Conductor Imperial India Pale Ale - Steamworks Brewing Co.

Beefeater57

Colorado

4.15/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Honey color, blends up to a reddish amber. Little cloudy, solid white head with sticky lacing.

S: Clean pine smell. Some citrus notes and traces of pepper.

T: Malts are present but not overly sweet. Woodsy hop flavors grow with each sip. Hop flavors are nice, not too strong though. Caramel/toffee notes from the malts, and some citrus flavors as well, mostly grapefruit.

M: Decent body, a tad dry/astringent.

D: Not a punch in the face as I like Imperial IPAs to be, but an enjoyable beer nonetheless. Great balance of flavors, and a great beer to get someone introduced to the double IPA.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2009 19:01:23 | More by Beefeater57

Maseitz

Delaware

3.75/5  rDev -4.3%

03-11-2013 02:52:58 | More by Maseitz

t0rin0

California

4/5  rDev +2%

02-20-2013 03:24:54 | More by t0rin0

DMur80

3.75/5  rDev -4.3%

11-17-2012 03:33:48 | More by DMur80

bladman

Alberta (Canada)

4/5  rDev +2%

03-03-2012 01:19:17 | More by bladman

poppyjohn

Colorado

4/5  rDev +2%

02-20-2012 17:32:38 | More by poppyjohn

KAF

Iowa

3/5  rDev -23.5%

01-25-2012 22:51:55 | More by KAF

jenray

Texas

3/5  rDev -23.5%

12-11-2011 14:40:23 | More by jenray

Exiled

Texas

4/5  rDev +2%

11-23-2011 04:40:53 | More by Exiled

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This poured out as a really nice looking copper color with a pretty solid looking white head on top. The smell beer was full of mouthwatering hop aromas with a little malt aroma in the background. The taste of the beer was really nicely hopped and created a nice citrusy pine quality. The mouthfeel of this brew is roughly on the medium side and had a nice oily slick feeling to it. Overall it's a damn good IIPA.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2011 19:04:13 | More by Knapp85

StoneTSR

Colorado

4.85/5  rDev +23.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I wandered into Steamworks Brewery on the recommendation of a bartender at the Balcony Bar my first night ever in Durango. I can't remember that bartender's name, but I am so thankful to her. Little did I know, she was guiding me to what I believe to be the best beer I ever had - the Conductor DIPA.

APPEARANCE: Deep copper, but still transparent and clean with a good half-inch, foamy head.

SMELL: Very impressive and strong nose. Sweet, floral, notes that tell the story of what is to come.

TASTE: I think The Brothers said it best in their review, that this beer is just right for the style, but that it is "not over the top". Instead it is a very, very well balanced beer that provides plenty of hops and bitterness along with some floral and citrus notes at the beginning of the sip.

MOUTHFEEL: This beer is far too easy to drink for what it is. It is extremely refreshing probably due to the fact that the tiny bubbles don't tickle your palate, rather they scrub it. A thirst-quenching beer.

OVERALL: My notes from that night say "This might be the beer I've ever had." When I returned the next day to pick up a growler to go I confirmed that with the six ounce beer the bartender handed me to drink while I waited for the growler to be poured. I then re-confirmed this two weeks later, when my road trip took me back that way. Then AGAIN several months later when I returned to Durango specifically to drink beer. I hope to do some further confirmation of this fact sometime very soon. I wish they would distribute in Chicago. Oh well. Thanks Durango and thanks Steamworks for making me feel at home when I was actually 1,121.22 miles as-the-bird-flies from my front door.

Serving type: on-tap

12-10-2010 21:39:41 | More by StoneTSR

bishopdc0

Maine

4/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Hazy golden amber in color with a nice head.

The aroma is citrus and grassy it is full of hops.

Sweet and savory mouth flavor. It starts off bitter immediately, with a carbonation and finishes sweet. Its mouth is smooth, and full bodied. Good beer to sip and enjoy its goodness

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2010 00:03:41 | More by bishopdc0

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Beer review from BA Mag Nov 2007.

American Imperial (Double) IPAs have become a common style within the US craft-beer industry, but we're not complaining at all ... we love hops, so bring it on. A chant we heard at this year's GABF was "If it ain't got hops in it, it ain't beer."

Crystal-clear amber color, some bubbles floating to the top. The head retention is no surprise; the effect of all the hops leaves a sticky, spiderweb-like trail down the glass. Smells of freshly cut wedges of ruby red grapefruit, mandarin oranges and blonde tobacco from the hops and hints of peach from the alcohol, shortbread from the grain and faint nuttiness from the yeast. A clean-cut whopping 96 IBUs wipes the palate from virtually all other flavors to start. Then the hop character turns citric with orange and grapefruit flavors with a pungent oily flavor that goes a bit minty and herbal. Some maltiness comes through with a sweet biscuity flavor. Alcohol is a little deceiving with a slow-to-start warming of the throat. Clean all around; house yeast seems to be hidden from all of the hops. Long bitter hoppy end that lands semidry.

Pretty damn good--right to spec for style. Enough balance for what it is and clean all around, not over the top which you don't see that often with American Imperial IPA's.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2010 01:04:23 | More by BeerAdvocate

AEK

United Kingdom (Wales)

4.22/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

650ml brown bottle poured into a Delirium Tremens snifter.

A. Hazy blood orange colour with a dense slightly yellowish creamy head.

S. Oranges, freshly baked bread, some almond marzipan and a floral bouquet. There is also some alcoholic warmth in the nose.

T. Bitter orange, very hoppy. Some alcoholic taste but not too strong considering this beer is 9.2%ABV (It states this %ABV on the label).

M. Oily, slightly thick and chewy.

D. A really good Imperial IPA. I slowly sipped this over a period of 2-3 hours to allow me to fully appreciate its qualities. Bought this at £4.50 for 1 bottle as it was over its BBE date by 8 months, it should have been almost £10 a bottle. Its high ABV and being refermented in the bottle ensured it didn't deteriorate. Wish I had another bottle to sample. A really good beer if you can get hold of one.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2010 17:36:07 | More by AEK

rfgetz

New Jersey

3.6/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a nice bright orange with cap of soapy head. Scent is a huge whiff of bitter, spicey, piney hops with a touch of citrus and fairly bold carmel malts. First sip is hugely bitter and intense spicey and pine, underneath is a big sweet carmel body, only a touch of citrus and tropical notes to cut the intensity. Thick and chewy, slightly undercarbonated, very dry and lingering aftertaste. Not the beer for me.

Serving type: on-tap

06-06-2010 16:57:33 | More by rfgetz

BretSikkink

Mexico

3.63/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Orange and gold color with a whitish head. Pretty sticky foam. Explained by the hoppy nose: very fruity, with notes of grapefruit and that Orange-Glow cleaner.

Seriously sweet: the toffee and candi sugar are rampant, both on the pale end of the spectrum. Very fruity, but more like a citric energy drink than a blast of alpha acids. Carbonation is too excitable for its own good and the style in question.

It's not that I didn't enjoy the beer; I just wouldn't order another in a bar or buy another bottle. I prefer my double IPAs to bring a little more bitterness than sweetness.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2010 05:54:22 | More by BretSikkink

Koufax21

New Mexico

4.43/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I poured this from a 22 oz. bottle and drank it from a Tulip glass.

A - Poured a hazey orange color with a good thick head.

S - Smell of hops hit me as soon as I popped the cap. Aromas of citrus and pine are prevalent.

T - Love it!!! Bitterness hits you right off the bat and follows with the warming effects of the alcohol, but the hops power through and hang out for a while like a good Imperial should.

M - Low to medium carbonation.

D - This sucka' could be dangerous. Way too smooth to be 9.24% ABV

I would certainly buy this one again and many more times to come.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2010 02:22:42 | More by Koufax21

littleg

Illinois

3.7/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Slightly hazy, light copper with very little head and next to no lacing.
Smell: Having a hard time putting in to words how this beer smells. Not unpleasant but not floral or piney, almost like wet grass or hay.
Taste: Big burst of hop bitterness at first with a nice sweet finish. Well balanced for DIPA.
Mouthfeel: Slightly thick with lingering. Not a beer to chug after mowing the lawn but something to throw back on a nice fall evening for sure.
Drinkability: Not one that is gonna be appearing in the fridge very often but would drink it again if offered. Seems to be lacking something but not sure what it us. Would like to see the Simcoe hops amped up a little to add some variety.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2009 15:47:19 | More by littleg

tattooedtolley

Virginia

3.8/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours very orange in color, looks like a IIPA. Not much to say in the aroma, some muted hops a little alcohol, kind of disappointing really, I didn't expect much upon tasting it. The taste was quite surprising, the nose left a lot to be desired but the taste was full of hops. Overall, if they were able to pack in a better aroma, I think this IPA would have gotten an A from me. Its not bad as it is, better than I expected.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2009 23:07:47 | More by tattooedtolley

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

4.01/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Pours vibrant orange. I think this beer is even more orange colored than that Grant's Mandarin Hefeweizen. Smell comes across a little muted compared to the appearance and taste.

Taste is just massive new hops. . . you know, there's the divide between the old school Columbus, Cascade and Chinook hops in American West Coast style IPAs, and then there's the new breed, Warrior, Simcoe, Amarillo etc. . . this is a new breed IPA. Instead of grapefruit citrus zest, its tangerine (much like the Grant's like Yakima Brewing Co.).

Mouthfeel, it dissipates a little midway through, but is highly drinkable. If you've never had it, check it out, highly recommended.

The hops, when fresh, are amazing.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2009 17:16:45 | More by Beerandraiderfan

avalon07

South Carolina

4.15/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Poured from a bottle to a tulip glass. Had an orange color and a cloudy consistency. There was a somewhat small amount of foamy head that lasted a moderate amount of time. Solid lacing.

S: A bold aroma. Hops (of course), citrus, pine and a certain earthiness.

T: Tasted of citrus (grapefruit especially), hops, pine and a little soapiness in the finish. A well-constructed, relatively clean flavor.

M: A highly carbonated beer with a dry, smooth finish. Medium-bodied.

D: A very drinkable Imperial IPA all around.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2009 16:04:16 | More by avalon07

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.33/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Slightly hazed, pale orange color, lovely, long-standing, 1/4" head.

Gorgeous aromatics, note-perfect for style, tickles the nose with pithy pine and citric esters.... grapefruit and mango, lemon peel. Brilliantly bitter.

Taste: plump and brash at once, jumps into the mouth with full force, then gets creamy and mellow. Big time fruit and hop bitterness, getting more intense and electric as it washes down the throat. Intense buzz on the palate.
Gets a bit hot and fierce on the way down, as well, perhaps the alcohol speaking up a bit.

Another sip, another trip to the lips, and it all comes together again, the flavor, the smooth, then the heat...and isn't that what a good Imperial IPA should be all about?

Tasty, tasty...I've got to remember to stop underestimating these guys.

(Noticing my score much higher than other, perhaps I can chalk it up to being freshly tapped? It's good to me, man!)

Serving type: on-tap

11-23-2009 08:23:17 | More by feloniousmonk

dirtylou

Washington

3.5/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

on-tap Alchemy, pre fish-fry

cell phone notes

appearance: served in a pint, clear copper body, moderate beige lace

smell: muted hops, dry grain

taste: very forgettable dipa - not nearly hoppy enough for my style preference. toasted grain and mild caramel also present

mouthfeel: slick - light-medium body

drinkability: fine

Serving type: on-tap

11-14-2009 18:24:13 | More by dirtylou

DavoleBomb

Ohio

3.65/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Review from notes. Drank this about a week ago when BA was down.

Poured into a pint glass.

4.5 A: Semi-clear medium orange color. Two fingers of sticky creamy off white head. Above average retention and tons of lacing.

3.5 S: Surprisingly, malts dominate the show here. Somewhat bready with lots of caramel sweetness. Darker fruits such as raisin and plum. Hops are mainly herbal in nature.

3.5 T: This, as I expected from the nose, is a barleywine-esque DIPA rather than a balls to the walls hop bomb. Caramel malts dominate and lend a healthy sweetness. I'm picking up raisin again, but not the other stuff. Alcoholic tinge on every sip. Not too complex, but tasty nonetheless. Citrusy hop flavor.

3.5 M: Heavy body. Good carbonation. Creamy as well, but a bit cloying.

4.0 D: Good all around malty DIPA.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2009 02:13:16 | More by DavoleBomb

Kadonny

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from tap into a tulip tasting glass.

A: A lighter clear orange color with a one finger white head. Minimal glass lacing.

S: Floral and citrus hops with bready sweet malts. Hint of alcohol.

T: Big burst of floral hops mixed with sweeter citrus hops. Perfumy and herbal. Grapefruit, mango, orange and sweet citrus combine with the bready sweet malts. Alcohol is tasted on the finish with a nice floral hop bitterness lingering. Very nice beer, balanced.

M: Medium, coating, prickly and an alcohol warmth on the finish.

D: For this high an abv? The beer is fairly drinkable. You can taste the alcohol though which keeps reminding you of the potency.

Overall I really enjoyed this beer, I was pleasantly surprised. Not overly complex, just a nice enjoyable hoppy DIPA. Well done Steamworks.

Serving type: on-tap

10-09-2009 12:43:36 | More by Kadonny