Indie Pale Ale - Cisco Brewers Inc.

metter98

New York

3.7/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is hazy copper/orange in color and has a moderate amount of visible carbonation along with visible particles floating in suspension. It poured with a finger high light beige head that has good retention properties and never completely faded away, leaving thick rings of bubbles down the sides of the glass.
S: There are light to moderate aromas of grapefuit hops in the nose.
T: Similar to the smell, the taste has flavors of grapefruit and pine resin hops as well as apricots. There is a moderate amount of bitterness—which particularly stands out and lingers through the aftertaste. There are hints of caramel malts.
M: It feels medium-bodied and crisp on the palate with a moderate to high amount of carbonation. There is some dryness in the finish.
O: The grapefruit hops contribute nice aromas and flavors to the taste; however, these could be better balanced through the use of more hops.

Serving type: bottle

08-20-2011 19:15:08 | More by metter98

jondeelee

Massachusetts

3.53/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Has a nose that seems typical of many microbrewery IPAs, being medium-heavy on hops, with a strong malt background that adds a nice balancing round of darker sugars.

On the tongue, however, the hops come out in forces far stronger than the nose would imply, literally engulfing the tongue and nasal cavities with grapefruity bitterness. The label notes that the ale was brewed with "mounds of dank Summit hops...and dry-hop additions," and while I couldn't find an IBU listing anywhere, it wouldn't surprise me to learn that it's not far off from three digits. So strong are these hops that, literally a full two minutes after swallowing the first mouthful, I can still taste them. In many brews this bitterness is slightly tempered by the rosewater quality that hops can also provide, but here it's just bitterness. There is a fairly strong sugary backbone to the beer (it has to be strong for me to taste it through the hops), but it doesn't come anywhere near quelling the IBUs.

Overall, I can't honestly recommend this brew to anyone who is not a serious hop-lover. Personally, I think it's good, but I also recognize that it's seriously out of balance, and would prove an instant turnoff for most.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2011 03:39:26 | More by jondeelee

drabmuh

Maryland

3.05/5  rDev -17.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Beer is red and mildly haze with a white head of small bubbles, lots of lacing but low carbonation.

Aroma is malty, like a barleywine...booo!!!!

Beer is thick and sweet with a mildly bitter finish but an insanely malty midpalate...what am I going to have to drink to wash this malt bomb out of my mouth now? It is cloying for an IPA, very heavy, very sweet, not a nice beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2011 00:38:58 | More by drabmuh

caddybuyer

New Jersey

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

Poured from a chilled bomber into a pint glass. No date.

A-Rich cloudy amber wih a thick eggshell head that laces nicely.

S-Huge malt backbone dominates the nose, with pungent C-hops in the background. Very nice.

T-Initial astringent pine and citrus hop bitterness is well balanced by healthy caramel malts which continue the balance through to a long bittersweet finish. Well done.

M-On the slighly heavier side of medium. Somewhat oily with well balance carbonation.

D-Very drinkable IPA approaching a DIPA. I call it an IPA and a quarter. Very nice New England brew that I would not hesitate to buy again.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2011 19:45:24 | More by caddybuyer

threeviews

New Jersey

4.18/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a bomber into a short-stemmed tulip glass.

A-Pours a clear, rusty-orange color with a full 1" fluffy white head possessing strong retention (over 1 minute)

S-Complex nose...apricot, bread, pine and hints of citrus are all in play here. Nothing is overpowering and all in balance.

T-Slick and malty turns to tacky and bitter where hints of pine and grapefruit burgeon on the tongue. As it warms the booziness makes itself known, but when served cold, it is hardly apparent.

M-Excellent. Strong carbonation (as evidence by the head) and strong malt presence makes for a wonderful, refreshing experience. As for the hop, your taste-buds continue to buzz, even after a minute or two since your last sip.

O-An excellent, complex IPA with lots to offer. Although there is no 'Best By:' date on the bottle, this is one brew (as with most IPA's) that I feel needs to be consumed fairly quickly after bottling, as it might turn into the proverbial 'Malt Bomb' if left on the shelf for too long. (I was lucky to have purchased this one the same day it arrived from the distributor) I look forward to investigating other offerings from Cisco.

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2011 21:32:35 | More by threeviews

Sensaray

Massachusetts

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

Hazy brown orange. Pours half finger off white frothy head which is slow to form, then slowly dissipates.

Hoppy aromas of orange grapefruit citrus, pine resin.

Bit of spice up front leads to caramel to bitter to grain to bigger bitter. Hoppiness balances this whole affair out with grapefruit being prominent, along with that bitter piney sorta deal. Tropical emerged here too. Good flavors.

Great mouthfeel, smooth.

Strong bitter here. Definitely agree with east meets west coast, done pretty well. This was very good cold.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2011 23:13:04 | More by Sensaray

Beaver13

Colorado

2.28/5  rDev -38.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

12oz bottle. Pours a hazy light tea color with a small off white head that quickly diminishes to a thin film that leaves a little lacing.

The aroma is subdued - some sweet (almost nutty) caramel malt with a little melon and some grassy hops.

The flavor is off to me - a little sweet caramel malt and a lot of metallic hops that leave a tarry aftertaste. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and kind of watery.

Overall, it's got a good amount of bitterness, but the flavors taste very off to me.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2011 04:42:09 | More by Beaver13

sethmeister

New Hampshire

4.22/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Cloudy copper orange body with a dense cream colored head. Fluffy sticky panels of lace on the glass. Lots of particulates. Looks great.

Scent is oranges and grapefruit with a hint of pine. Spicy.

Taste is citrus. Juicy grapefruit, tangerine, orange peel. Apricot. Even some tropical fruit. Pine resin comes in to follow. Spicy and earthy. Dank oniony notes from the summit hops. There's some burnt crust and yeasty bread underneath but the hops are clearly on display here.

Mouth is juicy and oily with a nicely astringent quenching finish.

Drinkability very good. HIts the spot.

This is a really good American IPA. Will buy again.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2011 20:37:50 | More by sethmeister

bishopdc0

Maine

3.05/5  rDev -17.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Shared a bottle with my wife. The beer pours amber into my Allagash tulip. As the head forms it expands and stays. A I drink the lace sticks to the glasses edge.

The aroma is a mix of pine and citrus hops the citrus stays in the nose longer but the pine is definitely apparent in the beginning.

This is an interesting taste not what I expected. The carbonation fills the mouth and tickles the edge the gums. The taste of pine hops is the most prevalent taste a slight sweetness from the malt come through and as the carbonation subsides a lingering hop bitter remains. This is a fresh brew with a lot going on but not my favorite taste in an IPA.

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2011 00:12:15 | More by bishopdc0

KTCamm

New Jersey

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

Picked up a 12 oz bottle as part of a local mix a sixer.

Pours dark amber with medium foam. Layer around the rim. Grapefruit smell. Pine notes. All IPA. Taste is a firm but fading hop. Nutty toffee taste. End finish holds some bittering. Malty. Really tasty IPA.

No surprise - another solid brew from Nantucket!

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2011 12:38:14 | More by KTCamm

ALeF

New Hampshire

4.13/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is perhaps my favorite offering from Cisco.

A – medium amber in color with a thick, short lasting head (which leaves lots of lacing) and moderate carbonation.

S – a citrusy-piney hop mix with a sweet malty aroma

T – a upfront hit of the citrusy hops with a mild, but lingering, bitterness at the end; a sweet malt flavoring intermixed within the hops. Nicely balanced.

M – moderate carbonation to a medium bodied feel in the mouth.

D – this is an easy drinking India pale ale that I would drink more often if not for availability.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2011 19:38:12 | More by ALeF

Casey10

Maine

3.63/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This is a pretty decent beer although I will say this if you like Gubna from oskar blues you will like this if you don't you wont like this as they both use summit hops and have a similar taste (gubna being a DIPA) I might consider this on it's little brother.

A - Nice light head hazy copper body.

S - light smell of mangos and apricot.

T - I can see were people think of oninon I get a slight taste of that but not excatly

M - has a rough but nice kick for a ipa

O - I liked it a little spicy but hey its a ipa really has a nice bit of kick and I think some weill really like this.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2011 00:58:00 | More by Casey10

axeman9182

New Jersey

2.65/5  rDev -28.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12oz bottle taken home from the American Craft Beer Fest and poured into my Duvel tulip.

Indie Pale Ale pours a somewhat hazy amber, with tangerine spots around the edge of the beer when held up to light. There's about three fingers of ivory foam forming the beer's head, and it hangs around for a quick minute before fading and leaving spotty lacing. Especially as the beer warms, the advertised "mounds of dank Summit hops" come through in the nose, and for someone who gets a pronounced onion flavor/aroma from Summit hops, this isn't a good thing. If I strain I can appreciate a little bit of tropical fruits and even mint (I've seen other name mint in reviews of IPAs before, but never found it myself until this beer). Still though, onion is the predominant aroma. It's still in charge, but a little less dominant in the flavor. I can definitely appreciate some tropical fruits, mangoes and peaches. The bitter onion aftertaste that lingers though drops the flavor score below average. The body is fine, mid to light for the style, but the carbonation is just a little bit too dull. I hate to come down this hard on a beer for something that's more a matter of individual preference than execution of style, but I just can't get past what Summit hops do to a beer for me.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2011 02:57:39 | More by axeman9182

PhageLab

Virginia

3.68/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a weizen glass.

A - Massive pillowy head tops this effervescent orange brew. Excellent retention and lacing.

S - Citrus notes and a candy sweetness.

T - Rich malty body, bitterness is good, but reminds me more of an over hopped English version than what I've become accustomed to in an American IPA. Dry and biscuity in the finish.

M - Dry light body, mild carbonation.

D - Surprised about the ABV, it was not noticeable at all. Not sure what the intentions here were, but whatever it is, it is good.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2011 00:09:03 | More by PhageLab

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a lighter fizzy 1/4 finger head that fades semi slowly, over mostly clear amber orange color.

Nose has nice grassy hops, slightly earthy, a bit floral, and just a touch of fruity hops like tangerine, under that is a bit of a sweet malt base for a nice balance.

Taste starts with a clean ale taste, and gets fairly bitter quickly, hops come on quickly but mostly bittering hops at first, then a bit of earthy slight herbal hops, bit of fruity hops again with a slight tangerine, a nice malty backbone gives it a nice balance, semi sweet malts. Finishes slightly dry, fairly bitter as it seems to build just a bit as it goes, lingering clean bitterness, a slight earthy hop character.

Mouth is medium bodied, great carbonation adding a nice palate cleanser to the bitterness and semi sweetness.

overall pretty good, nice hop characters, good carbonation, the flavoring hops die off a bit on the palate so I took a slight edge off for that.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2011 01:16:17 | More by jlindros

DrJay

Massachusetts

3.05/5  rDev -17.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Burnt orange with some haze, light beige cap of fine bubbles, decent head retention and plenty of clumpy lacing. Fruity, caramel aroma, light pine. Sweetness was more prominent than bitterness until the finish, lots of caramel and fruit up front followed by some pine and alcohol. Mild warmth, medium bodied with lowish carbonation. A decent beer, but as an IPA it seemed thoroughly average, especially for a malt forward IPA.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2011 01:39:55 | More by DrJay

CHADMC3

Connecticut

3.93/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a dense copper body with orange hues and lively bubbles of carbonation dance up to the off-white, creamy head that leaves a very thick lacing in its path.

The aroma primarily consists of sweet malt with only hints of pine or grassy hops.

The flavor offers generous citrus hops with grapefruit and apricot just as advertised. Hints of the malt offered in the aroma are also present as well as a touch of pine or woodiness towards the finish.

Medium in body and carbonation, this is quite refreshing.

A very fine example of the American IPA, this is just a plain good beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2011 01:06:46 | More by CHADMC3

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

4.08/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A-Pours a somewhat clouded sappy amber color. The head is attractive and it slowly dies off but still leaves a layer of foam that sits throughout the entire sipping. The beer laces very well.

S-A hefty whiff of caramel along with some earthy and citrusy hops. This beer definitely has its own individual aroma. You can identify many specific scents but the overall aroma is unique. The beer smells sugary. Unique aroma but not very powerful.

T-I am a fan of the flavor. Like the nose, this beer is pretty different than most IPAs I have had. The earthy and piney hops are quite noticeable. A get an almost vegetable-like flavor too. The sugars in the nose are less prolific in the taste. The beer is decently bitter.

M-Lighter side of medium bodied. A tad sappy. Pretty good carbonation too.

O/D-I would say that this beer is overall a bit underrated. It is not a top tier IPA in my opinion, but I do enjoy its individuality. Definitely has that East Coast IPA taste, with its own spin on the idea. At 7.58% the alcohol is well masked. Not bad at all.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2011 22:18:56 | More by VelvetExtract

perrymarcus

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle served in a pint glass.

pours a translucent dark amber shade with frothy 1" or so of beige colored head that goes absolutely nowhere; excellent lacing. great looking IPA.

nose is likewise outstanding. a lot of citric hoppiness (grapefruit, apricot) with the suggestion of a malty backbone.

taste is very good, though for me doesn't quite live up to the expectations built by the aroma. i think the malt bill is a bit overdone - i like a little balance in my IPAs, but the toasted maltiness is infringing with the hops a bit. still, a tasty brew. bitter hoppiness persist through the finish.

medium bodied moutfeel with average carbonation.

hands down this is a solid brew. a few small adjustments and i think it has the potential to be a true upper eschelon IPA.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2011 01:35:40 | More by perrymarcus

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev +7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Cisco Indie Pale Ale

Appearance: Pours a cloudy, unfiltered, burnt orange with soapy off white head and a nice display of webbed lacing on the pint glass. Looks pretty good.

Smell: Strong citrus aroma boasting orange, pineapple and sappy resin. They really knocked it out of the park in the smell, what an inviting and pleasing scent. Has West Coast written all over it.

Taste: Soft grapefruit, piney bitterness is at a medium to low level. Mild herbal qualities and alittle rind in there too. Pretty mellow and the tropical fruit aspect is slim to none. Hop forward and solid IPA flavor.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, mild carbonation and the feel is alittle thin.

Overall: A pretty impressive brew from cisco brewers. Alittle more attenuation in the body and we'd have a world class IPA here, still, not far from it.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2011 05:54:23 | More by Stinkypuss

cbutova

Massachusetts

3.53/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- Hazy amber with a small white head. Size and retention are pretty weak. Nice lace patches as I drink it down.

S- Caramel malt and dark fruit with a hop presence lending citrus, pine, floral and earthy notes.

T- Caramel and buttery with some fruit notes and hops in the forefront. The hops lend floral, citrus and pine notes. Melon, maple somehow.

MF- Creamy light body with high carbonation stinging the palate. Somewhat bitter in the finish.

Certainly not your standard IPA but it doesn't feel that balanced overall or very satisfying in a way. The buttery flavors sort of threw me off but it's not too bad, especially when it warms up.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2011 04:46:37 | More by cbutova

rdpoint

Massachusetts

3.25/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A-Nice color, solid head that stays around for a while, medium carbonation

S-Hops are clearly come through, next citrus with a little malt to faint bread smell.

T-At first I loved this beer, now as the keg drains down I'm not so fond. A very slight metallic taste is pretty apparent. The forward taste is hoppy followed up by bitterness and faint citrus overtones. Don't misunderstand I like the beer but I wouldn't order another keg of it, by the glassful I would recommend at least sampling.

M-Surprisingly full, with a nice bit of carbonation

O-An enjoyable beer, not one that you could drink all day but worth the effort to try.

Serving type: on-tap

04-28-2011 15:14:38 | More by rdpoint

thagr81us

South Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Big thanks goes out to LarryG for sending me this one as an extra in a recent trade! Served from bottle into a Stone nonic. Poured yellow-orange with one finger white head that subsided to a minimal amount very slowly. Maintained excellent lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, citrus, and citrus hop. The flavor was of sweet malt, caramel, citrus, dark fruit, and citrus hop. It had a medium feel on the palate with medium carbonation. Overall this was a really good brew. The followthrough on this one was quite excellent. Both the aroma and flavor were quite good and inviting on this one. This one is definitely worth seeking out for anyone out there and could be a good gateway brew for some out there with the complexity found in here. Nice job Cisco!

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2011 11:41:14 | More by thagr81us

WVbeergeek

Ohio

3.9/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a deep dark crimson color darker than most barleywines these days. Thick light beige head stands up tall and rises thick above the rim of the chalice. As it dwindles down it leaves behind fine speckled lacing, and I guess it's time to describe the hop nose. Bright fruity notes I'm getting apricot with herbal/earthy/floral citrus there's some definite hops in here, especially some well blended Summits because I'm not getting any vegetable/garlic/or onion thank God. As I say that about the aroma I'm getting exactly that a bunch of Summit hops provided some spicy onion/garlic like notes but it blends well with these dark fruitier malts. Without this yeast and malt combo this would be completely one sided in the worst way with Summit. Mouthfeel is slightly slick with hop oils, but carbonation works well with the spicy hops and residual hop resins sticking around. Overall experience comes off a bit too spicy for me, but I'm still liking the East Coast to West Coast tribute IPA we got going on. Just not my favorite brew ever, but solid stand up be ready for something different than the mainstream.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2011 09:22:26 | More by WVbeergeek

rfgetz

New Jersey

4.28/5  rDev +16%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a lightly hazed golden amber color with a few fingers of off-white bubbles, good retention and lacing. Scent is hop forward with grapefruity, floral, earthy and pine the stars, some citrus, decent lightly biscuity malt backbone, reminicent of an english brew. taste packs a full sized hop punch, grapefruit forward with equal parts floral, earthy and piney. Malt a little bigger than nose dictates, nutty and buscuity. Medium bodied, great smooth feel, lightly dry. A nice full flavored IPA which should please hop and malt heads.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2011 14:34:51 | More by rfgetz