Outburst Imperial IPA - Pyramid Breweries, Inc.

harrymel

Washington

2.3/5  rDev -39.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Best by: unk
Copper with a central cone and rim of fine cream foam. Smells of toffee malts, some herbal hops, citrus, resin and some pine. A little subdued for an IIPA. Malt, crystal malts and some sweet bubble gum flavors in the back. Some moderate bitterness but not really much remarkable hop flavor. Medium bodied with over hi carb and a semi dry finish. This beer is meh.

Best by: 6/2/11, reviewed 20FEB11
A: Pours a dark amber, red tones. single finger off white head dissipates to thick sheet of the same. Foam only evidence of carbonation.
S: Resiny, pine, almost skunked. Very one dimensional for an Impy IPA. Not impressed.
T: Very malty for an IPA. Little bitterness. Poorly applied hops. Almost like they hopped it for bitterness, then added some at the dry hop. Not crafty, but marketable.
M: Medium heavy for the style. Medium carbonation. Decent feel.
D: This beer is nearly sessionable. At 8.5% ABV, the beer is highly drinkable. Not a good example of the style though. 3/2/2.5/3/2.5~2.83

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2012 14:49:16 | More by harrymel

inthebeeraisle

Oregon

2.68/5  rDev -29.1%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Had this on tap at the Mactarnahan's taproom. 16 oz. pint glass.

A: A pretty flat looking beer without much bubbles. Pours a orange hay color.

S: This beer smells like real grassy hops. A big aroma that brings you back for more. Intriguing.

T: A hoppy beer with little sweetyness considering the ABV. Not enough balance to get me excited.

M: This is a dense feeling beer. The grassy hop flavor lingers long enough that I wait a little while between sips.

D: I wouldn't order this beer again. Glad I tried it, but unimpressed overall. Just too much lack of malt backbone to go with the big dense hop flavor.

Serving type: on-tap

02-02-2011 00:16:05 | More by inthebeeraisle

scottfrie

California

2.85/5  rDev -24.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.25

On-tap at the brewpub in Sac.

A: Body is deep amber color, darker than I was expecting; looks almost like a brown ale. Served with no head, although a thin one was present at the time of the pour because there is an empty space at the top of my glass.
S: Fairly substantial grapefruit scented hops with sweet and roasted smelling malt undertones.
T: Not as juicy as the nose but still full of grapefruit and ambiguous citrus. The finish is a very bitter but bit rough and astringent with just the slightest bit of alcohol warmth noticeable. I’m getting tons of roasted malts in the aftertaste.
M: Medium body with lots of amply fizzy carbonation. Not especially smooth.
O: Bitter and straightforward but unbalanced and tough to drink. Probably won’t try this again.

Serving type: on-tap

02-20-2013 01:02:20 | More by scottfrie

beertunes

Washington

2.9/5  rDev -23.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Poured into 10oz glass. poured a clean, clear coppery gold color with just under an inch of off-white head that had decent retention and lacing.

The aroma was dominantly pine hops, with a bit of floral hops and just a trace of malt in the background. The flavors as well were mostly solid pine with some floral and a trace of fruit, with just a bit of malt sweetness in the background.

The body was a bit on the thin side for the style. Drinkability was decent, I finished the bottle easily and might have another. Or try it on tap if I see it.

Overall, a pleasant little surprise from a brewery I don't generally expect too much from. Certainly worth trying if you see it.

Edit 2/25/12: I had this on tap last night without realizing that I had already reviewed it. I wouldn't have had it again and regretted wasting the time and calories on this beer. While there was nothing technically wrong with this beer, it just wasn't very impressive, memorable or tasty. It was mostly a sweet, sticky mess. The bottle review above and the beer I had last night couldn't be more different. This borders on an avoid, but try it if you want.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2011 02:22:53 | More by beertunes

N3rdM3t4l

Oregon

3.03/5  rDev -19.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Bomber into standard pint.

A: a finger of white head that falls to a decent looking cap and a sturdy ring. Dark caramel red, looks appetizing actually.

S: hoppy, but of course. Kind of floral, a touch of malt sweetness breaks through. The dryhopping gives a big hop nose but it still smells a lot like long boil hops. Not amazing but right for the style.

T: big malt up front, a bit of sweetness just like the nose. The hops tastes mostly like long boil cascade. Not much complexity to it. The bigger malt from being an imperial helps me like it a bit more. But not as much as Tricerahops from Ninkasi. Again I would say standard for the style.

M: rich. The little carb doesn't hurt or help it. Not amazingly smooth but not bad. Drinkable, has a good amount of chew for a pale style.

O: average all around pretty much, not expecting much from Pyramid though. would buy again considering the price.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2012 02:23:58 | More by N3rdM3t4l

vic21234

Illinois

3.06/5  rDev -19%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12oz bottle poured into a snifter. Bottle has a best by date of 2/28/13.

A- Pours a cloudy orange with a large amount of an off-white head. The head sticks around awhile and forms some nice lacing along the sides of the glass. Nice looking IIPA.

S- Not an overly aromatic beer for an IIPA. Some citrus notes are apparent but nothing pops out at you.

T- Some citrus notes in the taste, other than that it seems overly sweet and almost syrupy. Not a fan. Could this be a bad bottle?

M- Medium bodied, lots of carbonation, bitter with a dry finish.

Something is off with the taste. I'm drinking it a day before the best by date but I don't think it would effect it with the way it tasted.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2013 21:24:07 | More by vic21234

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.13/5  rDev -17.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a cloudy amber color, with a short off-white head that fades slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma contains fruity citrus, caramelized malts and a good amount of hops.

T: The taste starts with sweet flavors of citrus and caramel. Then a strong and harsh hops bitterness comes in. The malt character is thin and doesn’t provide much balance. The after-taste is slightly hoppy and slightly sweet.

M: Crisp but not very smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

O: A little tasty, goes down ok, not too filling, good kick, decent representation of style, this is a very mediocre 2IPA at best.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2012 23:05:52 | More by TheManiacalOne

Spikester

Oregon

3.15/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Clear amber with one finger head. Head fades in about three minutes. Some moderate lacing.
Smell is strong floral hops. Dry hopped should have a larger aroma.
Taste is very bitter initially with just enough bready malts to subdue the hops. The hops are resinous and oily. More a white grapefruit taste than the pink variety.
Mouthfeel is quite good with just enough carbonation to be there lightly in the finish. I could feel the fairly high alchol but pretty well masked by the big flavors.
Overall an awesome beer for a $1.99 bomber. No extra points given for value though.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2012 06:18:44 | More by Spikester

Bagoosh

California

3.25/5  rDev -14%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I would consider this taste more malty than hoppy. I am more of a hop fan, so it was not my favorite IPA. If you prefer a malty taste you will enjoy this one. It's pretty strong with a good alcohol content, but again, too much of a malty taste. I would drink it again, but prefer others.

Serving type: on-tap

02-19-2013 22:56:05 | More by Bagoosh

Bfarr

Washington

3.28/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Clear orane-amber with thin tan head with good lacing and okay retention. Caramel and grapefruit aromas. Big grapefruit with a balanced caramel finish. The balance starts to tips toward the malts by the end. Okay bitter linger that does not last too long. Alcohol is well blended with a sharp carbonation and feel.

The server said this one was 10% abv which I seriously doubted by the end of the glass. This isn't too bad of an DIPA especially if you like a little more balance in your beer. The hops are fairly one dimensional and there's a little too much on the malt side for me but it's pretty well crafted.

Serving type: on-tap

08-29-2010 13:44:06 | More by Bfarr

chinchill

South Carolina

3.28/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle served in a Samuel Smith nonic.
This "imperial: IPA is nicely crafted but lacks the punch of a typical American DIPA. A bit too much alcohol in the aroma; it dominates over the rather evenly alanced caramel malt and hops. Hops finally come to the fore in tasting and linger on afterwards. Exceptional head.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 00:51:45 | More by chinchill

RickS95

Indiana

3.29/5  rDev -13%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

I had this three months after the 'best by' date, so take the review with a grain of salt.

A golden/copper/amber pour, a bit clear for my liking, leaves a nice head, about a finger and a half thick. Good staying power and a nice lace. Has a foamy look, somewhat craterous.

Not much smell. Crackers and the faintest hit of citrus. Nothing else registers.

Taste follows the lead of the smell, there's just not much there. Slightly bready, the lightest bit piney, there's just not much happening.

It's bitter from the moment it hits your lips and it lasts til it coats your tongue with the hop oils. Medium bodied.

It's not amazing. It's very bitter and I like the alcohol level, but the bottle I had is very ordinary.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2013 04:13:03 | More by RickS95

dogfishandi

New York

3.29/5  rDev -13%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 2.75

12 oz twist off bottle at fridge temp poured into a snifter. No freshness info.

Pours out a hazy dark orange almost red color with a skim, somewhat retentive off white colored layer of head. Spotty lace only after a sip. Just a touch of alcohol legs are noticeable if you look hard enough.

Smells almost more malty than it does hoppy, similar to an American barleywine. Some old, maybe faded herbaly hops, woody pine. Becomes more leafy and a hint boozey as it warms.

Again, very malty, lots of chewy, sweet caramel malts are almost in balance with herbal, woody pine hops. A bit of dry grapefruit citrus bitterness in the finish. Quite a bit of alcohol warmth considering what this is.

Thick, sweet, and chewy. Resiny. It has an IPA bitterness, but the sweetness from the malt seems to throw that off a bit.

This might be a touch more hoppy if it was really fresh, but still probably not so in a way that it would become anymore enjoyable. Not my thing and not something ill come back to.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2013 16:31:09 | More by dogfishandi

chaz410

North Carolina

3.3/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a very nice transparent amber body with a half finger white head.
Smell is of pine, grassy and slightly citrus hops.
Taste has a solid caramel malt backbone and has layers of pine and melon like hops, kinda cantalope and pineapple. Slight citrus finish and some grassy lingerings.
Mouthfeel is very smooth considering the IBUs.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2011 04:04:52 | More by chaz410

snaotheus

Washington

3.3/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

22oz bottle poured into a 22oz glass

Pours a moderately cloudy coppery-orange color, with medium beige head. Smell is surprisingly bright and flowery, nice.

Taste is a letdown from the smell...the nice floral stuff is definitely muted, and replaced with a sort of flat bitterness imparted by the hops.

Mouthfeel is mild, slightly grainy. Overall, I guess I'd classify this beer as "fine".

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2011 00:56:19 | More by snaotheus

JayQue

Virginia

3.33/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

A fairly mild DIPA. Tastes pretty good but the aroma is lacking. Mouthfeel is a bit light for a DIPA. Pours a slightly hazy golden amber. Takes a hard pour to get a medium size head. Average retention and some bands of lacing.

Aroma is almost completely lacking for a DIPA. A little piney hops, thats about it.

Taste had a decent amount of bitterness and a resinous piney hops taste. Nothing complex but a nice light bitter beer.

Mouthfeel is a hair light for a DIPA. Still crisp with a good amount of bitterness and a little piney oiliness.

Not a memorable DIPA, but it stood up well to the curry I made tonight. Think I will stick with some of the hop bomb DIPAs.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2013 00:25:10 | More by JayQue

mpedara429

Massachusetts

3.34/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 2.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Opened the bottle with a bottle cap opener only to find out it was a screw top. Fail.

A: Poured out a slightly hazy amber color. Less than a finger of white head. There was very little lacing and head retention even with a vigorous pour.

S: Pine, grapefruit, and floral/herbal spiciness along a toffee malt backbone

T: Very much like the smell. I'm getting more citrus like orange in the taste.

M: Medium body that is very chewy with medium carbonation.

O: Interesting concept. It feels a lot like a budget IPA, but it is imperial. The spiciness in this one makes it a bit unique. Not great, but not bad either. I could see myself wanting to bring a six pack of this to a party or something.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2013 03:14:20 | More by mpedara429

julian

Washington

3.35/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

A: Pours a nice crystal clear copper color with a good amount of slightly off white head. Lacing is a little oily, but otherwise nice. coats the glass nicely.

S: First impressions are the most important and right off the bat, this smells delicious. Lots of fruity hop aroma, sweet tropical candy. Very nice.

T: Less fruity flavor than the nose led me to anticipate. Kind of subdued, more of an earthy bitterness than anything. Not much in the way of complexity in the flavor.

M: Good mouthfeel, it coats the tongue and mouth nicely with a proportionate amount of carbonation and has a balanced flavor/feel and no off aftertaste.

D: Not my favorite IIPA, but definitely a step up for Pyramid. They're trying to branch out and I see that. Keep it up Pyramid, and keep these new "seasonals" coming...you just might hit the jackpot with one of them eventually (cmon do something BIG, like a RIS or something barrel aged).

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2011 04:16:29 | More by julian

HalfFull

California

3.35/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Brown 12 oz. twist off bottle, the Outburst claims to be a Spring Seasonal and not something noticed before. $1.69 for a single seems like a reasonable risk. Pours a clear copper into a large wine glass and offers half an inch of white foam. Bit of haze on the pour and with decent retention and light lace.

Light citrus on the nose with some pine and a bit of caramel malt. Pleasant and unobtrusive though a bit light and takes some digging.

Orange citrus and light caramel on the tongue up front, finishing a bit thin and with a return of hop spiced citrus on the close. Light in texture and with a moderate bitterness. Warming brings a drier finish yet without revealing more bitterness and also exposes a bit of sugary sweetness.

Decent brew though lightly hopped for the style. Yet rather smooth nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2011 06:51:23 | More by HalfFull

betsona

Indiana

3.35/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle poured into a pint glass.

A- Clear copper color with a finger plus worth of off-white head. Head dissipates into nothing. Have one snake looking lace on the glass. No visible carbonation.

S- Very light citrus hop smell. A little tropical fruit/candy smell. Not getting much malt. Nothing that woos me off my feet.

T- Smooth malt start followed by a mild bitterness. Is extremely subdued all the way through. The back of the beer provides a nice piney bitterness. Is not hot in any manner. Straight forward and nothing that overwhelms.

M- Light body with minimal carbonation. Kind of flat. Slight bitter lingering taste.

D- The price is right. I think I may pick it up for friends that prefer mild IPAs. I will probably pick up a few more to try again in the future. Hard to pass up a Imperial IPA at $1.70 a bottle.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2011 19:48:15 | More by betsona

alexhahn82

California

3.38/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A--- Medium golden brown amber, .5 finger head.

S -- Malty with a hint of sweetness, nothing too crazy.

T/M - Meh, nothing that will knock your socks off, but considering this is a Pyramid brew (not bashing, just saying) this beer is very hoppy with a medium to heavy malt, decent ABV that is hard to taste.

Overall: Nothing to write home about, but at the same time, take a few notes. Hoppy with a lot of malt but for an IIPA this one is medium in quality (in a good way)

PP (Price Point) - Very nice, but its on tap at my father in law's house so I didn't pay a dime, PP= indeterminable.

Serving type: on-tap

06-05-2011 03:05:36 | More by alexhahn82

WoodBrew

Illinois

3.4/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

I was able to get a bottle of the Outburst from the singles shelf at my local Binnys. The beer pours a cloudy light orange with a finger thick frothy head that is lacing like a Vicky secrets catalog. The scent is very malty with subtle scents of hop. The taste is much like the smell....very malty with twangs of pine and big alcohol. The mouthfeel is a full bodied iPad with smooth carbonation. Overall it is ok....I have had better and with the high abv it would be tough to drink very much of it.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2013 02:01:21 | More by WoodBrew

chumba526

Oregon

3.43/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Appears darkish gold/ amber in color with a white frothy head.

It smells of pine and floral smelling hops. I get a bit of a caramel sweetness to the beer.

It tastes of pine like hops. I get a bit of an earthy flavor. I get a sweet sort of floral flavor. There is a bit of a caramel malt flavor. The beer finishes with a substantial amount of bitterness that balances out the sweet caramel flavor of the malt and the sweet floral flavor of the beer.

There is a moderate carbonation. The mouthfeel is somewhat smooth.

Drinkability is pretty good. It goes down smooth though the beer does not seem to be that exciting. I could easily drink a few glasses of this though.

Overall not a great IIPA but pretty good for the price. It is not a complex IIPA but it gets the job done. This is the best beer I have had from Pyramid. I am probably going to pick up a few more bottles of this as they are only 1.89 per 22 ounces at a local store.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2011 19:03:10 | More by chumba526

SamN

Colorado

3.45/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Pours pretty thick, glug-glug-glug. Amber colored liquid, not very deep or dynamic colors. Head is mediocre, a little limp, doesn't last. Smell is pretty good, surprisingly malty, caramel malts, some biscuity bread aromas. Hop profile is rather subdued for an imperial IPA. Some basic citrus fruits of apples and maybe oranges. Really, this is too malty for an IPA. Taste becomes a little more hops dominant but still keeps a healthy malt profile throughout. More caramel malts followed by some darker fruits like plums and oranges. Finishes not too bitter with a fading sweetness. Not bad at all. The higher strength doesn't come through too much, either. Mouthfeel is smooth and relaxed with a bigger character.

Overall; not a great IPA, but decent as a hoppier amber-type ale. Nothing I would seek out again.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2011 02:06:02 | More by SamN

rowew

Colorado

3.45/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Presentation: 12 oz short bottle, typical new pyramid labeling. Abv and date are marked.

Appearance: clear red color, thick head with good retention.

Smell: nice balance of malt sweetness and a grapefruit hop aroma.

Taste: the sweetness dominates, but the hops do come through. Tastes closer to a barley wine than an iipa.

Overall impression: good beer, but it probably would fit better in the barley wine category. Still has some interesting flavors and is enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2011 02:35:51 | More by rowew