Old Elephant Foot IPA - Tampa Bay Brewing Co.

Arknot

Florida

4.58/5  rDev +23.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a hand labeled 16oz tallboy can, part of the brewerys first batch of 2000 cans. 7% abv and 80 ibus

This beer is really a treat, pretty color, nice smell, great head, lots of creamy lacing, and great taste. Its hard to believe I just poured this out of a big can.

The taste is highly american hops with a nice malt backbone. The malt isn't sweet or caramel, but more of warm bready thickness that comforts the hop assault.
Hops are a fresh fruity citrus hop without being too soapy. This drinks like nearly a double ipa, yet it holds back instead of going all the way. The taste is a little unique too, I'd say its fruiter then some, with more floral/citrus/freshness in the taste and less soapy/bitter like some IPAs. I'm about 3/4 done with this beer now, and my mouth is pretty coated in hoppy beer goodness. I'll say the mouthfeel is pretty epic!

Prost!

Serving type: can

02-20-2012 08:50:21 | More by Arknot

hooligan

Florida

4.53/5  rDev +22.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Hazy translucent copper color with a creamy thick settling head (thanks to the cask-conditioning). Heavy citrus rind and hop oils in the inital smell, with bready malt elements as well. Upfront grapefruit and herbal(grassy?) hop assault on the palate, crisp and clean malt with a very biscuit-like element, followed by a very clean hop "snap!" (I don't know how else to explain it) at the finish, that begs you to take another sip. Very big malt character, even for an IPA, with a clean hoppiness that dosen't linger on the palate. This is my favorite IPA... excellent character.

Serving type: cask

02-26-2002 00:21:54 | More by hooligan

Shaw

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Excited to see the Tampa Bay Brewing Co. canning beer! It's been years since I had this on tap at their brewpub.

A cloudy light amber with a lot of sediment and a big stick head. Floaties don't bother me, but I bet many would be put off by its appearance.

Nice hop aroma of citrus and earth.

Excellent taste: It's quite bitter with citrus-peel-like hop flavors. They call this a West Coast IPA, and I agree: it's dry with the emphasis on the hop flavors and sharp bitterness rather than a semblance of balance from the malt. Slight metallic notes from the hops

Nice solid body.

I remembered this beer being excellent on tap at the brewpub and the canned version maintains that standard. A must-try for hopheads.

Serving type: can

10-22-2012 03:15:47 | More by Shaw

StevieW

Florida

4.22/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Copper to brown in color, nice fluffy stand up beige head. Florals, biscuit, malt, and big hop blend into an appealing smell. Nice balanced malty taste, with a super strong hoppy kick. Creamy medium bodied feel, good bitter finish, crisp, nothing lingers. Asks you take another sip. One of their better offerings.

Serving type: on-tap

08-09-2002 13:52:18 | More by StevieW

AdamBear

Pennsylvania

4.21/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25

A-cloudy golden orange wit a nice frothy cream colored head

S-creamy orange hops. Sweet smelling, almost as if it had vanilla to it...which reminds me of SN Celebration. Slight aged aspect to it.

T-comes in with a decent taste of bitter hops, but mostly a fistful Florida citrus. It's really citrusy, similar to a fresh cut orange. It's a lasting flavor that continues as an after-taste. It's a good clean flavor, with out much of the aged aspect found in the nose.

M-good creamy carbonation with a creamy finish

O-I'm pretty impressed with this. It's an extremely quaffable ipa. Great balance of flavor and bitterness. I could see me loving a bunch of cans of these on a sunny Florida beach....at least if I were to ever get bored of Jai Alai first.

Serving type: can

02-10-2013 03:10:18 | More by AdamBear

Redrover

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The beer is a nice bronze with a beige head and good lacing.

Nice citrus and pine nose. There is also some grainy malts in the background.

The taste is definitely on the English side of the IPA spectrum. Nicely bracing and a bit oily, the beer has a good malt background for balance. I like the “juiciness” of this beer and the citrus notes.

The beer coats your mouth and leaves you ready for the next sip. The finish is nicely dry.

This is a good example of this style. Hats off to the brewer!

Serving type: on-tap

04-20-2007 18:31:12 | More by Redrover

BrewCrew2010

New York

4.08/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I am Completely writing this reveiw from memory:

A: It was a cloudy pale orange with a white bubbly head mostly deminishing. The brew had great lacing throughout the glass and also had an abundance of visible carbonation.

S: On the nose it had a strong citrus hops (Grapefruit) aroma with notes of orange zest.

T: The taste was full of citrus hops in the beginning. However one could still taste the malty backbone of the brew in the background. It was well balanced and a delicious beer.

M: This beer was very smooth, crisp, light bodied with lively carbonation and very refreshing.

D: It was very delicious and definately a must if I ever return. I enjoyed this beer very much and it would be scrump-u-lesant on a hot summer day.

Serving type: on-tap

09-29-2010 01:05:51 | More by BrewCrew2010

PhillyStyle

Georgia

4/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on tap in a pint glass:

Contrary to what is stated, I had this beer last evening. The beer was a very nice reddish orange color with a nice two finger head. The beer presented itself very well. The aroma was almost all hops, but in a big way, with a hint of a floral aroma. The taste, all hops all the time. Very nice strong hoppy flavor to it, that is really all that I got, but it is really all that I want out of an IPA. The carbonation was as expected, noticeable but not so much that it took aware from the beer and it had a really nice bitter, dry aftertaste. Overall, highly drinakble beer.

Serving type: on-tap

07-10-2008 13:31:10 | More by PhillyStyle

bigone4

Rhode Island

3.95/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This brew is NOT retired. I had it on tap in March. It poured a orange golden hue with a clean white head. Nice lacing in the glass. Smell was floral with mild citrus tones. Slight hint of grapefruit in the back ground. I had this both on cask and from the tap. The grapefruit tones are stronger from the cask. Lighter hints from the tap. Strong hop oil scent. The taste was hoppy and bittering. It certainly knocks your mouth for a bitter kick. At 7.4% it certain can knock you for a loop as well. The malt is there but not very prevalent. This is a great IPA that I enjoyed immensely. Strong hop flavor very drinkable and lots of bitterness. This brew was just what I was looking for. This is a great tasting IPA very well crafted great flavor and a decent hop profile. I would enjoy this beer any day.

Serving type: cask

04-26-2007 21:51:08 | More by bigone4

JohnW

United Kingdom (England)

3.88/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Although listed in here as "retired" at time of writing, is the regular brew now available in the new premises from November 2006. Pours medium dark bronze, with fair tight head, which lasts well down the glass. Aroma is heavy, malty and slightly sweet, and the initial taste confirms this, but overall the beer is well hoppy and has a bitter but well balanced after taste. It may seem just a little overpowering at first, but after a few sips I really got into this and enjoyed it a lot. I certainly has the 'Tampa Bay Brewing' family characteristics. It has only little natural carbonation, and this makes it easy to drink and thirst quenching. It seems just the same as it did when brewed at the old premises. I like this beer, and would always have at least one of these when in Ybor City, along with the other beers available on tap at Tampa Bay Brewing.


JohnW
Bham UK (December 2006)

Serving type: on-tap

12-09-2006 10:15:06 | More by JohnW

Ahhdball

Ohio

3.83/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Very nice amber tone and great frothy beige 2 inch head.
Strong essence of hops and grapefruit. Maybe a bit too pungent for a normal IPA. - I'm not complaining.
Good mixture of the sweet malt that finishes the high bitter bite with some orange from a good pale ale. Maybe a bit more malt could cure the higher burn from the hops but nonetheless I liked it.
Smooth, a little creamy but not at all slick.
I could and will drink this little IPA again. With a name like Elephant I would think it would be a bit larger with more hops but alas it's not exactly what I had in mind. Like I said earlier, I'm not complaining.

Serving type: on-tap

06-02-2005 01:13:17 | More by Ahhdball

wingnutter

Florida

3.83/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at the Tampa Bay Brewing Company brewpub in Tampa (Ybor City)

No head to speak of due to the bartender filling the glass as full as it could be (ya gotta love that). Pale golden color. Nice hoppy aroma with a hint of toastiness/nutiness. Minimal lacing as I finish the glass.

Taste is smooth, somewhat hoppy with a nice nutty/malty background. Its not as hoppy as I like my IPAs, but for a local craft beer, this is pretty good. I cant remember what hops are used (the menu has good info on most of the house beers like what hops/malts are used, etc), but I wish theyd use more of them or dry hop a little more. This one goes down smooth and easy, and it has a good clean finish. The ABV isnt noticable at all. I could drink these all night, but with so many other good beers available, why would you? The carbonation is just right, but it feels a bit thin.

Not a great IPA, but its good, always fresh (of course), reasonably priced, and the brewpub has a great atmosphere. Worth a try if you ever make it to TBBC. Hopefully next trip the One Night Stand Pale Ale will be available so I can compare the two.

Serving type: on-tap

02-27-2006 13:56:19 | More by wingnutter

jenbys2001

Florida

3.83/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I think I was thrown off by the name "elephant foot," as I expected this beer to be heavier. However, it has a very nice nutty scent and a clean smooth taste. This isn't a very hoppy IPA, but it has a crisp flavor and it's easy to drink. If you're walking around Ybor and feel like settling down for a bit, this would be a nice selection.

Serving type: on-tap

01-17-2008 15:30:52 | More by jenbys2001

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

3.83/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured on-tap at the Tampa Bay Brewing Co brewery in Ybor City. The beer was served in a pint glass, and it is a very slightly hazed copper coloring with a thin film of head. Wet, resinous hops aroma that is slightly sweet. Effervescent citrus notes on the nose, also. Flavors are dark roasted sweet malt with a dry, peppery hopping on the undercurrent. Reminiscent of English IPAs. Darkly sweet malty aftertaste, with peppery spice and slight cedar characteristics. Slightly dry, slightly slick finish. Good flavor that stays consistent and doesn't overpower. Good drinker.

Serving type: on-tap

06-11-2011 02:58:04 | More by GarthDanielson

argock

Virginia

3.78/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on-tap in a clear pint glass

A: Orange hue with tall spiky head and beautiful retention and lacing

S: Grassy and floral hops with a pretty substantial pale malts aroma

T: A bit understated and disappointing based on all of the other components. Both malty and hoppy, but just not enough of a clear identity of one or the other, such that neither the malt nor the hops prop up and better the other. Somewhat muted floral hops bitterness after nutty malt flavors.

M: Very slick and coating which I liked. Smooth and pleasant hops aftertaste.

D: Easy to drink and enjoy, but you get the feeling that one more push could really elevate this beer to something special.

Serving type: on-tap

01-31-2008 05:55:50 | More by argock

Arithmeticus

Maryland

3.76/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Poured chilled from can in tall ale glass

A: dark orange, cloudy; thin but creamy head; moderate carbonation
S: sweet hops, traces of orange, nicely persistent
T: aggressive hop flavor is the first thing to hit the palate; not very sweet (i.e., finishing hops minimal methinks); highly complex; grain flavor strong
M: thick and heavy

Serving type: can

01-12-2013 22:33:27 | More by Arithmeticus

beergod1

Ohio

3.73/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a mostly clear golden orange with a big, foamy white head that has good retention. Swirls of lace coat the glass nicely. The aroma is grapefruit, balanced out by some light caramel malt sweetness. The flavor is more of the same, with a good balance between the caramel malts and striking grapefruit hop bitterness. Medium bodied with a sticky, resiny finish. Pretty good IPA. I have had Double IPA's with less body than this.

Serving type: can

03-27-2012 23:42:13 | More by beergod1

smerrell

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served at the TBBC bar in Ybor City

A: hazy amber, the head disappears quickly.
S: not much to speak of - would be nicer if the aroma was stronger.
T: bitter grapefruit
M: the carbonation is really high- giving this a dry finish

Overall, this is a good beer, although its imbalanced in its thin malt profile. There's a nice bitterness that fades quickly. I wouldn't hesitate to get this one again.

Serving type: on-tap

06-05-2012 00:33:19 | More by smerrell

VncentLIFE

North Carolina

3.68/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pour had a huge light mocha colored head. Light orange body. I do notice a bit of floaties (im hoping hops). Out of the can, I got a good amount of resinous, piney, and even a touch of spicy grapefruit zest, but all that aroma escaped when I poured it. Hint of spruce and resin, but mostly slick balanced smell and flavor. Hops have truely faded, but the malt bill is slick and light enough to showcase what used to be a piney, zesty, resinous hop profile (at least thats what I got from the smell and light body). Body feels light and slick. With no hop bitterness, it goes down easy and smooth.

No date on the can, so idk.

Serving type: can

07-20-2012 15:45:29 | More by VncentLIFE

lordofthewiens

Maine

3.65/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

This beer is supposed to be retired, but it's alive and well at the brewpub, regular draft and cask conditioned. It poured an amber color with a thick white head and quite impressive lacing. It had a sweet, outdoorsy scent, and a nice hoppy taste. I probably should drink more cask-conditioned beers, because they all taste too flat to me, and this was no exception. Still, it was a pretty good beer.

Serving type: cask

03-16-2006 13:09:27 | More by lordofthewiens

JayS2629

Alabama

3.65/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Orange hued and slightly cloudy for the style. Two finger creamy white head is beautiful but faded fast. Lacing is descent.

The aroma is big on citrus, especially grapefruit. Orange zest and floral notes of honey suckle and orange blossom are on top of a lightly toasted bready backbone with caramel notes.

The flavor follows. Bright citrus dominates a light bread background. Nothing that distinguishes this from other IPAs. Great, but average. Mostly grapefruit.

The mouthfeel is a bit thin, but overall ok.

This taste great and has great balance, but kind of one dimensional (grapefruit).

Serving type: on-tap

01-02-2012 06:09:06 | More by JayS2629

HopDerek

Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured a nice clear amber orange color with a nice foamy white head, good retention and lacing. Smells of floral and citrus hops with some malty notes. Some grapefruit and orange zest up front followed by a touch of malt backbone and a good earthy hop bitter finish. More like a British IPA than an American IPA, but very smooth with a nice dry finish. Medium in body with good carbonation. A very easy to drink IPA, hides its ABV well.

Serving type: on-tap

02-01-2008 22:59:56 | More by HopDerek

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.6/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

enjoyed on-tap at the brewpub. One of their beter ones, with Northern Brewer, Centennial and Cascade. The odour is c-hop but also odd. Cloudy yellow and lacey. Smooth and good bitterness, nicely malted. Orangey taste, hop resin, fairly decent drinkability.

Serving type: on-tap

02-20-2009 04:49:29 | More by northyorksammy

macrosmatic

Florida

3.58/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured from 16 oz. can into pint glass.

A: Pours a nice copper color, with a good bit of haze that develops. 1 1/2 finger head forms, but dissipates relatively quickly. Streams of bubbles visible.

S: Citrus & pine hops dominate, but as you wait a moment some malt presence (sweet & bready) starts to show up. The aromas seem diminished here a bit.

T: A bit of a grapefruit hops punch up front, but it fades quickly into a generic hop bitterness flavor that the sweet-ish biscuity malts can't keep up with. There is an almost sour flavor at the end that stays around with the hop-bitter hang.

M: Nice and light, fairly bubbly mouthfeel; very drinkable. Alcohol presence well-hidden.

O: I've had this beer on-tap multiple times, and always thought it was a well-above average IPA. This is my first shot with it since they started canning and I'm more than a little disappointed. It's not a bad IPA in this incarnation, but not nearly what it is at the brewpub itself.

Serving type: can

05-26-2012 00:20:04 | More by macrosmatic

gonzo46and2

Florida

3.48/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Not sure why this shows as retired since it is a year-round offering at TBBC.

Had this one on cask 3-12-09

Pours a cloudy pale orange with a nice rich foamy white head that laced down the glass consistently.

Aroma is pithy citrus bitterness with a bit of malt sweetness hiding in the background. Orange Pith, Grapefruit, maybe a touch of wood resin.

Taste is full on hops. Drinks very much like a double IPA and at the ABV it's pushing that level. Quite bitter but tasty.

Mouthfeel is a bit astringent but otherwise drinks very easily and smooth and slick as far as the body goes.

Drinkability is not so good. It's a palate killer and has a high ABV. Nice if you are popping in for just one.

Serving type: cask

03-14-2009 03:36:30 | More by gonzo46and2