Willimantic Husky IPA - Willimantic Brewing Co.

LilBeerDoctor

New York

4.1/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reviewed on 10/23/2009. Growler from the brewpub. Pours a murky orange-brown with a thick white head. Aroma of citrus, caramel malt, grapefruit, and tropical fruits. Flavor of caramel malt up front with a dry, citrusy, fruity finish. Nice hop character. This is very similar to the Three Cents just a little maltier. Very tasty, great stuff!

Serving type: growler

12-19-2009 03:18:20 | More by LilBeerDoctor

ppoitras

Massachusetts

3.68/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

German-style refillable growler filled at the brewpub.

First imperial pint pours with a 1/4" beige head, over the very cloudy orangey amber brew. Head quickly disappears, leaving just bubbles around the rim, and light small-bubbled lacing. Aroma is moderately of malt sweetness, citrus, and pine, all getting equal billing. Taste follows the nose, progressing from medium malt sweetness upfront, light citrus in the center, and a pleasingly pine close. Mouthfeel is smooth, with pretty good drinkability. A good brew, but not one of my Willi faves.

Serving type: growler

10-14-2008 21:35:14 | More by ppoitras

beachbum1975

Ohio

4.03/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to KiltedRogue for sending me a growler full of this from my hometown state!

Looks: Pours rich and cloudy burnt amber in color with light orange around the edges – looks delicious!

Smell: Bitter with sweetness and a wave of toasted or smoked malts.

Taste: Moderately bitter with hints of citrus, pine, butter and an aftertaste of apricot – yes apricot! I definitely picked up a fruity vibe of some kind... Nice taste overall.

Mouthfeel: Unfortunately, the beer was shipped in a growler and I think the shipping caused a leak, making all the suds flatten during the pour. I sensed mild carbonation while drinking and what I did get impressed me. The underlying taste was quite enjoyable (I had to drink it quickly before the bacteria caught up and really ruined the beer!).

I liked this beer and would consider it a fine session beer – just wish it didn’t get partially ruined during shipping. It left a good vibe in my mind and I intend to try this fresh from the tap, the next time I visit CT - Good stuff.

Serving type: growler

12-15-2006 03:19:33 | More by beachbum1975

woosterbill

Connecticut

4.08/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On-tap into a pint glass at the brewpub.

A: Slightly hazy, reddish-amber body supporting a small white head that sticks around surprisingly long (considering its 1/4" height) and leaves a good amount of lace. Great color, and it does well with the head it has.

S: Hard to discern too much beyond a smooth, pleasant balance of light citrus hops and mildly sweet, caramel malts.

T: More hops complexity comes through here, with resinous pine augmenting the bright citrus notes. Fairly assertive sweet malts provide balance throughout. Very, very satisfying.

M: Medium-bodied and a bit prickly with the carbonation.

D: No sign of the ABV, and the malt balance really keeps the substantial hops bitterness in check. My wife wanted to leave when I was halfway done, though, and this beer really didn't lend itself to forced quaffing.

Notes: I chose to get a pint of this brew after trying a sampler of 5 house beers (it was my first trip to the brewpub); all were top notch, and the full pint certainly didn't disappoint. Great quality from a great place.

Cheers!

Serving type: on-tap

10-26-2009 11:30:38 | More by woosterbill

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the brewpub on 10/12/08.

Pours a clear, medium, coppery amber with a thin brite-white head that bunches up around the edges, with some think wisps that float in the center. Flares up nicely, leaving a decent looking cascade of lacing down the sides of the glass. The aroma is floral hop bitterness (with a piny edge to it) and a pretty prominent sweet mix of citrus character and caramel malt.

The taste is similar to the aroma, with resinous hop bitterness and a firm, underlying, backbone of citrus tang and malt sweetness. Well balanced with a nice dry, lingering, bitterness that hangs in there for a while. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with a sharp carbonation but still retains a bit of slickness and easygoing feel.

Another (in a long list) of solid IPAs from Willibrew. Good hop character, well balanced, and fairly easy drinking, this is a fine take on the India Pale Ale style.

Serving type: on-tap

10-17-2008 17:08:33 | More by Kegatron

sinstaineddemon

Connecticut

3.88/5  rDev -4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A - this IPA arrives with a light walnut brown color with a thin smooth tan head with decent retention, too dark in the room to note carbonation, but i can detect that there is a decent amount

S - kind of a nondescript sweetness married with a great hoppiness to it, not quite piney but a decent amount, enough to give it that IPA grapefruity aroma

T - this is a great IPA, one of those whoe taste mirrors the aroma, a well crafted blend of strong hops balanced against a subtle sweetness for a great combinations, with that grapefruit sweetness lingering the whole time

M&D - not as smooth as the Festive Ale, but still really good with a slick tongue coat, slightly more drinkable though since its less bitter and has a lower ABV, a great IPA

Serving type: on-tap

12-19-2006 14:13:49 | More by sinstaineddemon