Inukshuk IPA - O'Dempsey's

allthatAles

Georgia

4.88/5  rDev +39.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

*Poured into a SA Perfect Pt
Pour: a beautifully thick deep amber with burnt honey highlights. head forms and breaks down relatively quick. definitely unfiltered, but the color and presentation of the body are top notch

Nose: very very enticing. a bit of sweetness the blends right into the hops. orange, hints of melon, light mineral notes. very nice, why don't they cologne that smells like this?

Mouth: exquisite! there is actually a well balanced back bone here. bubbly hops assert at the beginning, malt sweetness(those melon notes) dance in and joined by the citrus inclined hops, at the finish a little cream thats attached to the most bitter of the hops used and an escort of light malt remains as well. hops soften on the open as the brew warms, lending more to the cream.

This is the second offering from O'Dempsy's I've been fortunate to try. This seems to me a far cry from nearly all other southern IPAs i've had. one of the best IPAs i've had in the past six months from anywhere, probably the best IPA from the south, period. the presentation, both bottle and beer are excellent. the south certainly has new brewer with a bold vision. I for one am thoroughly impressed. its like watching a minor leaguer pinch a homer or a grandslam even!

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2010 21:23:23 | More by allthatAles

TSJ4000

4.68/5  rDev +33.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Here is an iPa that is still pale. It's color is just a touch amber. The nose isn't terribly potent but what is there is good citrus piny hop love juice. The beer is crystal clear and has a perfectly balanced hop presence throughout the palate. This is a damn good IPA. The hops are great and fresh and refreshing in this beer. Not over the top orangey or grapefuity either. This beer is also still American IPA, imo. It is not English by any means. Balanced on the finish too with hints of the maltiness. This beer is not drying or too hoppy for the palate. Overall I think this is a great everyday 6pk of some kick ass IPA.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2012 23:13:36 | More by TSJ4000

Mojo

Alabama

4.03/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer pours up a light copper. There is a one finger head, with not much retention, but absolutely beautiful picture perfect lacing left on the glass. The smell is pretty weak, but what is there is very citrusy and floral. Tastewise, I'm feeling the love. It's not near as hoppy as some IPAs, but it does have a nice blend of sweet and the grapefruityness on the finish. I like the mouthfeel. It is good and carbonated. Overall pretty good. An easy drinking IPA.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2012 06:16:58 | More by Mojo

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

4/5  rDev +14.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

16 ounce pint - $5.25 at The Fred in Sandy Springs, Georgia.

Appearance: Arrived at the table a particularly cloudy, dark ruddy-colored body with a fizzled, off-white head.

Smell: Pale malted barley with hints of caramelized sugar and lightly toasted bread. Citrusy, faintly floral hops lead by a scent of oranges (while the flavor generally embodies a basic lemon flavor, though that's just one drunkard's opinion).

Taste: Bready, caramel-coated maltiness with a soothing sweetness to it. On the taste, the hops impart a lemony character, with lesser, lighter hints of oranges and grapefruit. Very minute underlying earthiness. Medium-plus bitterness. Tastes of whole-grain bread and cooked lemon on the back half. Bittersweet, creamyish finish.

Mouthfeel: A hair above medium-bodied. Medium carbonation. There's definitely a slight heft to the mouthfeel.

Drinkability: A good India Pale Ale swelled up with maltiness and residual sugars, though, admittedly, that's not generally desirable to your average hophead. As for me, I appreciated the near-chewiness of the brew and felt it was well suited for the approaching Autumn.

Serving type: on-tap

09-19-2010 15:44:45 | More by ChainGangGuy

Paincane

Georgia

3.98/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reviewed from my notes:
A: Orange gold color with mild lacing when poured into pint glass. Floaties galore in this beer. Sediment everywhere.
S: Citrus, floral hops aroma.
T: Tastes like its nose. Very pleasant hops bitter finish.
M: Crisp with a kind of chewiness that I can only attribute to the sediment floating around the glass. Moderate carbonation.
O: Extremely drinkable. If you freak out about floaties, then don't bother with it. I enjoyed it and will look for more.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2011 20:57:04 | More by Paincane

sendsilk

Florida

3.93/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked this up in recent trip to northern GA. 12 oz bottle, part of a mix 6 pack. I have never heard anything about this beer, figured since it was local I had to try it. Poured into a glass tumbler from the cabin I am renting.

A- Not too good. Nice color, but there is seriously A TON of shit floating around in this glass and pretty cloudy. Kinda worried about the flotsam and jetsam in here.

S- Smells pretty good, nice citrus and floral hoppy notes.

T- Well, the flavor somewhat redeems the dirty appearance. Nice citrus notes and a solid hop character. I actually like the flavor of this very much, glad I picked it up.

M- Very nice, very crisp and clean and no stinging aftertaste.

O- Nice, I'd definitely have a few of these.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2011 03:51:47 | More by sendsilk

avalon07

South Carolina

3.93/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Poured from a bottle to a pint glass. Had a copper color and a clear texture. There was a small amount of foamy head that quickly dissipated. Good lacing.

S: A decent aroma of hops, malt, and a bit of citrus.

T: Tasted of grain (not a lot, but certainly there), malt, some citrus, and a moderate amount of hops. A pretty solid flavor, though not overly spectacular.

M: A good amount of carbonation with a somewhat slick finish. Medium-bodied.

O: A generally well done (with some rough patches) beer that's definitely drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2012 13:07:53 | More by avalon07

tdm168

North Carolina

3.9/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - translucent copper amber with a thin lacing of white head

S - bread, fruit, faint alcohol

T - bread, faint citrus, herbal, alcohol, faint fruit

M - medium bodied, a bit of alcohol warmth, smooth, well carbonated

This is a very malt forward, bready version of an IPA. The hops are present but in no way overpowering. There's nice balance with just a little alcohol in the finish. Overall, a decent IPA if you want more malt than hops.

Serving type: bottle

06-30-2012 01:02:50 | More by tdm168

weezyfart

Georgia

3.88/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I really enjoyed this IPA. It's had a hazy burnt orange color to it that makes me daydream about running hops through my juicer and pouring it into a glass. The aromas aren't overexaggerated, just stylistically sound. The palate has a sturdy balance of hops and pale malts and the finish is bittersweet.

Is this beer worldclass? No. Is it better than many other IPAs trying to shoot the moon? Yes!

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2010 04:39:24 | More by weezyfart

suspect

New York

3.88/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a Samuel Adams Perfect Pint glass. Big thanks to my buddy Audi for bringing this up from Atlanta.

A: Mostly clear (some haze) mostly gold color. Aggressive pour leads to a 1.5 finger head. Lacing is good and steady throughout the drink. Little floaties hanging out in the glass.

S: Fruity hops are faint along with the bitter floral hops. Some sweet malt on the backend as well but nothing too over powering. Not poor smelling either, a very nice, overall smell.

T: Flavor here is really nice. Wonderful hop presence with nice sweet malt balance. Slight yeast flavor here as well but not throwing off the balance. Nice hop-bitterness and fruit-malt sweetness adds up to a nice and full IPA flavor. Really nicely done.

M: Exactly what you'd expect from an IPA in the mouthfeel. Hop-oil coating the cheeks and a slight pucker from the bitter. Medium body and well carbonated. Aftertaste leaves my mouth begging for more.

O: I was skeptical going in here but I came out a believer. This is a really nice IPA and one that I'll be happy to drink more of. Too bad it's not readily available here, I'd be all over it. Atlanta - consider yourselves lucky.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2011 01:38:09 | More by suspect

glid02

Georgia

3.8/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at Cypress St. Pint and Plate during a local beer takeover.

Pours a hazy orange-copper color with a one-finger slightly off-white head. The head recedes into a patchy layer on top leaving decent lacing.

Smells of pale malts with floral and light citrus hops. Also present are hints of indistinct light fruits that I'd attribute to the yeast.

Tastes similar to how it smells, although the pale malts hold more sway in the flavor profile than they do in the aroma. Pale malt flavors with hints of breadiness kick things off and are joined quickly by earthy hop flavors. Midway through the sip the hops turn more toward citrus flavors, then carry through to a moderately bitter ending.

Mouthfeel is good. It's got a nice thickness with moderate carbonation.

Drinkability is OK. I finished my glass without a problem however I'm not sure I'd be interested in another.

Overall this was a solid beer but there are a few tweaks that could be made to make it a better beer, namely crisper malt flavors. Not worth avoiding but not worth seeking out either.

Serving type: on-tap

09-27-2010 01:13:05 | More by glid02

raszputini

North Carolina

3.8/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pours a gorgeous golden, with a light head that dissipates pretty quickly. No sediment whatsoever. The nose is pretty complex, with a variety of citrus fruit notes, as well as citrusy hops. The taste was somewhat surprising, as I was expecting a BIG IPA hop monster, but the hops are actually pretty understated for an IPA. There's a solid malt backbone that is more pronounced than most. Notes of orange, grapefruit and tangerine. The ABV will surprise you as the drinkability and absence of big hops would make you think it was a little more sedate. I really enjoyed it and will drink again.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2012 01:24:51 | More by raszputini

Metalmonk

North Carolina

3.73/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a hazed-over peach-orange color, with a thin head of small, dense bubbles. Pretty standard looking IPA, maybe cloudier than the norm, but that's cool by me.

Lots of tropical fruit in the nose, things like pineapple and mango come to mind. Some peach too, even a very mild salty/mineral flair, although you're hard-pressed to find any real malt presence. But I'm okay with that. You're not gonna find much hop presence in an Irish Dry Stout are you? Time and place for everything and all that...

Flavor continues on the bright and fruity path, peach, orange and mango being the most dominant, with an almost-acrid citrus rind bitterness all the way into the (fairly dry) finish. Saltiness remains a trait, but does not overwhelm in the manner of a west coast tongue ripper. As with the aroma, malt is once again distant, so this is clearly for fans of very hop-forward IPAs who don't mind missing out on the malt. Crispy on the tongue, though round enough to keep from feeling too prickly.

I like this, found it refreshing if a bit unbalanced, in terms of hops-to-malt ratio. Definitely one to try once, although it's not gonna set the beer trading network on fire probably...

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2011 22:21:00 | More by Metalmonk

elgiacomo

Georgia

3.63/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle, best by Dec 27, 2010.

Pours thick (for an IPA) murky orange, almost opaque, with a two finger foamy white head that holds very well and leaves a lot of sticky lacing.

Aroma is of moderate to good strength and features citrus, oranges, pineapple, somewhat grassy and floral with a bit of bready, caramel malt.

Flavor is citrusy hops, pineapple, oranges, grapefruit, with some malt sweetness. Moderate bitterness, moderate sweetness, finishes mostly dry.

Mouthfeel is pretty full bodied for an IPA, slick, oily, medium carbonation.

Pretty serious IPA here, mostly because of the body as it is not a bitter bomb or a pungent punch to the nose like some others. Pretty darned good overall, and always good to see new quality brews being brewed here in Georgia.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2010 00:53:34 | More by elgiacomo

mikereaser

Pennsylvania

3.6/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

poured 10-23-10

Bottle poured a soupy murky orangish brown with a bit of foam that quickly faded to a ring of bubbles around the surface of the glass. The aroma isn't very overwhelming, hints of various fruit, grapefruit, mango, orange, lemon, nothing really stands out though. Flavor wise, its a whole different story, lots of citrusy flavors come through, mango, pineapple, grapefruit, lemon, along with a rindy sort of taste. Its medium bodied with just the right amount of carbonation. This is a very interesting bottle, from the looks of it, its not very appealing, but taste wise, its pretty enjoyable. The citrus rind taste prevents me from rating it higher, but overall not a bad beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2010 06:18:20 | More by mikereaser

BeerDawgs

Georgia

3.6/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - An absolutely clear golden. No floating sediment. 1/2 a finger of head, a little bit of sticky lace left on the glass

S - Dried fruits, peaches, tangerine. Definitely has some citrusy hops in this brew. But smell is fairly faint. Maybe I have had too many dry hopped brews lately

T - Citrus hops up front, nice malt backbone. Pretty tasty.

M - Medium bodied, decent carbonation level.

O - An average IPA. The 7% ABV is well hidden, which makes it pretty drinkable. But definitely would have no problem drinking this one again

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2012 01:21:18 | More by BeerDawgs

Georgiabeer

Georgia

3.5/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a slightly hazy dark orange with a medium head that fades to a swirl and ring. Smells slightly sweet and grainy with a modicum of citrusy hops. The taste is also a bit on the sweet side with slightly subdued citrusy hops as well. A little thick and grainy in the mouth, this could use a bit more work- needs to be cleaner, smoother, and hoppier.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2011 16:53:41 | More by Georgiabeer

Brent

Kentucky

3.5/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

For me this beer failed to cross the bar into American IPA territory - landing firmly in pale ale qualities. Moderate hopping, with some vague grapefruit notes. A touch too sharp at the finish and somewhat lacking in malt support. I'm surprised to see this logging in at 7% abv, as it did not strike me as being quite that high. A bit more sediment than customary for the style.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2011 14:57:51 | More by Brent

FATC1TY

Georgia

3.5/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Served in a pint glass, from a bottle.

A: Copper/Orange, slighly cloudy, 1 finger head that laces the glass pretty well, looks good, very attractive beer.

S: Citrus right up front, floral, piney. Grapefruit sticks out pretty well.

T: Pretty close to what it smells like. Citrus and pine, bitter all the way through it, but balanced enough to hold it together with a slightly sweet finish. Not ultra balanced, but it's enough to keep it together.

M: Medium body, kinda of chewy. Decent amount of carbonation which helps with the bite.

Overall: Pretty decent beer. Looks great in the glass, has some sediment, but I don't mind it. Easy to drink, no hint of the 7% ABV to it at all. I'd have a few of these if someone offered.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2012 20:52:48 | More by FATC1TY

Cyberkedi

Georgia

3.48/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Aroma is strongly hoppy with an undertone of grapefruit, typical of a high-quality IPA. It pours a hazy, barely translucent dark honey golden with a fair off-white head that doesn't stick around too long but leaves a little lacing. Flavor is nicely hoppy, barely bitter, with hints of sour citrus, honey and malt. Texture is quite smooth and not too fizzy but still pleasing. Overall, a decent IPA worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2011 03:47:14 | More by Cyberkedi

turnerk3

South Carolina

3.43/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a very nice orange color with fairly white head. The half inch head lightly holds on to the side of the glass. Fairly clear, but there is a very slight haze.

S: Of course, the malts are not too prevelant. The hops come across as being more floral and herbal. Not the typical grapefruit or piney that most IPAs have.

T: The taste is much like the smell. It is much more herbal in taste, but the flavors are still well balanced. It comes off as a good IPA that just missed something to be a great IPA.

M: Great carbonation (even out of a bottle) that allows it to lightly cover the palate. There is a touch of hoppy bite that lingers as expected. However, relatively smooth for the style.

O: Basically what I took away from this brew was a slightly different, but typical, version of the style. It definitely has a different taste than most other IPAs, but, as was previously stated, it just missed something to make it an exceptional IPA.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2012 00:51:43 | More by turnerk3

ThickNStout

Georgia

3.38/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

16oz pour. On tap at Taco Mac (Alpharetta, GA). 5.25. Served in a pint glass. 

Clear deep gold with a quarter finger off white head. Consistent lacing. 

Orangey citrus, fresh cut grass, mild spice and sweet bread. Pretty standard. 

Crisp citrusy hops lead. Other usual suspects follow: grass, spice and biscuits. Like the nose, pretty standard. 

Feel is medium to light with moserate carbonation. Long dry bitter herbal hoppy aftertaste (not at all bad, though). 

I'd remembered liking this more when I had a six pack about a year ago. Perhaps there was a recipe change when they started contract brewing with Thomas Creek instead of Atlanta Brewing. There's absolutely nothing wrong going on, but there's nothing to make it stand out in a world saturated with great IPAs. I'll most likely have it again (& even enjoy it) but will not go out of my way to find it or request it over multiple other, better Atlanta IPAs. 

Serving type: on-tap

07-13-2012 19:49:53 | More by ThickNStout

slatetupelo

Mississippi

3.28/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours a hazy dark orange/amber color with a thick white head that leaves decent lacing. This beer is opaque.

T - This isn't a very hoppy tasting IPA, there is a malty sweetness to it. There are some citrus notes reminiscent of grapefruit. Very mild bitterness, nothing to write home about. Overall, this is a really average beer. It's not as bad as some are making it out to be, but I'd purchase other IPAs before this one.

EDIT: The more I drink the more bland it tastes.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2010 03:39:05 | More by slatetupelo

superdedooperboy

Georgia

3.15/5  rDev -10%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. brown glass bottle poured into a flared pint glass.

Pours a cloudy deep orange-gold; quite obviously unfiltered. The pour produces a solid finger of creamy off-white foam that shows wonderful retention, lingering forever and leaving behind some long legs of lacing on the walls of the glass.

Nothing profound going on in the nose, with faint notes of orange, grapefruit, pineapple and papaya.

Medium-bodied with a pleasantly prickly carbonation. A touch sweet at the open, with a touch of bread and caramel; a moderate hop bitterness follows, carrying with it citrusy notes of grapefruit, lemon and pineapple. The bitterness and hop character fade away again going into the finish, where bready, somewhat grainy malt notes reappear, lasting a while afterward with a slight alcohol warmth creeping up in the chest as the beer warms.

Overall, nothing mind-blowing, but a very solid IPA that's a bit of a departure from a great many of the other IPAs on the market. Somewhat reminiscent of fellow Atlanta brewery Sweetwater's take on the style with the sort of East-meets-West mix, though it doesn't quite pull it off in a way that Sweetwater's example does. Could use some polishing, but this is certainly an interesting start.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2010 03:13:55 | More by superdedooperboy

WoodBrew

Illinois

3.05/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Inukshuk IPA is another beer I bought at Vulcan Beverage here in Birmingham, AL. The appearance is good. Light copper color that was cloudy that has small floaties. There is a thin white head that seems to be lacing nicely. The smell includes fresh hop, spice and pine. The taste is very bitter from start to finish. The bitterness is in teh form of grapefruit/apricot. The mouthfeel is ok, a little too much for me...one is enough.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2011 22:00:11 | More by WoodBrew