Elk Lake IPA - Bend Brewing Company

jdense

Oregon

4.22/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the brewery, consumed out on the deck.

Golden orange fairly clear brew, nice whitish head and long-lasting lacing. Good balance in the nose, the hops are not overpowering. as our many other IPAs. A bit citrusy but not overly hoppy on the tastebuds. All in all, one of the Northwest's best IPAs. Very drinkable, pour me another. Well worth seeking out, and any self-respecting BA must stop by this up and coming brewery when visiting Central Oregon. A fine example of the range and depth of one of America's best brewers, Tonya Cornett. Well worth seeking out- very highly recommended.

Serving type: on-tap

02-01-2009 01:06:10 | More by jdense

harrymel

Washington

3.25/5  rDev -14.9%

03-23-2013 08:04:23 | More by harrymel

chugamugofsud

Oregon

3.25/5  rDev -14.9%

02-20-2013 21:34:23 | More by chugamugofsud

Coldsnack

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +11.3%

02-02-2013 22:31:01 | More by Coldsnack

Travisnin

Idaho

3.75/5  rDev -1.8%

09-13-2012 17:09:58 | More by Travisnin

draheim

Washington

3.88/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz into a tulip. Pours a slightly hazy golden color w/ a frothy white head.

Aroma is dank, oily, with what I think is sometimes referred to as a "cat pee" smell. Simcoe hops?

Taste is dry biscuity malt, floral spicy hops. Citrus & pine.

Mouthfeel is pretty standard, nothing notable.

Overall an OK IPA but nothing extraordinary or unique.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2012 06:04:20 | More by draheim

litheum94

California

4/5  rDev +4.7%

06-22-2012 04:05:49 | More by litheum94

piclee

Washington

3.5/5  rDev -8.4%

03-04-2012 01:28:15 | More by piclee

kchannel9

California

3.5/5  rDev -8.4%

02-20-2012 09:35:42 | More by kchannel9

dgilks

Australia

3.4/5  rDev -11%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Clear amber colour with a small off-white head. Fair head retention.

Somewhat fruity and quite crisp. Not overly sweet on the nose.

Smooth grapefruit hop flavour with very little malt. Mild bitterness. This is a decent generic NW IPA.

Medium body with moderate carbonation. Fine.

A decent generic West Coast IPA. Approachable but nothing special.

Serving type: on-tap

10-02-2011 03:40:55 | More by dgilks

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.45/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at the brewpub in Bend, on an extended Sunday night hours pint spree...

This beer appears a clear golden copper hue, with one finger of perfectly restrained foamy ecru head, which leaves an unbroken wall of lace around the glass in its wake. It smells of musty orange, candied grapefruit, and mild, thin caramel. The taste is more light musty hops, bitter citrus rind and pine hops, all underpinned by a soft bready caramel backbone. The carbonation is kind of fizzy, the body medium weight and a tad sugary. It finishes with a bitter hop uptick, and a bit of menthol.

An agreeable enough IPA, however, the fundamentals just need some tweaking - less mustiness and more malt backbone, for starters.

Serving type: on-tap

07-15-2011 07:03:21 | More by biboergosum

HuskyinPDX

Washington

4.2/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I am sitting at Bend Brewing enjoying this right now.

A- pale, cloudy orange. Eggshell head with amazing lacing.

S- strong, strong pine. Some citrus.

T- Pine bomb.

D- A touch bitter, a bit too much, but a very good ipa.

O- okay, this is a tough style, but I would never complain if this is what I was served.

Serving type: on-tap

05-10-2011 01:39:12 | More by HuskyinPDX

ccrida

Oregon

3.43/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Bomber bought at the brewpub last night, poured into a shaker pint, Elk Lake IPA is a pale auburn gold with a white head that leaves decent lace.

Smell is tangerine hops, kind of over ripe vibe, maybe a bit of cat pee.

Taste is pretty balanced, nice biscuit malt, more on the sour citrus hop flavor then resinous, moderate bitterness on the clean finish. I was expecting more ommph after having their DIPA at the brewpub last night and hearing great things about this.

Mouthfeel is a bit slick, a bit dry, and a bit heavier then light bodied.

Drinkability is okay, it's a balanced IPA that is smooth and clean, it's just not all that compelling, really more pale ale by PNW standards...

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2010 00:39:44 | More by ccrida

beertunes

Washington

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

Poured into 10oz glass. Poured a semi-hazy orangeish-amber with 3/4 inch of rocky white head that had very good retention and lacing.

The aroma was mostly a nice blend of hops, with pine being most noticeable, and a touch of malt graininess in the background. On the tongue the malt had a very slight presence and the hops took all the way over. Pine up front citrus on the back.

The body was just a bit fuller than average for the style. Drinkability was very good, this is one of the relatively few IPA's I wouldn't get bored with after a couple.

Overall, a nice version of the style. Worth seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2010 20:51:15 | More by beertunes

MisterClean

California

4.45/5  rDev +16.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the horsebrass.

A - Poured copper with a 3 fingered white head. Dissipates slow and leaves beautiful lacing.

S - Notes of pine, honey, and bittering hops.

T - Pine, citrus, honey, and bittering hops.

M - Full-bodied, hop dominated, slightly dry, and finished very smooth despite the hop domination.

D - A great beer. The horsebrass can really choose the beers they get on tap here. The beer itself is a classic example of what an IPA should taste like.

Serving type: on-tap

08-09-2009 22:02:05 | More by MisterClean

SurlyDuff

Oregon

4.33/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Heck of a good IPA, named after one of my favorite camping locales up in the Cascades.

Elk Lake IPA pours a good copper/amber with minimal cloudiness.

Aroma is piny citrus hops, nice and sharp.

Juicy hop citrus and pine in the mouth. Resin aplenty, but not over the top. Lots of hemp and grassy notes too. Dry finish with a bit of stickiness.

Really enjoy this IPA. I recommend it above nearby Deschutes Inversion IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

02-12-2008 21:43:52 | More by SurlyDuff

Crotor

California

4.18/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a clear, medium amber with one finger of white head with good retention.

There's a massive and pleasing hop aroma, largely comprised of citrus with a touch of pine.

The taste is massively hoppy and unapologetically PNW. The big citrus hops have come forth, and the pine has receeded somewhat. Beneath the sharp hoppiness, the malt is scarcely noticable, but I don't mind... Original? No. PNW? Yes? Good? Hell yes!

The body is medium-light, and accented by a definate dryness - very typical of a PNW IPA.

Overall, a damned fine IPA, if an unsurprising one.

Serving type: on-tap

03-30-2005 01:33:12 | More by Crotor

RedDiamond

Oregon

4.08/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This damn fine IPA is sure to satisfy all certified hopheads. If you happen to like cannabis, so much the better, for Elk Lake is bursting with an herbal cannabis bouquet. It also has a downy off-white head and crisp verdurous hops everywhere. The bitterness enhances the bright floral flavor while not unduly competing for attention.

Elk Lake has thick widespread lace that plasters the glass like stucco. It is clear, copper colored, and improves with gentle warming to room temperature, which brings out a touch of orange-citrus.

This beer is clean and quaffable and every bit as sexy as the people at Bend Brewing who serve it. Recommended.

Serving type: on-tap

10-09-2004 00:44:07 | More by RedDiamond