Copper Cone - Epic Brewing Co.

Gueuzedude

Arizona

4.5/5  rDev +19%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A solid pour, though not overly aggressive, into my New Belgium Globe glass produces a billowing, four-finger-thick, pale tan colored head. The head leaves some wispy, layered lacing patterns on the sides of my glass as it slowly subsides. The beer is a rich amber color that shows some copper notes around the edges; when held up to the light the beer shows a lightly hazed, pale red hued, dark copper color. The aroma is very, very, nicely hoppy; aromatic notes of fruity flower nectar, candied bergamot, ample lychee, super-fruity tangelo notes, bright-concentrated peach and interesting tropical fruit notes. Just behind the juicy fruitiness lurks the more herbal hop notes, there is a light, hemp-like dank quality to the nose that mixes in with some pine-sap aromatics and a herbaceous, raw hop character that lightly peppers the finish. A very, very nice aroma, any hop love will really enjoy the nose of this overtly hop aromatic brew.

Pretty light bodied, actually a bit lighter than I perhaps expected because the aroma was so rich with sweet hop notes, but it is perfectly in line with this being in the alcohol range of an IPA; the hop and alcohol certainly indicate a lot more than the Pale Ale this beer is labeled as. The bitterness is quite present, but incredibly smooth and integrated; despite all the hop character here this does not have any astringency to it, which keeps this even more drinkable. Holy crap, this is 8.5% alcohol, it hides it quite well, though there is a hint of alcohol warming in the finish. The hop fruit flavors lead the way in this beer, though they are not quite as concentrated or loud as they appear to be in the flavor; flavors of lychee, apricot and floral peach lead the way with a strong backbone of tangelo and super fruity citrus notes almost here in equal amounts. There is just enough herbal, dank hop character to provide an anchor (the bitterness also contributes to the balance) to the up front hop-fruit character. This is very quaffable, dangerously so given the alcohol, but it does have enough viscosity and malt character to carry the ample hop notes.

I was expecting this to be sweet, thick and not at all the type of IPA that I prefer, and I have no idea why, but this is straight up, West-Coast mold, stretching the line between IPA or Double IPA, type beer. Despite how hopped up this beer is, the recipe could certainly take on a few more hops. This will certainly be very enjoyable to the hop heads out there, but the hop-whore in me craves a bit more; more dank, more fruit and more over the top hop levels. Ok, having complained, I need to say that I am really, really enjoying this beer. This is definitely scratching that hop itch. I am now even more excited to try the Hopulent.

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2010 03:18:52 | More by Gueuzedude

Douglas88

Utah

4.47/5  rDev +18.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Another awesome bomber thanks to Kevin and Eric. Pours a cloudy copper color with a large beige/white head. The aroma is loads of citrus hops, caramel. A hoppy smooth flavor; rich citrus, orange, loads of fresh flavors. Light caramel. Smooth and tasty. Very drinkable. Nice!

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2011 05:18:51 | More by Douglas88

mpyle

Maryland

4.43/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Pale amber color, fairly clear but not brilliant. Pours a decent sized just off white head, tightly bubbled and creamy, and with good retention.

Wonderful sweet, fruity hop aroma with some pineapple and a little bit of pine. Caramel malt shines through as well.

Some caramel malt sweetness at first, but quickly met with the citrus and pine of the hops. Hop bitterness in the finish is assertive, but not harsh or overpowering. Nice well rounded hop character, but the malt is present as well.

Medium (or slightly fuller) body, and medium carbonation. Surprising amount of warming for a 6.7% ABV beer (per my batch's label), and feels like a bit of a fault.

Overall the aroma and flavor are off the charts nice. Aside from the alcohol warming, this approaches perfection as a bigger APA.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 20:49:21 | More by mpyle

ngeunit1

California

4.33/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a cloudy copper-orange with a finger of frothy white head. The head fades down at a normal pace leaving behind some nice lacing.

S - Aroma is grapefruit, pineapple, citrus, and pine hops with sweet caramel and bready malts.

T - Starts off with grapefruit, pineapple, mango, and citrus hops with some bitterness and some sweet caramel malts. Through the middle, some pine hop come through with some more bitterness and some bready malts. The finish is a mix of sweet bready malts with grapefruit and pine hops and some bitterness.

M - Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Feels smooth with dry, bitter, and lightly sweet finish.

D - Very drinkable. Nice hoppy APA. Good hop profile and bitterness with a good malt and hop balance.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2012 06:43:50 | More by ngeunit1

JohnGalt1

Idaho

4.2/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

#6 and the final bottle.. Wow!! Glad I saved this one for last... Thanks Sam!!

Big foamy khaki head... great retention and lacing... the brew is a hazed copper...

Nose is really nice.. big fruity hops practically jump out of the glass... citrus and tropical... even floral.. tons of stuff going on here... I would guess Amarillo or Simcoe..

Flavor is fantastic... verging on mild DIPA territory for sure.. mirrors the nose with a good malt backbone.. sooo fruity... reminds me of the Flintstone vitamins my mom would make take as a kid... toasty malts play toward the finish and then the lingering hop bomb comes back out swinging.. Body is a very solid medium with a lite and smooth carbonation.

If this had more of a bitter bite out front, I would lobby for DIPA categorization... very impressive.

Thanks again Sam.. I know I am gonna be dumping out alot of cool beer tonight, but I guarantee, I will be finishing this bomber.

For Sam and his boss.... Soooo.... My opinion of Epic Brewing is that it is very solid and if what I hear about the price point is right, then I say definitely get them in... I will be picking this bottle up regularly and pimping it hard in trades.

4/4.5/4/4/4.5

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2010 09:14:44 | More by JohnGalt1

maximum12

Minnesota

4.15/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Sampled this one a couple times & came away impressed, so time to put fingers on a bottle & bring it home. Split with my wife on our return from the girl's first Boundary Waters Canoe trip. Good fun! Batch #11, which per Epic's website was brewed in March 2011.

Pours true to the name, a murky copper, plenty of headiness. Smells good, pale malts very evident along with a dry, patchy earth dose of hops.

Copper Cone is my kind of pale ale. The pale malt base is paired up with a nice bill of hops, so while the pale malts are in Capricorn rising, the hops contrast well. A nice shot of bitterness comes in mid-course, along with piney hops, bit of distant fruitiness, wheat chaff. Malts bring sweetness to the finish. Somewhat sticky, hellaciously drinkable.

Great beer, just excellent. One of the best pale ales I've had in...well, maybe ever. Deliciously balanced. Epic, please consider giving your rivals & friends some pale ale brewing lessons. This one's a keeper.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2011 02:46:10 | More by maximum12

JunkYardJake

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle to stemless oversized wine glass.
Release #5 - 6.4%
Pours a dark copper/amber color with a full frothy head. Retention is average and the lacing is good. Smells wonderful and complex. Lots of juicy citrus and pine hops and a potent earthy undertone. Tastes very hoppy with a mild bitter finish. The piney hops and caramel malts pair nicely. Very much an west coast IPA in flavor and smell and more of a APA in bitterness and strength. Moderate body and dryness. Very flavorful and drinkable brew. A poster child for the new generation of APA/IPA hybrids.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2010 14:43:12 | More by JunkYardJake

ArrogantDeadGuy

Virginia

4.05/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Great burnt orange pour with a initially sturdy head that left about half way through the pint. Beige lace left behind. Hop/citrus aromas apparent upfront. Carbonation was light but great hop flavor, not too harsh. Nice body and finish no slick, syrupy, sweetness. Aftertaste is pleasant and doesn't linger for hours. Overall very refreshing on a hot Spring day.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2011 19:45:44 | More by ArrogantDeadGuy

argock

Virginia

4.03/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from 22oz brown bomber into a Duvel tulip. Release #9 on side of front label. Purchased at Wine Warehouse (Charlottesville, VA) for $5.99.

A: Hazy amber with thick, frothy beige 2-3 finger head with several layers of lace.

S: Big blast of pine, citrus, and floral aromas and a subsantial base of pale malt and caramel.

T: Copper Cone is a great tasting beer with big malty toffee and caramel flavors coupled with generous hopping with pine resin, orange and grapefruit citrus, and floral notes. A solid to very good APA.

M: It walks the line between body and dryness very well. Very drinkable despite ABV 6.7% with medium-body but a good crisp, dry edge that keeps it easy to consume.

O: A very good pale ale but very steep pricewise.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2011 04:09:26 | More by argock

oberon

North Carolina

4.03/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into an imperial pint glass a slightly hazed burnt orange with a tight formed one finger white head that left a solid ring of lace as it settled slowly into a frothy mass.A mix of caramel/biscuit malt and sharp grapefruit-like hops in the nose,good balance.Sweet biscuit malts play a big role on the palate up against a healthy doe of citri and piney hops,a well balanced beer to me true to APA form.This a solid pale with a great hop profile that doesnt get out of control,a very nice beer in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2012 22:56:56 | More by oberon

jera1350

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A lightly hazed copper color with a nice creamy cap of tan suds that produce some sticky lace.

Big hopped nose in the form of earthy and spiced hops. Almost fallen tree leaf smelling.

Oh, very nice flavor. Getting the earth and spice from the hops with a touch of spruce. A solid malt backbone as well. Light bitterness and a fairly long finish. Very drinkable and enjoyable.

Smooth and chewy feel with a slightly dry finish. Medium bodied.

A very solid pale ale. Reminds me a bit of an Oktoberfest or fall beer. Welcome to MN Epic. My first brew from you and it's a good one.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2011 01:27:53 | More by jera1350

jzeilinger

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a hazy dark copper color with a thick, one fingered creamy, sticky head.

S - Semi-fruity citrus and pine jump right out of the glass accompanied by a crisp, but mild malt backbone and floral bouquet. Compared to many of the pale ales I've had, it has alot more fruit character going on in the nose. I can best describe the aroma as "crisp".

T - Semi-fruit sweetness, mild pine resin, and sweet caramel are up front and stay evenly balanced throughout the entire sip. There's some earthy character and very mild spice from the hops, everything blends together quite nicely and makes for an enjoyable pale ale. (although it's a on the dark side for a "pale ale".

M - Medium body that's slightly on the thicker side for the style. Mild pricklies on the tongue up front but quickly dies down to a smooth and velvet like finish on the tongue.

O - I've purchased a bunch of beers from Epic lately and have been impressed overall. There's been a few I haven't enjoyed so much but you can't expect to love every batch a beer artisan brews. That being said, as a brewery, Epic gets a thumbs up...check this particular one out.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2011 00:18:18 | More by jzeilinger

beerthulhu

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: A dirty orange is dense in the glass offering some cardinal red highlights. The head is sandstone in color, a finger high, with a initial one part creamy, one party frothy head that was fairly withstanding. A light slow rise of effervesce is detected within.

S: For aroma there are strong indications of fresh pine scents mingling with a caramel sweetness. Good show of strength.

T: The flavor was dry pine, grapefruit peel set against a dry toasted grain backing. Toasty dry, strong hop offering, flowery citrus that has some oily resin moments. The beer starts dry and toasted and finishes much the same way while there are intermittent instances of caramel sweetness that peeks out mid-way.

M: fairly sharp, but not crisp, rather oily with a malty fullness that left a good bite of bittering citrus behind.

O: Overall a high level of hops, bordering on ipa standars, big malty body makes for a fulfilling pale. Not your typical crisp summertime offering, but rather more suited as a fall beer with a slightly high 6.9%abv that will limit this in numbers no doubt. Worthy by the bomber.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2011 23:06:49 | More by beerthulhu

Beaver13

Colorado

3.98/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

22 oz bottle, release #8 - 6.8%. Pours a hazy dark copper with a medium frothy creamy white head that retains well and leaves some lacing.

The aroma is caramel and crystal malts with resiny piney hops.

The flavor is sweet caramel malts with grapefruit and resiny hops leading to a pretty surprisingly big , slightly charred, bitter finish. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with smooth carbonation, slightly watery.

Overall, a very nice Pale ale. Probably one of the hoppier and better ones I've had. This is probably more of an IPA.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2011 07:19:32 | More by Beaver13

beer2day

North Carolina

3.98/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Very deep, hazy, dirty orange, heck almost brown. 1-finger medium cream head, with very faint retention and very light lace. Like the color.

Nose is very intense right out of the bottle for a straight pale, but fades a bit with time. Earthy hops predominately, with a good bread malt backbone. Getting a bit of metal and pine as the bottle warms. Quite nice and somehow substantial.

Big bread malt slightly overshadows the pine/herbal hop flavor. Very heavy glass of beer. Light resin and a touch of oil. Good flavor for a pale.

Heavy body, only slightly oily.

Overall, a very nice glass of beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2011 01:22:36 | More by beer2day

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Beer #45 in my great Utah Brew Hunt.

Whew. I popped this one and it the fragrance from it was hitting my nose from a foot and a half away. (Literally.)

The only unusual thing about this beer is the color of it: much more of an amber hue than one would expect for the style. The head on it is really nice lookin' though. And since I mentioned style, you could label this an IPA and get away with it, I think. It's quite malty, but there is a thick body to it and a fair amount of hop spices as well.

A hearty beer, for an apa. But a nice beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2012 23:43:34 | More by RblWthACoz

metter98

New York

3.95/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: The beer is very coppery orange in color and has a light amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a thin beige head that quickly died down and left a thick ring of bubbles around the edge of the glass and some lacing on the surface.
S: There are moderately strong aromas of orange and grapefruit in the nose.
T: Similar to the smell, the taste is quite citrusy and has notes of caramel. There are lots of hop flavors but only a slight amount of bitterness, which is enough to mask away any malty sweetness.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This beer has a very good drinkability and goes down easily. It’s a nice selection if you are looking for lots of hops but don’t want to settle for an IPA.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2012 13:11:48 | More by metter98

UCLABrewN84

California

3.95/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Mohawk Bend in Los Angeles, CA.

Pours a murky copper color with a tan head that settles to a film on top of the beer. A foamy curtain of lace forms on the glass on the drink down. Smell is of grapefruit, citrus zest, and herbal hops up front with a slight malt aroma. Taste is very much the same with the citrus hop flavors being dominant. There is a mild bitterness on the palate after each sip. This beer has a slight carbonation with a medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good pale ale that is tasty and easy to drink.

Serving type: on-tap

03-12-2012 03:33:12 | More by UCLABrewN84

bogus564

New Jersey

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

22 fl oz, poured into a pint glass.

I'm done with a tough week at work, I'm looking to a three-day weekend, and what better way to start off than with a beer I haven't tried before? Away we go...

Looks like an IPA, actually; burnt orange color, orange rind-colored head, a good 3 cm in height, holds a couple of minutes before dissolving into lace. Off to a good start.

Smells largely of pine, then grapefruit/orange, then a light peppery sensation, not sweet at all in the nose. Okay...

It's first bitter, then sweet. Very piny with the hops up front, then grapefruit, some orange, an unexpected biscuity feel, with some roasted malts there as well. Some clove and a hint of pepper at the back. I wish the proportions were slightly different, but that's just personal taste. Not bad.

Mouthfeel is not to my general liking, but I'm not going to bash it. Medium-bodied, good on the carbonation, swims decently over the palate, but man, is it hoppy and bitter at the finish.

My overall impression is good, not very good. If I'd had a good piece of chicken or fish with this, perhaps my opinion would have been different; something is needed to smooth out the bitterness of this beer. Still, not bad. Cheers.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2011 01:04:09 | More by bogus564

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

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

Bottle: Poured an amber color ale with a large foamy head with good retention and some light lacing. Aroma of pine and resin hops with light dry caramel malt base. Taste is also a mix between some resin and pine hoppy notes with some dry caramel malt. Body is about average with good carbonation and no apparent alcohol. Well brewed and quite enjoyable with pretty good hops punch for an APA.

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2012 19:26:36 | More by Phyl21ca

RonfromJersey

New Jersey

3.88/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

$6.49 bomber from Bourbon Street, Greenwich.

Hazy but bright red orange body, topped by four fingers of rocky white foam, good lacing.

Inviting aroma of oranges and apricots.

Opens with a smack of sweet caramel, followed by a big dose of oranges and apricots. Mild bitterness at the swallow. More juiciness in the afterglow.

Solid medium mouthfeel.

Overall, an enjoyable pale ale.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2011 04:17:22 | More by RonfromJersey

corby112

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bomber, release #10.

Pours a cloudy dark amber/copper color with golden orange hues and a half finger frothy white head that quickly settles into a lasting ring. Sporadic spots of lace left behind.

Floral hop aroma with a dank, resinous presence countered by a sweet malt character. Earthy with hints of pine and really dank kind bud. It's amazing how strong the marijuana character is in the nose. I'm also picking up some sweet citrus and some grainy malts underneath.

Medium bodied with a blast of dry, bitter hops up front that linger over the sweeter notes and malt backbone into a lingering dry finish. Very earthy with hints of dry, sticky pine. Pretty dry but this is countered by sweet citrusy hops with hints of grapefruit, pineapple and orange peel. Underneath, there is a strong malt character with hints of caramel and toffee balancing things out a bit but this beer is still pretty bitter.

Overall this beer is insanely bitter for a pale ale and is hoppier than most IPAs that I've had recently. Decently balanced but could be a bit more so.

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2011 05:55:10 | More by corby112

kagent777

Utah

3.78/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bomber from batch 34 purchased directly from the brewery and poured into my perfect pint. Bottle says this batch is 6.7 %ABV. According to Epic's website, bottled September 14, 2012.

Appearance: A bit hazy copper amber colored beer with a three finger, rocky, well retained, off white head.

Smell: Hops oils. I smell pine with the malt hiding behind the hops. The smell is one dimensional, but really pleasant.

Taste: A solid hop smack right up front. Pine and general bitterness. I have to look for the malts, but they might be described as biscuity. The bitter finish lasts a good long time.

Mouthfeel: The body feels light to medium with solid carbonation.

Overall: As a hops head, I love this beer. It is simply hard to classify. I am not sure it is an APA, it is a touch too strong. But, to be an IPA it needs a bit more balance with a stronger malt backbone. This beer is an occasional treat for me due to it's higher price point (~5.5 bomber is equivalent to an eighteen dollar 6 pack). I love that it is local and a showcase of hoppy goodness.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2012 02:13:00 | More by kagent777

KajII

North Carolina

3.78/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

[Suggested Glassware: Tulip Glass]

The pour was a hazy medium to dark copper orange with an average (1-2 finger) off white creamy head that was mostly diminishing, down to a large puddle of residue and a medium collar which produced awesome sheets of sticky streaky lacing.

The aroma was of a sweet toasted grain malt, pine and floral hops and a doughy yeast with notes of caramel, citrus (grapefruit peel) and a slight fruity ester (pineapple).

The taste was bitter sweet and rather malty with a light caramel sweetness and a mild fruitiness early on, and then became a tad bitterer and very hoppy with a pronounced citrus peel bitter ending. The flavor lasted an average time after the swallow, with a sweetly bitter hoppy taste fading steadily off the taste buds.

Mouthfeel was right between light and medium in body with a dry and slightly oily texture and a medium carbonation.

Overall I found that I really enjoyed drinking this brew, the fruity caramel sweetness was offset nicely by the harsh citrus peel bitterness and the smooth hoppy profile. This all together created a smooth easy to drink Pale Ale. I think, I just may have another…

http://www.facebook.com/KAJIIsBeerReviews

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2013 18:31:46 | More by KajII

cbarrett4

Oregon

3.73/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into taster (4 oz) at Belmont Station:

This is somewhat between a Pale ale and IPA. The hops are more aggressive than most American Pales but the malts are definitely in line with pale ale. All in all a very good beer if you are expecting a more intense pale ale or a baby IPA style.

Serving type: on-tap

09-22-2011 21:39:35 | More by cbarrett4