Li'l Napoleon - Pensacola Bay Brewery

charlzm

California

3.48/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Consumed at brewery March 10th, 2012.

Appearance: clear, medium orange/amber. Nice off white head with excellent sheeting.

Hoppy aroma: lightly citric with apricots and white peach.

Flavor from the hops continues from the nose with the addition of red grapefruit. Flavor is unexpectedly mild. Malt flavor is MIA. Bitterness is moderate.

Slightly dry and lively on the tongue.

Not a palate-scraping west coast monster, this AIPA would benefit from a malt presence on the palate. Otherwise, nicely done.

Serving type: on-tap

06-15-2012 00:40:24 | More by charlzm

johntfox

Florida

3.75/5  rDev +3.3%

05-21-2013 17:55:46 | More by johntfox

TwoForty

Florida

2/5  rDev -44.9%

05-12-2013 00:54:56 | More by TwoForty

jonathaniler

Florida

2/5  rDev -44.9%

05-12-2013 00:49:10 | More by jonathaniler

Lare453

Florida

3.75/5  rDev +3.3%

03-24-2013 19:09:07 | More by Lare453

Gerred

Florida

4/5  rDev +10.2%

02-24-2013 01:39:55 | More by Gerred

RandyBoBandy

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -3.6%

02-13-2013 00:05:43 | More by RandyBoBandy

dragoondingus

Florida

3.75/5  rDev +3.3%

01-24-2013 18:49:39 | More by dragoondingus

nickfl

Florida

3.73/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Pours with one finger of off white foam on top of a perfectly clear, amber brown body. The head settles fairly quickly and leaves light lace on the glass.

S - Caramel malt with toffee and pine hops notes with a little spice in the background.

T - Sweet, thick malt up front with some toffee and brown sugar notes. A barleywine like hop profile emerges in the middle with mustardy notes and some pine. Finishes with notes of pepper, pine, spices and lingering caramel.

M - A fairly thick body, moderate carbonation, and a slightly sweet finish.

D - Not bad, this is definitely an "East Coast" IPA and not something that is going to excite hard core hop heads. That said, it is a well made beer and as the name implies, it does seem like a much bigger beer than it is. If it were a couple of percentage points stronger, it would straddle the line between IPA and barleywine.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 06:18:57 | More by nickfl

Apostlebrews

Texas

3.88/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Continuing my exploration of Florida's finest, today's review comes from Pensacola Bay Brewery. This brewery is located in the heart of Pensacola's historic district. In fact, it's the city's first full-scale brewery since prohibition, and for a while, they were not actually allowed to sell beer on their premises. So, to get around the laws, patrons could buy the glass (empty) and receive free beer. Not a bad deal!

I picked up Li'l Napoleon from Total Wine in Jacksonville. This is actually my first taste of anything from Pensacola; so I was quite eager to give it a go!

The aroma is pretty mild. There are hints of hops on the nose, but there's nothing overwhelming. I was pretty surprised at how absent the aroma is given that it's an IPA--a style that usually has a strong aroma.

For everything the nose is lacking, the flavors make up. Li'l Napoleon is a citrus punch in the face. Lots of hop-bitterness, citrus freshness, and not a whole lot anything else (and that's not a bad thing). Very little sweetness or malt to speak of beyond the fructose-like-flavors that come from the citrus profile. The finish is crisp, clean, and slightly dry. Overall satisfying and exactly what I'm looking for in an IPA.

As I mentioned above, this is my first beer from Pensacola Bay and it definitely doesn't disappoint. Li'l Napoleon is just an old fashioned American IPA and that's all it tries to be. I appreciate the fact that Pensacola Bay Brewery didn't try to be too experimental with this. It's exactly what a solid IPA is supposed to taste like. It's hoppy. It's floral. It's refreshing. What more do you need from an IPA?

Check me out on Twitter (@beeraposle) or on my blog (thebeerapostle.com)

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2012 23:15:34 | More by Apostlebrews

oldedog

Connecticut

3.5/5  rDev -3.6%

12-22-2012 22:02:30 | More by oldedog

GRG1313

California

3/5  rDev -17.4%

12-09-2012 19:09:48 | More by GRG1313

RKel888

Alabama

4/5  rDev +10.2%

08-20-2012 20:07:39 | More by RKel888

RedSnapper

Florida

4.23/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Sitting in a craft beer bar, you can get a feel for the quality of a beer as far as the comments of the people drinking it. This IPA is liked by experienced craft beer dinkers as well as newbies to unpasturized cold beers. It rates very high. With a hint of the citrus trees that grow in a church yard across the street and the scent of the pine trees growing on the beach at Ft Pickens across the bay, this beer seems almost hisrorical---as if the French put their best into this Spanish village. If Napolean approved anything other than cognac it would be the taste, scent and drinkability of this beer.

Serving type: on-tap

08-02-2012 08:28:15 | More by RedSnapper

david18

New York

2.65/5  rDev -27%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

I had a draft of this at the Pensacola airport on my way to Gulf Shores Alabama. Not really that good but I was glad to see local beer at such a small, remote establishment.

Appearance was a clear amber, fizzy head that dissipated pretty quickly.

Aroma was very disappointing for an IPA. Some citrus, maybe some pine but really not much of anything.

Flavor as well was a bit underwhelming. Better that fizzy yellow but not really an IPA.

Try it but don't expect too much.

Serving type: on-tap

06-25-2012 19:43:56 | More by david18

Monkeyknife

Missouri

4/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had from the tap a clear copper-gold with two fingers of bright white head.

Aroma of pine resin, floral notes and caramel malts.

Hoppy taste of pine along with a light fruitiness and caramel malts.

Medium bodied and a bit dry with a moderate carbonation.

My first beer from Pensacola Bay Brewery and it's a winner.

Serving type: on-tap

06-13-2012 20:19:05 | More by Monkeyknife

Zakk

3.5/5  rDev -3.6%

06-02-2012 23:58:29 | More by Zakk

xHopHeadx

Georgia

4.25/5  rDev +17.1%

05-21-2012 05:25:30 | More by xHopHeadx

fisherbray

Florida

2.75/5  rDev -24.2%

04-25-2012 18:59:21 | More by fisherbray

kylehay2004

Florida

3.75/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: thin head on a clear amber and gold body with decednt lacing.

S: very piney with a tangy touch. nice caramel malt background.

T: more pine in the flavor with a light citrus hop note however the citrus doesn't provide sweetness. honey and caramel notes.

M: medium body and moderate carbonation.

Overall: definitely a good one if you want a pine dominated IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

04-19-2012 23:31:55 | More by kylehay2004

Antonius08

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +17.1%

04-01-2012 02:52:38 | More by Antonius08

bcal16

Alabama

3.75/5  rDev +3.3%

03-16-2012 14:11:07 | More by bcal16

abeerlovr

Florida

4.22/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I had a pint of this at Hopjacks Pizza Kitchen & Taproom on Sunday, September 25, 2011. I specify the date as this beer was phenomenal. I have had it in the past but is seems that this new brewery had hit the nail on the head and perfected its recipe.

A: nice hazy golden color with nice head that stuck around for awhile, good lacing on the glass.

S: this is always my weakest review as I typically have stuffed sinuses...some detections of citrus, hops, wheat.

T: delicious, this rivals some very well known IPAs and is on point for an IPA as far as style characteristics. Had the citrus peel/grapefruit flavor, lots of hops, spices nice refreshing drink.

M: I had ridden my bicycle to the pub and needed a refreshing drink, this hit the spot. Crisp, full of effervescence.

Overall: I have had this beer several times now and this was the best batch thus far. Hope the brewery will be consistent as this could be the beer that launches a thousand barrels. Also hope they start bottling soon. Great job guys.

Serving type: on-tap

09-26-2011 16:21:21 | More by abeerlovr

JayS2629

Alabama

4/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clear copper color with a thick white head that fades slowly and leaves sticky lacing.

The aroma is of caramel, toasted bread, melon, floral hops, and citrus.

The flavor tends toward melon, pineapple and orange with some floral honey suckle notes and orange blossom.

Good balance, slightly watery

Overall, good beer.

Serving type: on-tap

09-15-2011 02:48:55 | More by JayS2629

jgurley

Florida

3.38/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Mellow Mushroom in PCB. Served in a 10 oz schooner glass with no head. Dark, nearly brown amber. Smell is strictly piney hops. Too cold to have a lot on the nose. Taste is pineapple, orange rind, mango and pine. Not much sweetness here. Dryness works well with the salty pizza. Low carbonation and resiny mouthfeel. Dry, bitter finish.

Serving type: on-tap

07-22-2011 22:50:18 | More by jgurley