Simtra - Knee Deep Brewing Company

koopa

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bomber received in a trade with JustinQ thanks!

Appearance Pours a tawny caramel to russet orange and is quite cloudy no doubt from dry hopping. The crown is 1 finger, white, shows little retention and some lace.

Smell: Candied pineapple, tangelo orange, mango, and a touch of candied grapefruit, both bready and caramel malt, and a noticeable alcohol tinge.

Taste: Same as the nose but the hop bitterness and alcohol presence dominate which buries the subtle tropical fruit aromatics produced by the hops. I'd give it a 3.75 if I could so I'm rounding up a bit.

Mouthfeel: Thick side of medium bodied with moderate carbonation.

Overall: If this beer was fermented at a cooler temperature to control the alcohol presence I'd be happier with it. If the flavor was more like the nose it would have potential. It's still a good "over the top sting your palate winter type triple ipa" though.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2012 23:10:30 | More by koopa

InspectorBob

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev -1.2%

05-20-2013 20:01:13 | More by InspectorBob

RaulMondesi

California

2.14/5  rDev -50.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 1 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1.75

Bottled 4-23-13

What in the sweet hell is going on with this thang? This is the worst smelling thing that I have smelt since my ex ate curried goat and then tried to slip me some frenchie frenchie. What in the...? Raul heard many great things about this guy, but the taste lies a bit thin like jarrod after a 5 dollar footling - and quite frankly, it is a bit rancid.

Not into it. Not into it at all.

*sonething wrong had to have happened to this thing

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 01:45:29 | More by RaulMondesi

moonknight31

California

4.5/5  rDev +4.7%

05-19-2013 17:05:58 | More by moonknight31

TofuDC5

California

4.65/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

A: A nice amber and orange shade. Almost no head after pour.

S: The most distinguishing trait of this beer; Resembled Pliny The Younger - yes, I've had the opportunity of enjoying that one. Very robust aroma of apple, orange, and pineapple. Very satisfying.

T: As it smells. Easy to drink due to the excellent balance of hops and fruit.

M: I was probably expecting Simtra to be hoppier than it was. Smooth.

O: I enjoyed this one and plan to drink this again very soon. If you're into IPAs at all, you'll love it. Best drank in a tulip glass (imho) where you can truly appreciate the aroma, which lasts even after you've tasted it.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 06:15:40 | More by TofuDC5

brewandbbq

New Hampshire

4.39/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

22oz bottle dated 3/5/13 from the Jug Shop, SF.

Pours clear gold with a slight chill haze and a two inch white head after a bit of a stretch-pour. The remaining lacework appears to be from the initial head retreat and not after.

Aromatics are pungently filled with tropical fruit. Mango, apricot, pear, tangerine, and melon.

Medium bodied and light on the palate given the high ABV.

Bright tropical fruit with a boozy backbone start the palate. Intense amounts of fruity, citrusy hops with a firm bitterness. Malt level is low.

Finishes pretty dry with lingering fruit and warming alcohol.

Many have attempted a triple IPA, but few have pulled it off without the beer tasting like a barleywine. This one in fact pulls it off. Great beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 21:15:02 | More by brewandbbq

acurtis

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -12.8%

05-18-2013 19:01:44 | More by acurtis

MNishCT77

District of Columbia

4.24/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

22 oz. bottle purchased at Ales Unlimited in San Francisco, CA, bottled on 3/30/13, poured into a hotel style glass and drank over ~30 minutes.

A: 4.5 - amber-brown coloration, strong hop haze (couldn't read through it), white quarter-finger head subdues into minimal glass lacing, big time alcohol legs at 11.5%!

S: 4 - I'll admit that the bottle might be past prime, but this smells more like a hoppy American barleywine that an IPA; big alcohol/bourbon notes with background hop qualities (grapefruit, pine, etc.)

T: 4.25 - in conjunction with the aroma, there are really big time alcohol notes in the taste; yet, at the front of the tongue, there is a moderate bitterness (the alcohol definitely subdues the 131 IBU) which resolves into a complex malt character still more reminiscent of a hopped-up American BW than an IPA - caramel sweetness predominates for me

M: 4.5 - big, big booze, chewy complex, large alcohol notes --> again, why "triple IPA" instead of American barleywine

O: 4.25 - I liked this, but, to be frank, it's not a 95; tastes more like SN's Bigfoot than any of the world class imperial IPAs; the closest imperial IPA that I can think of is Avery's Maharaja, which, for hop quality, blows this out of the water; still, it's enjoyable, and, if I can ever find it again, especially superfresh, I'll return.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 01:56:29 | More by MNishCT77

Shogun730

California

5/5  rDev +16.3%

05-17-2013 21:27:46 | More by Shogun730

BillyHayes

California

5/5  rDev +16.3%

05-17-2013 06:52:42 | More by BillyHayes

Orlando

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +10.5%

05-17-2013 02:36:21 | More by Orlando

magictacosinus

California

4.28/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Thanks, Jon. Another newfangled "triple IPA" that's gotten a lot of buzz. Excited to have tried it, but fortunate that I split it. Poured into a tulip glass. Consumed on 05/12/13. Review is from my notes.

The appearance is a highly oily, amber golden clear color complete with a surprising amount of head - about 1.5 fingers worth. Indeed, what's more surprising is that the head and carbonation lasts throughout, which is not as easy feat to accomplish. Bubbles are very minimal throughout, although the clear, glowing body of the beer is very presentable. Ridiculously viscous - the alcohol legs were everywhere on this thing. Looks pretty awesome, but I fear it will be a booze bomb.

The aroma tells me otherwise, but at the same time provides me tons - and I mean TONS - of hop resinous aromas that I don't think I've experienced ever. There an initial burst of bitterness and citrus sweetness, which quickly changes to a diverse bouquet of fruits, from passion fruit to mango, from blood oranges to strawberries. Very fruity, although maybe a little floral at the finish. Earthy as all hell, and combined with the syrupy, toffee-like flavors from the malts, it becomes even more rustic. This is drowned in hops, almost to the point where I can't make out anything else - not even the alcohol. However, it is a fascinating experience, especially with the passion fruit/strawberry combo they have this going towards. Very astringent - it's almost as if the hop residue gets caught in the nostrils with each whiff.

Well, the flavor is not as explosive in fruitiness as the aroma, but it is very enjoyable. There's an immediate bittered, candied fruitiness that comes right with each sip, followed by a syrupy malty backbone that is drenched in the booze. Due to the oily, astringent character of the beer, there is no alcohol presence, although there is a burn. The fruits range from mango to passion fruit to, at times, papaya. Just as in the case of Palate Wrecker, the malt caramelized syrup holds up the fort with the hop invasion, and makes this relatively easy to drink. The present carbonation makes this a juicy drinking experience. Given the high ABV and volatile nature of the hops, this is definitely something that should be consumed quickly and in smaller portions in order to get the full experience. It's intense, but it's something I didn't have troubles finishing.

This is a totally nuts hop-forward experience, almost to the point of excessiveness, but luckily the malt backbone does wonders in maintaining character and making the fruity, tropical notes feel full-bodied. Definitely worth tracking down, and *definitely* worth making note of the freshness of this product. This would not age well at all. Super resinous unlike any DIPA I've had to date. Recommended!

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 18:05:12 | More by magictacosinus

Zimm

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -12.8%

05-15-2013 22:56:04 | More by Zimm

ncstateplaya

North Carolina

4/5  rDev -7%

05-14-2013 13:36:20 | More by ncstateplaya

earlholman

District of Columbia

3.75/5  rDev -12.8%

05-14-2013 13:30:02 | More by earlholman

volta

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -12.8%

05-12-2013 16:04:10 | More by volta

Csimmons

California

4.5/5  rDev +4.7%

05-12-2013 04:37:57 | More by Csimmons

Summer78

Illinois

4/5  rDev -7%

05-12-2013 02:05:09 | More by Summer78

lonewolfcry

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +4.7%

05-12-2013 02:01:49 | More by lonewolfcry

thebigredone

Wisconsin

4.66/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to xtent for hooking me up with this as an extra!

Pours a medium golden-orange, nice head.

Great aroma coming out of the glass, when cold the beer gives off a wonderful tropical/citrus fruit aroma. When warm, booze takes over and dominates.

Taste also varies as the beer gets warmer. When cooler, the citrus fruits dominate with a great orange flavor and minimal booze. As the beer warms to room temp, the fruit becomes slightly more subdued, and the beer has a more balanced rofile with the booze taking a much more significant role.

Mouthfeel was great, a little slick and oily on the tongue, but not overly so.

Overall, this was a kick-ass TIPA. Definitely something I will seek out again.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 01:04:51 | More by thebigredone

djrn2

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -7%

05-12-2013 01:03:12 | More by djrn2

DmouthCaliBrewz

New Hampshire

4.5/5  rDev +4.7%

05-12-2013 00:57:28 | More by DmouthCaliBrewz

ToriBug13

California

4.43/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Knee Deep Brewing Co. Simtra Triple IPA: Lincoln, CA

-22oz bottle, ABV 11.25%

-Poured into a Sam Adams glass

-Appearance: Wow! The head on this beer is fantastic! Nice lacing too! Beautiful amber color.

-Smell: Definite citrus, sweet malt! Excellent aroma on this beer!!!

-Taste & Mouth Feel: VERY NICE! Hops balanced with malt, and a citrus finish. Medium body, clean finish, good carbonation. This is one of the best beers I've had in a while. I will definitely be bringing this into my store!

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 23:33:03 | More by ToriBug13

waddellc2

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev -1.2%

05-10-2013 20:36:14 | More by waddellc2

AdamPaul

California

4.5/5  rDev +4.7%

05-09-2013 01:53:12 | More by AdamPaul