Sleeman IPA (46*) - Sleeman Breweries Ltd.

hylton44

Minnesota

2.58/5  rDev -11%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Somewhat cloudy appearance with a thin, finely-bubbled head. This curiously-named beer neither looks nor tastes like an IPA. Husky, dry, and bitter like a German pilsner, with an aroma of spirits that lingers a bit at the finish. It's not a bad-tasting beer at all, but a very poor example of the style.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2007 21:04:09 | More by hylton44

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

1.91/5  rDev -34.1%
look: 2.75 | smell: 1.75 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.75 | overall: 1.75

A color in between amber and orange, this one pours out with a very thin white head ring that disappears quickly. So quick that there isn't even time to leave any lace on the side, because it was already gone.

Aroma was woefully lacking hops. I mean almost utterly devoid. At best, you could say there is a light floral aspect to them, but I think that's just the big carbonation rushing towards your nose.

The taste was of mineral water and something like bass pale ale, but even worse. Very mild malt contribution. Hops, still MIA much like they were in the nose. This tastes like a very mediocre beer aged in whatever mineral water is stored in with its earthiness.

I realize this is an English IPA, but this is even bad for that standard. Somehow the beer gets some bitterness into it, but I don't know how. Even then, its a bitterness without a flavor companion, which makes it even worse somehow.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2013 17:30:59 | More by Beerandraiderfan

Ivanhoes_Backpack

New Brunswick (Canada)

3/5  rDev +3.4%

03-11-2013 17:22:18 | More by Ivanhoes_Backpack

TimeLincoln

New Brunswick (Canada)

2.5/5  rDev -13.8%

03-10-2013 19:12:29 | More by TimeLincoln

Noelito76

New York

2.25/5  rDev -22.4%

02-02-2013 14:57:31 | More by Noelito76

bluetrevian

Florida

3/5  rDev +3.4%

01-10-2013 00:04:50 | More by bluetrevian

bzach

Indiana

2.5/5  rDev -13.8%

10-16-2012 03:30:30 | More by bzach

BlurryVisi0n

New York

2.75/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Served in a Sam Adams signtaure glass.

Appearance: Deep gold, heavy bubbles on the body with a white head maybe 1/8" still not bad.

Smell: has a scent of sour hops.

Taste: Light bitterness, but this doesn't really have IPA attributes lacks any floral or grapefruit feel.

Mouth: medium carbonation little light in the end.

Overall: Not bad, I mean if you like light beers and preferably lagers this is for you but to call this an IPA is seriously questionable. Salud!

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2012 00:49:36 | More by BlurryVisi0n

JimmytheSaintPSU

Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev +12.1%

08-22-2012 01:21:42 | More by JimmytheSaintPSU

oldp0rt

Quebec (Canada)

2.25/5  rDev -22.4%

03-15-2012 14:23:03 | More by oldp0rt

Rlombardi75

Ontario (Canada)

2.5/5  rDev -13.8%

03-03-2012 18:29:19 | More by Rlombardi75

jthelamontagne

Ontario (Canada)

4.18/5  rDev +44.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Bronze Caramel, slight haze, foam cap disolved quickly even in a beer clean glass.

A: Citrus; orange, lemon, astringent, grapefruit, jollyrancher, crackerjacks.

T: Dark Fruit, Fig, fruit roll up malt front. snappy citrus bite on the tail. very nice.

M: Mild Co2. cleansing.

F: nice grapefruit citrus kiss on the way out with a nice balance of "whole wheat" malt. (i know there is no wheat... it just tasted wholesome)

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2012 19:19:01 | More by jthelamontagne

irishkyle21

Ontario (Canada)

2/5  rDev -31%

01-16-2012 18:47:18 | More by irishkyle21

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

2.55/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 2.5

A well furbished gold colour is a bit of a faux pas when reconstructing a classic English IPA, although Sleeman did know well enough to leave a dense haziness. Beyond that, however, I'm not sure there's much here to satisfy the IPA purists out there. Historical accuracies and style guidelines aside, this is a decent looking beer.

But it will obviously be no hop clinic. Sleeman IPA has a bit of an off smell that cannot be attributed to the clear glass bottle it comes in. There's nothing skunky about it. Rather, it's a cheap smelling malt, something you'd expect from an Asia or Latin American lager, but not an English-inspired IPA. Dextrose jumps out of the glass.

English crystal malts can really be tasted, but the biscuity, cracker-like flavour they impart is less than delectable. The flavour is not what I'd consider offensive and seems to lack adjuncts, but the malts seem to be of the utmost lowest quality. More significantly, however, there's not a trace of hoppiness of any kind what so ever.

The most tasted ingredient, unfortunately, is dextrose. This beer is sugary whereas a true IPA should be bitter (or at least bittersweet). This, however, seems like they took the recipe from the back of a Splenda packet. The finish is saccharine sweet leaving a syrupy texture. This is not a case of bad milk, but of bad cow.

Dear Sleeman: if you’re going to tread water, there's no point in drawing attention to yourself whilst doing it. The whole "family recipe book" might make good advertising, but it doesn't make good beer unless you actually follow the recipes! Cut out the sugars and adjuncts and try your hands at brewing a real beer for once.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2011 01:53:36 | More by biegaman

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

2.33/5  rDev -19.7%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Review from BeerAdvocate Magazine June 2007.

Hate to say it before we even try this, but with a ton of American IPAs (let alone Double IPAs), this one is probably just going to look like a Pale Ale. Of course, that's just an educated consumer's guess, right?

Clear and bright copper-colored brew. Soapy-looking white froth forms thin rings of lace down the glass after each swig. Hint of rough malt husk with floral, faintly citrus aroma from the hops. Clean nose all around. Very crisp up front, with a loose light-to-moderate body--almost fluffy. A hard touch of forced oily hop resin comes off as bitterness; harsh at times, being that there's not enough malt to keep it in check. Nutty malt and bitter citric-peel hop flavor. Middle to end offers an aggressively harsh carbonic flavor of mineral, salt. It's a tad unpleasant. Dry, more or less, but there seems to be a lost dextrin that throws a curveball at the end.

One brewer's IPA is another brewer's Pale Ale. This one's just not up to snuff. If you're looking for a true modern IPA, you should pass on this one.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2010 18:55:38 | More by BeerAdvocate

SuperSnake

Ontario (Canada)

3.25/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This is the first english ipa I have had and the fifth beer in the Sleeman line poured from a bottle into a mug.

Colour-More of an orange/lighter brown colour than amber with a one finger head that dissipated into a ring with no lacing on glass.

Smell-Very mild with slight citrus notes almost smelt more malty then hopy to me.

Taste-For my first ipa I thought the bitterness was there but it wasn't over powering with a slight sweetness and citrus flavor.

Drinkability-very high could see myself buying it again and session it easily.

Overall-it is a mass produced ipa so I didn't expect to be the ambassador for the style and I can't say I have one to reference but I liked.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2010 02:11:23 | More by SuperSnake

OttoBomb

Illinois

2.17/5  rDev -25.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

12 oz. bottle poured into a 14 oz. Coca-Cola (tulip) glass (December 22, 2009).

Eyes: An amber color, with deep orange highlight. One and a half finger head that leaves moderate lacing.

Nose: No real pop here. You would be utterly unable to identify this brew as an IPA from the aroma alone. Some extremely soft buiscuit malt smells, followed by equally soft hop aroma.

Tongue: Doesn't taste like an IPA, there are suggestions of a citrus/grapefruit hop flavour, but that's it.

Mouth: Smooth and light, mild carbonation.

Libation: I like IPAs and this just doesn't fit the bill of the style, if you want an IPA there are certainly much better offerings out here. That said, as a beer alone it's quite drinkable and easy to finish. It has some minor flavor and although it doesn't stand out in any one area, it doesn't fall completely on its face either.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2009 08:36:25 | More by OttoBomb

mrmanning

Ontario (Canada)

3/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Thanks for the bottle Derek! Reminds me more of an English ale than an IPA. Light amber body, head is frothed to the max, beige, and leaves nice lacing. Sugary malt and mild fruit in the aroma dominate. English hops aroma as well. Slightly bitter, with a really nice sweet fruit/malt backbone. Bready dough notes as well. Finish is smooth, leaving a bitter aftertaste. Nice bite to it. A good brew from Sleeman. I must note that in the aroma and flavour, is the same Sleeman house quality of being mildly skunked. No big deal in this one, but it did subtract a few points. Thanks again Derek!

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2009 15:25:33 | More by mrmanning

fm125

Ontario (Canada)

3.45/5  rDev +19%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

This is my first review, so it might not be the best but I'll give it a shot. I picked up a 12 of this at the beer store on my way home from class. Drank straight from the bottle. The appearance is not too bad, nice kind of gold colour to it. The smell was average, nothing special. I did like the fact it didn't have that skunky smell that you sometimes get with sleeman. The taste was not too strong, and did not have a lingering sourness to it which I like. Not nearly as hoppy as other IPA's but I still found it to be enjoyable (then again I'm not quite as intense as some of you guys lol). Overall I'd say this is a decent beer, although pricey. I probably wont be picking this up again anytime soon however since as a University student I just cant be shelling out $21 for a twelve pack when I could get something better for cheaper. Overall though pretty good brew.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2009 18:13:04 | More by fm125

Shadman

Alberta (Canada)

3/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

almost setting myself up for disappointment here but then we'll see.

Actually decent looking, very clear, but has the brilliant copper gold color, decent head, and very nice web-like lacing.

Aroma is basic IPA.key words here basic..hoppy with some definite malt in the background. Nothing fancy.

Ahhh...the let down...going to be kind and put the annoying Sleeman twang in the mouthfeel category here...not sure what it is about most of their product, but that metallic twang seems to be omnipresent. Having said that, decent hop punch for a 'Macro' some seet caramel/biscuit malt in the background.

Quite the carbonation bite in the foreground, followed by the aforementioned twang in the aftertaste...certainly puts this brew in the lower levels

For a Sleeman product, I was mildly surprised. After the letdown I felt from their 20th anniversary ale, I thought this was going to be a Keith's rip-off...

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2009 02:29:18 | More by Shadman

MAB

Alberta (Canada)

2.63/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

They've switched to a clear bottle. It doesn't help the score any...

A pale ale, sure, I suppose. An India Pale Ale? No way.

The description on the bottle claims that they used Goldings hops and that it has a "bold hoppy aroma and bitterness". Hilarious!

This beer has enough hops to make a lager drinker think that the flavor is different but it's a terrible example of the IPA style.

The only redeeming quality is that is was cold and refreshing, with a nice lace of head traveling down the glass.
It was pale yellow, not nearly malty enough, and the hops were probably stored in the same room rather than put into the brew kettle.

I wasn't expecting much and they met that expectation in spades.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2009 18:38:36 | More by MAB

GodOfBeer

Ontario (Canada)

3.45/5  rDev +19%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours a light amber/brown with a thin white head, lots of carbonation.

Smells kind of macro at first, corny, sort of sweet, some citrus undertones too which aren't bad.

This actually tastes half-decent, sweet caramel malts, with some slight citrusy hoppy bitterness, there is definately some corny metallic aftertaste though.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2009 22:49:40 | More by GodOfBeer

laskford

Illinois

3.18/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

11.5 ounce bottle. Thick head, substantial lace rings along sides of glass. Mild fresh aroma of malt, grain and earthy hops. Medium-bodied,very smooth. Taste is not rich, but well balanced; malt and light caramel transitioning to medium hops, with lingering bitter hop aftertaste. Would buy it again.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2008 23:04:13 | More by laskford

Buebie

Minnesota

2/5  rDev -31%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a snifter.
This is a pale golden copper, semi-transparent. 2 finger cola like white head. Retention is fadeing rapidly into a thin layer that disapears. Spotty clumps of watery lace, quickly fall back into the liquid.

Smell is a watered down ipa. Theres hops, but not much else. A cheap perfume smell in there too.

Upfront is a cola like overhwelming carbonation kick, some watered down sweetness. Thin mouthfeel, Some funky sourness that is not friendly to the toung.
Piney dry hoppy flavor. Finishes dry and carbonated with a pine hop linger.
This was cheaply made in bulk with profits being the motivator, as its watered down as hell.
Its more of a weak pale ale then an ipa.

Do not recommend.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2008 06:08:05 | More by Buebie

bearcamp

Kansas

2.83/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Picked this up in a make your own six back. Caught my eye because it didn't have a label. I thought maybe some home brewer sneaked some beer into the store.

Pours a light brown color and the hops come out a bit. Some lacing around the glass as I drink it down.

Taste is average. Not the best and not the worst I've had. Somewhat light taste makes this a session able beer.

Worth a try! But wouldn't pick it up again.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2008 01:06:18 | More by bearcamp