpaperbag

Washington

2.86/5  rDev -22.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

A- Darker amber color, good lacing typical of an IPA.

S- Smells good, the hops are very pinesol smelling.

T- Not that good. The hops are bitter in a not so balanced way. There are bitter beers that still have their bitterness but taste good. This is bitter and leaves a funky gnarly aftertaste. The malt background tastes like a CDA or a brown ale.

M- Nice and thick, which I like for a IPA.

O- Not digging this one. I'm glad it was only 2.99 for the can.

Serving type: can

01-28-2013 03:16:33 | More by Wetpaperbag

Mebuzzard

Colorado

4/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A solid beer from Natian. This is a fairly big beer with the abv feeling as it's listed.

Pours a caramel looking, clear body. Head is thick and off white with some center mass rockiness. Lacing is sticky

Aroma of pine, wood, citrus rind and caramel hides the booze. Just smells resin-y

And the resin is in the taste as well, but not overblown. Pine and oak come through, with some hints of green grass. The citrus is sharp without much of the juiciness. Nice backbone on the malt as the sweetness gives the booze something to distract it.

Powerful and bitey. Not a total tongue scraper, but hop heads will enjoy this one

Serving type: can

12-07-2012 05:27:36 | More by Mebuzzard

HappyPappy2X

Oregon

3.18/5  rDev -13.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Foamed out upon opening can. High carbonation. Poured straight into middle of Hefeweisen glass. Toffee colored head stayed intact for several minutes.
Color is tan, dark for an IIPA. Hazy, unfiltered quality.

S: A hop bouquet. Fresh, resiny nose jumps out. Floral.

T: Malt/hop balance; less hop forward than aroma suggested. Phenols. Medicinal? Band-aid? Ends with roasted malt.

M: Light for style. Slight maltose-like coating in mouth. High carbonation.

Overall:
A gorgeous hops nose I relished for ten minutes before sipping. A smart move seeing as how the taste was somewhat disappointing. Malt/hops balance helps with up-front drinkability, but the first hint of phenols sends the beer crashing. Band-aid or antiseptic is pronounced, esp. in belch. It mostly dissipates by the time the roasted caramel malt flavors end the taste. An interesting surprise, but falls short of rescuing the beer.

Serving type: can

12-02-2012 05:27:19 | More by HappyPappy2X

Reidrover

Oregon

3.98/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

16 oz can from "lifesource" S.Salem. $2.99 titled simply Old Grogham IIPA" now. Darker IIPA than usual..dark amber with a substantial creamy ,thick off white head. Nice hoppy..resiny type aromas..but also great toffee,bready malts Taste is good but very balanced for an IIPA..there is great hopping but the caramel ,smooth malt is massive, getting some slight smokeyness and even pepper. Malts even dominating. Good mouthfeel thick and luxurious. Nice beer and i enjoyed it as such but more a Strong Ale then an IIPA

Serving type: can

09-03-2012 22:00:16 | More by Reidrover

muchloveforhops3

Oregon

4.5/5  rDev +22%

08-31-2012 18:32:27 | More by muchloveforhops3

JTK713

3.4/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had this on tap at hawthorne hophouse in portland, OR. 12 oz tulip, Pours dark IIPA style, caramel color and flavors. Hops are strong throughout, rum/wood adds depth and richness, but not overwhelming. I think its year round, but aimed for winter time. Pretty darn good!

Serving type: on-tap

08-16-2012 22:49:17 | More by JTK713

pdxbeerdrinker

Oregon

4/5  rDev +8.4%

02-05-2012 22:18:11 | More by pdxbeerdrinker

edwardkersh

Oregon

4/5  rDev +8.4%

01-21-2012 05:33:52 | More by edwardkersh

ccrida

Oregon

3.5/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

From the brewery:
"Palisade hops were added throughout the boil and dry hop schedule, along with high alpha American hops for bittering, Noble hops for ayaroma and a few other varieties in-between to balance the heavy malt profile. Rum soaked Oregon oak spires added during the final stages of fermentation bring flavor notes of caramel and vanilla to complement the bitterness."

On draught at Bailey's, served in an imperial pint, Old Grogham is hazy a auburn an egg-shell head leaving decent lace.

Smell is modestly hoppy, not too pungent, more herbal, some resin.

Taste is primarily malty, bitter IPA. I'm not getting much from the oak other then a little spirits on the aftertaste.

Mouthfeel is dry, medium bodied.

Drinkability is pretty good. It's not really to remarkable, but it was a well made, easy drinking, hoppy winter warmer. I categorized it as DIPA, because it was in the American style, not Brittish, and was reasonably hoppy, at least by continental standards!

Serving type: on-tap

01-20-2012 01:21:23 | More by ccrida