Saint Arnold Elissa IPA - Saint Arnold Brewing Company

ccrida

Oregon

3.7/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On cask at the Richmond Arms, Elisa is clear gold with a very tight, creamy white head leaving scattered sheets of foam.

Smell is soft, fruity hops and esters, lime, a touch of resin.

Taste is pretty good, balanced, softer IPA for sure, English style with the apricot esters, but a firm bitterness on the bready aftertaste.

Mouthfeel is soft, slippery, and medium light bodied.

Drinkability is pretty good, a sessionable IPA for sure, but I personally prefer a more robustly hop flavored IPA. But it's smooth and well made.

Serving type: cask

09-15-2011 22:51:40 | More by ccrida

roodie

Texas

3.73/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Enjoyed at the Gingeman in Houston

Served in a pint glass

A: pours a tea brown with 1 finger head that quickly dissipated. Minor lacing.

S: very mild, hints of citrus and sweet malt but very muted likely due to carbonation

T: begins with mild caramelly malt but a few seconds later a pleasant mild hoppy bitterness takes over. Piney in nature

M: velvety and smooth almost like drinking water but the bitterness lingers to remind you it's not

O: enjoyable. I love cask IPAs and this one was perfect for a hot day

Serving type: cask

08-01-2011 01:09:34 | More by roodie

tronester

Oklahoma

4.15/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

On cask at the Ginger Man in Austin.

Served a slightly hazy golden orange with a lucious sticky white head. Smells of light grapefruit with a hint of toffee. Taste is a bit of pine up front, followed by a sweet malt middle and a ruby red grapefruit finish. Velvety smooth mouthfeel, low carbonation. Overall a fantastic ale in cask form.

Serving type: cask

06-07-2011 19:49:30 | More by tronester

joshuacavett

Texas

4.93/5  rDev +30.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This beer was crazy smooth on cask! Had at Major League Grill in Beaumont, TX after the cask was opened about 15 minutes before. Smell was no where near as hoppy as the bottled version, but you could definitely tell it was an IPA. Served pretty cold and this almost drank like a very malty beer b/c it was so smooth and creamy. I have had other beers on cask before which I usually do not prefer cask, but this one impressed me. I am a convert now for very fresh cask. Drinkability was very high and the mouthfeel on this was indescribable. You truly have to experience this beer on cask to truly appreciate what St. Arnold's has created.

Serving type: cask

02-10-2011 23:33:13 | More by joshuacavett

GJ40

North Carolina

3.58/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Sampled on tap at the Ginger Man in Dallas.

A - Golden with good clarity.

S - Citrusy hops with some yeast.

T - A balance between hoppy flavor / bitterness and toasted malt. The flavors were OK but not great. It seemed a bit stale and muted. I wondered if it was the beer or if it had been on cask too long.

M - A bit creamy with a great low, cask carbonation.

D - Nice but not as good as the 512 IPA my friends went with.

Serving type: cask

11-18-2010 13:47:46 | More by GJ40

TheSevenDuffs

Ontario (Canada)

3.45/5  rDev -9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Tasting notes from 9/10/10

Enjoyed on cask at Gingerman in Austin, TX.

Poured in to a pint glass with a medium amber colour and 1 finger of thick creamy cream-coloured head.

The nose had some bitterness from the hops with light citrus and floral notes.

The palate is predominantly bitter hops with floral and citrus notes and some caramel malt sweetness in the background.

Creamy; Lightly carbonated.

Serving type: cask

09-16-2010 01:43:01 | More by TheSevenDuffs

Duttonic

Texas

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

Sampled on cask at the Gingerman in Houston on 8/18/10.

A- Amber in color, cloudy/bubbly at first until settled, two fingers thick whipped foamy head.

S- Hoppy, floral, caramel, sweet, bready.

T/M- Creamy, hoppy, a surprising malt backbone, medium to light medium body.

D- Good drinkability. It was the last of what they had on cask, so I definitely want to try it again when they have it fresh. Try it. It's a good way to sample a non-overpowering IPA and it benefits the Elissa tall ship in Galveston.

Serving type: cask

09-03-2010 00:51:15 | More by Duttonic

whoneeds8

Texas

3.9/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a pint glass, presented with absolutley minimal head. No lacing. I couldn't scent anything noticable. The taste was odd. There really wasn't any hop bite in the front of the palate. But the malted sweetness was really strong in this as opposed to in a bottle. Of course the mouthfeel had very little carbonation, yet was full bodied. This was my first Casked Ale, and I have to say it was really good. It made this IPA something completely different.

Serving type: cask

11-06-2009 03:30:38 | More by whoneeds8

Tilley4

Tennessee

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

Had this at The Ginger Man in Fort Worth...

I've had this in the bottle and I think I like the bottled version better... Something about the sharpness of the hops that I like quite a bit more... Still a nice littlwe brew on cask though... Terrific local...

Serving type: cask

09-29-2009 23:20:29 | More by Tilley4

dirtylou

Washington

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

on cask at the Ginger Man in Dallas

cellphone notes

appearance: served from the cask into a standard pint glass, cloudy copper-orange body, light sticky lace

smell: tangerine, tea leaf, toasted malt, light grapefruit, light pine

taste: nice refreshing IPA - tangerine and other fresh citrus, light pine, the cask gives off some interesting flavors - light oak, a touch earthy. enjoyable

mouthfeel: medium-thin

drinkability: good

Serving type: cask

09-18-2009 19:58:03 | More by dirtylou

champ103

Texas

4.33/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a cloudy orange color. A one finger white head forms. Rings of sticky spiderweb lace is left all the way down the glass.
S: Citrus, piney, and light grapefruit aromas. Lots of sweet caramel malt to balance everything out nicely.
T: A citrus, piney, and grapefruit hop flavor that follows the nose. There is a wonderful malt balance though. Some sweet caramel flavors. Bread and biscuit as well. Much more like an English IPA or Bitter.
M/D: A medium body that is low on the carbonation end. Very creamy and smooth. Very easy to drink. A great beer to quaff at any pub around town that serves this on cask.

A great beer on cask. There are a lot more subtle flavors here than in bottle or on tap. I think only two places carry this on cask. The Gingerman and The Stags Head. Hit either one up for a great cask pub session beer.

Serving type: cask

08-01-2009 01:22:14 | More by champ103

Squelch

United Kingdom (England)

3.6/5  rDev -5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Slightly Hazy. Thick billowy head that lasts. Amberish hue

Smell: Slight hop aroma, over the malt.

Taste: Sweet. Caramel flavor. Moderate hop flavor. Earthy hops?? Can't tell...

Mouthfeel: Medium to full bodied. Could benefit from more carbination. Cask ale made this one smooth

Drinkability: Drinkable IPA. Tastes more like an APA.

Serving type: cask

07-13-2009 01:36:54 | More by Squelch

stumac

Texas

4.2/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

this brew is the same color as the sun with a peculiar white head. decent lacing... the nose is grapefruit, floral hops, a very sweet aroma. the taste is tons of grapefruit, white grapes, green raisins, piney hops, sweet malts, medium bodied, medium carbo. Always a Houston classic...

Serving type: cask

04-09-2009 19:47:05 | More by stumac

TurdFurgison

Ohio

4.1/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I had this on cask at the Gingerman in Houston. The beer was copper-orange and clear with a thin but dense "casky" foam. The aromas were mild pine needle hops and a little biscuit. I don't know if it's just me but I tend to get biscuit out of a lot of cask ales (even different styles). The taste is nice, slightly resiny but not over the top, and matches well with the smooth light carbonated body from the cask. Very drinkable in this form, the glass was empty before I knew it.

Anytime I can get beer from a cask, and especially when it's an IPA, that's my choice for the night. Elissa was a good choice and I was happy with it.

Serving type: cask

02-24-2009 12:08:07 | More by TurdFurgison

aeminter

Texas

4.08/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

While at the AHA rally this weekend we had a rare treat; Cask conditioned Elissa IPA.

The beer was drawn behind their service bar, so the lack of head I will blame on the barkeep. The beer was honey gold in color and a little cloudy. I assume the cloudiness was do to being cask conditioned, and there by mostly unfiltered.

The smell was a little funky, but in a good way. Well, for a farm boy it's a good smell. It reminded me of wet feed mix... the more I think of it this may be what I've seen others refer to as cereal. The hops were not as pronounced as I expect with an IPA, but they were there.

The flavor is mellow in the front, citrus/pine hoppy in the middle, and clean in the finish. Very balanced.

Very drinkable. This is probably the most sessiony IPA I've ever seen.

This would even be a good way to get people who are not IPA drinkers into the style.

Serving type: cask

02-18-2009 01:18:09 | More by aeminter

woodychandler

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +31.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

The Ginger Man had an all-female staff last night when TheChauffeur1 and I stopped in and it took every woman-jackie (manjack) one of them to change the cask. UKBrewing and Imbiber would have been in stitches. The flexing, bending and general ten basic ballet moves had me rolling in laughter.

Their machinations resulted in a thick, foamy, tawny head with not only excellent retention throughout, but also resulting in majestic lacing. The nose was soft and mildly hoppy. The color of mine was a cloudy amber as compared to the deep amber with NE-quality clarity in Greg's glass. Mine was partially from the bottom of the keg, which is one of the hazards of that pour. The mouthfeel was silky smooth with mild hop bite on the tongue. The finish was mildly bitter, which made it a good fit for both of us although I am a hophead and Greg prefers maltier beers. Love at first taste!

Serving type: cask

07-05-2008 00:43:04 | More by woodychandler

TheBCrew

New York

4.28/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

16 oz. pint on cask at the Ginger Man in Austin. Pours a cloudy copper with nice white cascading head. The head settled down to one finger and stayed there. Lots of lacing. Some yeast floaties and hop floaties were present. Confirmed with the bartender that this is dryhopped in the cask. Piney citrus hop aroma comes on strong. Great taste with the different hop characteristics shining through - pine at first with a slight citrus tinge. Pale malt backbone holds strong. Nice creamy mouthfeel makes this a real treat with good drinkability.

Serving type: cask

05-29-2008 13:15:14 | More by TheBCrew

armock

New York

2.4/5  rDev -36.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Had this on cask at the Ginger Man in Houston its a lot different than on tap.

A - Poured a copper color with a white head that leaves some lacing

S - Is of pine scented hops

T - Very disappointing it was like a mouth full of dirty hops

M - On cask theres no carbonation and makes it feel very thin

D - I like Elissa on tap but on cask its just not drinkable to me when I saw it I was excited to try it but after the first taste I was disappointed with this beer I wouldn't run out to try this again

Serving type: cask

05-18-2008 20:27:55 | More by armock

BgThang

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +18.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Having this on cask is the way to do it.
The head and carbonation suffers somewhat due to it being a cask, but the taste is by far awesome.

the nose is that of cascade hops floral, piney sweetness

the color is a tad dark amber golden.

the hops in this merry well with the overall flavor and has to be one of the best texas IPA's out there.

Serving type: cask

04-09-2008 16:29:07 | More by BgThang

jim102864

Connecticut

3.45/5  rDev -9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

While at the Dallas Gingerman, I got to sample this IPA on cask. Anytime I can get a cask brew, I've got to try it. Nice copper amber hue. A sticky two finger head. Served in a pint glass at proper celler temperature. The aroma was a little too understated. Slightly floral. Mild hoppiness. The taste was also lightly hoppy. A little too mild. Mouthfeel was watery and modest. Nothing hopping up and down on the pallet. All that being said, a nice brew just not anything that will nock your socks off.

Serving type: cask

02-24-2008 17:43:31 | More by jim102864

JDV

Texas

3.93/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

On cask at the Gingerman:
Golden hazy cascading effect on the pour with a super creamy guinness like head that lasted the entire beer. Smell was very nice, bold fresh fruity hops. Taste was more than averagely hopped for an IPA, piney, citrusy, and resiny with minimal sweetness. When left to sit on the tongue, the carbonation was almost non-existant (due to it being on cask) I'm guessing I'd like this better bottled, or on draft and I'd definitely like to try it again. A good hoppy IPA worth trying, without a doubt.

Serving type: cask

02-22-2008 05:50:44 | More by JDV

IBUnit63

Massachusetts

4.4/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served at Ginger Man in Austin. Nice, slightly cloudy with lighter-than-average color with milky, concentrated head. Understated citrus aroma with expected hop abundance. The cask conditioned serving brings out the best in the hops and the mellow citrus flavors. Creamy, melts in your mouth. Could drink all night (and did).

Serving type: cask

01-26-2008 15:20:44 | More by IBUnit63

pheggeseth

California

4.2/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Had on cask at the Stag's Head in Houston.

This beer had a typical orangish amber color of an IPA, but with a great creamy head that just did not want to die down. The smell was light hops, not overpowering, but as it was on cask, it should be more delicate. Also typical of cask, the taste was more pronounced than the smell, but followed quite nicely with a well balanced hop/malt ratio. The mouthfeel especially was incredibly smooth and slightly spicy. This was an enjoyable IPA, not the strongest I've had, but with the addition of the cask, it became extremely sessionable and enjoyable.

Serving type: cask

12-27-2007 02:22:15 | More by pheggeseth

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On cask at the Gingerman in Austin TX.

Appearance: Hazy deep amber. Long lasting creamy ivory head. Excellent retention and lacing.

Smell: Grassy, leafy, and gently citrusy/piney over a mild, biscuit-like and caramelish malt.

Taste: The flavor follows the aroma. There's more hops than malt, but it's soft and smooth and not bitter (well, yes, but not harsh). Mild fruitiness of apple and pear from the yeast.

Mouthfeel: Supple. Smooth. As cask should be. Simply disappears down the hatch.

Drinkability: Well balanced. Well rounded. Remarkably drinkable. With the exception of its strength this could be a great session ale. Worth trying!!!

Serving type: cask

12-26-2007 03:39:03 | More by NeroFiddled

goochpunch

Texas

4.1/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 3.5

On cask at the Houston Gingerman. Came in the pint glass a slightly hazed orange-amber with a one-finger head that stayed for the entire pint. Left some ornate lacing. Smell is really big on the cascades: tons of grapefruit and an underlying presence of pine. Underneath are some subdued fruity esters and some toasty malts. Grapefruit is pretty big in the flavor but with a soft bitterness all around. Malts are pretty chewy, but unlike a lot of Saint Arnold beers in the bottle or on-tap, this didn't suffer from dominating sugar and esters. As it warms up it started to get a little too toasty for my tastes. Mouthfeel is full and creamy. Awesome. A really tasty beer, but as it becomes more toasty, the drinkability takes a hit.

Serving type: cask

07-31-2007 02:58:36 | More by goochpunch