Saint Arnold Elissa IPA - Saint Arnold Brewing Company

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.46/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25

This poure out as a copper color with a small white head on top. The retention is minimal with virtually no lacing at all. The smell of the beer is mostly malt, not sure how old the bottle might be but I have trouble detecting much of the hops on the nose here. The taste is also pretty malt forward as well, decent caramel flavors but not enough hops to give it the punch it needs. The mouthfeel is pretty good, it's got a solid body to it, good carbonation and it's pretty easy to put down. Overall it's more of an English IPA to me than an American one. Either way it's a pretty decent beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2013 22:28:33 | More by Knapp85

BrownAleMale

Wisconsin

3.94/5  rDev +4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into a Ommegang chalice glass

Appearance- Tints of yellow, orange and red. 2 fingers of cloudy white head that dissipates into a very thin layer leaving spotty lacing.

Smell- Lots of juicy citrus with some bready malt.

Taste- Lots of buttery bread malts combined with juicy citrus fruit. Reminiscent of Smuttynose IPA.

Mouthfeel- Medium in body with a good amount of carbonation that makes it a little heavier drinking then I like in an IPA.

Overall- A very well balanced IPA that may get discounted in hop heads books, but is very solid in mine.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 00:54:50 | More by BrownAleMale

VaterRoss

North Carolina

4.48/5  rDev +18.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle, Bottled: 5/30/12.

Pours a clear orange/amber with very little visible carbonation. Has a nice sticky white head (recedes to a ring) that leaves some lacing. Smell is a wonderfully juicy pineapple and tangerine citrus burst. The taste follows the smell with a burst of sticky juiciness with a nice caramel malt backing. Not particularly sweet. Leaves a lingering mouth coating bitterness.

One of the best AIPAs I have had. So juicy and hoppy. I wish it was unfiltered, but this may just be due to my favorite AIPA being unfiltered.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2012 19:08:52 | More by VaterRoss

RonaldTheriot

Louisiana

4.45/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Saint Arnold Elissa IPA has a thick, fluffy, cream-colored head, and a clear, sparkling, orange-gold appearance, with lots of lacing and some streaming bubbles. The aroma is of sharp citrus and bready malt, and the flavor is of bitter hops, citrus peel, and sweet bread. The mouthfeel is medium and soft, and Saint Arnold Elissa IPA finishes astringent, mostly dry, puckering, and mellow. Overall, this is a most excellent beer.

RJT

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2012 13:57:34 | More by RonaldTheriot

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.65/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to dirtygrind (Reddit) for another Saint Arnold I've never had before.

Bah, another screw cap?! Pours a light fizzy 1/2 finger head that fades at a med pace, light lacing, over a hazy copper honey orange colored beer.

Nose isn't bad, nice light floral hops, some citrus with a light candied orange peel, a bit of pine, and a bit of earthy bittering style hop and some sweet crystal malts.

Taste starts with some sweeter malts, a light syrupy caramel like sweet malt with a hint of a toasty reddish malt, and a light candy flavor. That leads into the hops with again the candied orange peel, a mild bitterness with light earthy bittering hop, and just touches of citrus and faint hint of tropical fruit like tangerine.Finish is a bit malty sweet and syrupy but a bit drier, a ramping grassy earthy hop taste that reminds me that it actually is an IPA despite the light hop flavors and malty sweetness.

Mouth is med bodied, decent carb, bit sticky.

Overall eh, not great, it started OK, but the taste dropped off with little hop flavor and even lighter bitterness overall. The malts take a lot more of the show, making this more of a hoppy red ale.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2012 22:37:50 | More by jlindros

Tone

Missouri

3.45/5  rDev -9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear, copper color. 1/4 inch head of a white color. Decent retention and poor lacing. Smells of citrus hops, slight hop oils, sweet malt, hint of roasted malt, and slight caramel malt. Fits the style of an American IPA. Mouth feel is sharp and clean, with an average carbonation level. Tastes of citrus hops, sweet malt, slight earthy malt, slight caramel malt, and a hint of hop oils. Overall, weak appearance, decent aroma and body.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2012 23:50:47 | More by Tone

Siriusfisherman

Montana

4/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A crystal clear golden/amber with a nice, thin soapy head up top. The nose is smells of strong citrus and toasty british malt. The taste is rich in hops at first, but a nice robust toasty and sweet malt, as well as a light yeasty note, take some of the edge off the cloying grapefruit hop flavor (cascade?). Sharp carbonation and a nice smooth mouthfeel, make this one flavorful beer that is at home in a texas summer. All in all, this is a very good IPA, and a nice change from the constant barrage of 'west coast' style ales (not that there is anything wrong with them). A very flavorful and complex beer, made by some very knowledgable brewers.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2012 02:27:50 | More by Siriusfisherman

match1112

Illinois

3.85/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

a bright orangish copper body with a fingers worth of sea foamy head quickly settles to a ring leaving plenty of lacing behind. the smell is mostly earthy pine with breads and citrus hiding in the background. taste is a good combination of pine and citrus, not too dry and bitter and not too sweet. good bready malt presence holds it together well. a medium body with good carbonation and an oily feel with a short dry finish are the most noticable traits. overall a fine ipa. thanks for the texas beers UHCougar12!

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2012 03:27:15 | More by match1112

Gosox8787

New Hampshire

3.78/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Presentation: 12 oz. bottle courtesy of Canadianghetto poured into a Karbach Brewing pint glass. This has been chilling in the refrigerator all day and is nice and cold, great for the recent heat wave.

Appearance: Bright copper orange in color with a cloudy white, two finger head the sticks nicely to the glass. Keeps a nice lacing around throughout.

Aroma: Some nice pine notes and a cracker note in there as well. Some caramel sticks out and gives a nice backing and sweetness as well.

Taste: Really bitter hops, lots of pine upfront. Some nice backing caramel and malt. There is a touch of a yeast note in there too.

Mouthfeel: Light to medium bodied and nicely carbonated.

Overall, a nice bitter and refreshing IPA. It leans more toward the English IPA style than American. Pretty complex and easy to drink. Definitely enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2012 23:12:34 | More by Gosox8787

OremLK

Texas

4.05/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from bottle into pint glass after sitting out of the fridge 10 minutes, 45-50ish degrees.

A: Clear golden amber with a two finger head and lots of medium bubbles. Clearly a pretty well-carbonated beer. Left lots of sticky lace on the side of my glass, belying its creamy finish.

S: Spices, pine, floral, citrus. Not as strong as some IPAs but definitely present and accounted for. Nice balance, you can smell everything in the beer right up front.

T: Reminds me of a slightly hoppier Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. It has a lot of the same characteristics; the bitter backbone and citrusy flavor with hints of other tastes glinting in the background. The malty sweetness underlaying it all and capping off the bitterness at the finish with a sweet but not cloying, aftertaste. The bitterness is more pronounced and tends in a slightly more piny direction, and this is not really a bad thing. It's a fairly mild IPA, at the edge of the category in bitterness, but it tastes great. If you're a Texan wanting something a bit stronger and a bit cheaper than SN Pale Ale this is it.

M: Pretty high carbonation, as expected. Creamier finish than my comparison beer, SN Pale Ale; that plus the higher ABV means it's not as sessionable.

O: Pretty high ABV in this one, 6.6%. I'm a skinny guy, so I've got a nice buzz going after a brief walk and retiring to a bottle of these. Overall I like this beer a lot and will drink many more of them.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2012 15:12:28 | More by OremLK

beergoot

Colorado

3.45/5  rDev -9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a nice amber color. Medium sized carbonation bubbles leave a one-finger off-white head. I think of wet earth and a slight citrus notes when taking a whiff.

Taste leaves mild spice and light bread flavors. Somewhat bright finish, giving way to soft malt character and gentle hop bitterness.

Medium body with a tad excessive carbonation. Finishes cleanly.

Not an impressive IPA. Seems light on the hop characteristics, primarily in the aroma department. I'd say it's does a nice job of balancing malt and hop bitterness flavors as far as taste goes. I wouldn't turn down another one, but would probably opt for a different IPA if given a choice.

Got a six of this from Dolph1979 on my quest for a good sampling of Texas beers...

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2012 23:05:29 | More by beergoot

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

2.7/5  rDev -28.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Bottle from drabmuh. Thanks Matt.

The beer is clear and light orange hued with a small white head. The aroma consists of grain, biscuits, toasted bread. Very little hop presence here. The flavor confirms the absence of the hop profile one would expect in an IPA. Too grainy. Light to medium bodied with appropriate carbonation. Overall, I find this beer unimpressive. Not a repeat for me.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2012 21:38:32 | More by Huhzubendah

CliffBrake

New Hampshire

3.83/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to kjkinsey for the bottle and for introducing me to a new brewery. Cheers!

Crystal bright copper with a one finger head, good retention and moderate lacing.

The aroma is very light with a hint of herbal hops. Flavor is much more full, featuring herbal and spicy hops. A bit earthy, and a nice break from the big citrus/tropical hops so prevalent these days. From start to finish, there is a mouth filling bitterness that is assertive, but in no way overdone. Caramel malt is hiding in the background, just strong enough to hold up the spicy hoppiness.

The body is just a bit lighter than I am used to in an American IPA, but 6.6% ABV is probably below average for the style as well. Carbonation is just right.

Overall this is a nice IPA that stands out from many on the market these days. It reminds me of good old Ballantine IPA more than any other IPA I have had in recent times. Well worth a try with great drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2012 03:23:07 | More by CliffBrake

drabmuh

Maryland

3.05/5  rDev -19.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured into a New Belgium globe glass. Beer is amber / orangish and completely clear with a white head, one finger, moderate to low carbonation, some lacing, looks fine.

Aroma is grainy and sweet, almost no hops. D'OH!

Beer is medium in body, mild bitterness on the backend, grainy, mildly dry finish, a little bit of an aftertaste, a very mediocre IPA, not my favorite and probably not a repeat but it is not horrible. I've had worse but this one is not very good.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2012 02:28:16 | More by drabmuh

bmwats

Louisiana

3.13/5  rDev -17.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a standard pint.

A: Light golden hue. Heavy carbonation. Pours about a 1 finger, bubbly, white head. Disintegrates very quickly, leaving only pockets of foam on the surface. No real lacingg.

S: Piny with a slight hint of ammonia.

T: Full malty baked bread, with a biting piny hop. Well-balanced.

M: Really piny, and a bit of an earthy balance.

D: Sip and enjoy.

Atmosphere is okay. Golden hue, with a decent head, and lots of carbonation; but no lacing. Nose is simple, and has a bit of an off-putting smell of household cleaner. Flavor is a hearty with a hefty pine hop. Overall, this is a pretty decent quaff.

(May need to re-review. Judging from the others, I just had the one.... maybe it was skunky. Oh, well.)

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2012 04:32:36 | More by bmwats

nandemo1

Virginia

3.03/5  rDev -20.1%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

Poured a bright clear gold with tons of bubbly carbonation. Had a full finger of white head. Leaves a lot of lacing.

Smell is very muted and I'm able to get just a little bit of earthiness and sweet malt. It is bitter, but I'm not getting much flavor at all outside of that.

Mouthfeel is spot on for a single IPA, crisp and refreshing, without a whole lt of stickiness.

Very drinkable but without any flavor so this is an average beer at best.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2011 20:13:34 | More by nandemo1

bastardface

Texas

3.05/5  rDev -19.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

I have always liked and respected Saint Arnold's products. The Elissa isn't exactly my favorite though. The smell is good in that in is strong and a little overbearing. The taste is harsh and a little bitter. It's a strong taste and leaves a bit of an aftertaste. If you like dark, strong ales this IPA is for you. Just not for me.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2011 04:11:49 | More by bastardface

busterwhite

Georgia

3.85/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a nice golden color with a thin head.

An earthy aroma with lots of malt and a little pine scent.

Big malt flavor with a decent balance from the hops. Decent bitterness with slightly sweet finish.

Mouthfeel is ok.

Overall this is a good beer. Not a typical IPA, it doesn't have big citrus, pine, floral aroma and taste. The Maris Otter malt is big in this beer but it is balanced well by the Cascade hops.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2011 03:48:27 | More by busterwhite

gtermi

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer pours a coudly gold with a finger white head.

S: This is a very weird scent. It has some malt and some weird slight pepper smells.

T: The beer has a lot stronger malt than hops. It does have some hops, but not as much as it should. I also get some pepper tastes.

M: This is the best part of the beer. It is very smooth and easy to drink. It has a bit of carbonation, but I believe it ads to the beer.

O: This is a weird tasting IPA. I love Saint Arnolds and feel they make great beers, but this isnt their greatest. I was excited to try this, but man it let me down. Just doesnt have the hops I want from an IPA.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2011 07:34:57 | More by gtermi

ZenAgnostic

Texas

3.43/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12oz bottle poured into a Duvel tulip. Bottom stamped 085 11.

Appearance - Pours white one-finger head with decent to good stick and retention. Slightly hazy amber body.

Smell - Wet grass. Some hoppy spice. Slightly fruity maltiness.

Taste - Bitter. Otherwise thin on the flavor. Mild hop and malt presence. Somewhat metallic.

Mouthfeel - Astringent. Thin bodied. Kinda sticky.

Overall Drinkability - Decent if middle of the road for the style.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2011 02:22:27 | More by ZenAgnostic

JoEBoBpr

Missouri

3.08/5  rDev -18.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured into a pint glass from a 12 oz bottle.

A - Pours a nice slightly hazy light orange color with some golden notes. There is a slightly ecru thin head that recedes quickly.

S - The aroma has some biscuit malt and some nice grainy notes with some slight citrus hop notes. However, the hops are very light. I don't think this smells like an IPA at all. Don't get me wrong the aroma isn't bad but this needs more hops.

T & M - Starts off with some bready notes. Very crisp and clean grain notes. There is some slight pale caramel malt notes in the beginning. There is some nice slightly citrus hop notes but the hop presence is definitely lacking. There is some slight tangerine and a grassy herbal hop note but once again these are very light. The bready notes are nice and it has a slight English IPA vibe to it. I feel like this beer is not too bad but it is lacking. It needs more hop flavor. Mouthfeel is crisp and light as expected.

O - Pretty average beer. It isn't bad or anything like that but just very average and nothing to write home about. I will probably have more than one of these but just because I bought a six pack.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2011 03:17:41 | More by JoEBoBpr

NODAK

Tennessee

3.38/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Aroma on this beer is pretty light for style...some pine is evident, along with some cereal graininess, but it's rather clean all around. Here's hoping the taste doesn't follow that tameness.

Taste has a fair, somewhat light, amount of bitterness of a pine quality straight away....not among the top IPA's by any stretch of the imagination, though....along with a sweet malt alongside it with a cereal grain quality to it as well as some lemon. A little stingy bitterness hangs around after the swallow, dancing on the sides of the tongue.

Not bad but not great. Very approachable, and could be a good entry beer for style. Drinkable but not outstanding.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2011 03:28:49 | More by NODAK

sweethome

Illinois

2.8/5  rDev -26.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I tried this versus Real Ale Lost Gold IPA. Based on my score...I think you'll see I like Real Ale better. This is the lowest score I've given this brewery.

Pours a light yellow with a bit of haze.

A bit of honey on nose...not much more. Slightest hint of hops. Say what - IPA with a hint of hops?

Not much of a finish. This disappointed me.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2011 02:06:08 | More by sweethome

Rizalini

Nevada

2.28/5  rDev -39.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Recieved in a trade from scm2787. Thanks for the bottle!

A - Poured from a 12oz bottle into my Deschutes tulip, it pours a clear golden orange color, with a minimal 1/2 finger off-white head.

S - Faint aromas of some malts, but no hops.

T/M - Unfortunatly, I'm not getting much of anything besides a slight bitterness at the end. Medium light mouthfeel.

O - I'm wondering if this one's not old? Without any identifiable markings to verify the date, I'm just taking a shot in there dark here. But for an AIPA this one falls flat...

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2011 06:21:24 | More by Rizalini

Absumaster

Netherlands

3.68/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I picked up this beer in Houston during a business trip. It pours a light copper, orange color with a thin head.

The smell is hoppy and has lemony citrus and some raw hoppy, resiny notes. It is not as complex as other IPAs I had.

Taste is pretty bitter and a medium maltiness. The malt has a light dextrine taste and adds body to the beer./mouthfeel is pretty light for an IPA. The hops are lemony and a little grapefruit.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2011 15:20:42 | More by Absumaster