Geary's Imperial IPA - D.L. Geary Brewing Company

dickroop

Maryland

3.95/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Geary's new offering of an Imperial IPA is intriguing. I know Geary's pale ale and summer ale as brews that are solid stand-bys for enjoying with lobster and Maine's summer times. I wasn't tempted to buy the Imperial IPA when I saw it for sale, but sure was glad to have a chance to try it when a bottle came my way. I developed a much better opinion of it, and bought some to carry home, hopefully to share with folks after vacation.

The ale poured into a tumbler a clear and dark coppery bronze with minimal head. It's aroma was sweet malt, a little fruity (with pear notes?), also an earthy smell I'd call creekwater (it's a good thing, don't worry).

The taste was sweet to start but overtaken quickly with bitterness that finished fairly clean for such strong beer. There's a little sour tang around the edges and a strong alcohol presence. Hops are mildly floral, but mostly there's just plenty of bitter/sweet balance, with enough bitter to make it pair well with strong food flavors.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied and almost a little syrupy.

Drinkability is good for a DIPA. This is a nice solid offering, and if you like Geary's other brews, this one will be familiar... and stronger.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2009 17:05:18 | More by dickroop

RoyalT

Ohio

3.4/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance - This is a dark but translucent brown in color with a radiant white head that looks even brighter in comparison to the ale.

Smell - This is nicely balanced with a soft hop aroma and a mild, almost brownish type of malt.

Taste - There's a big grainy malt character that springs up at the taste. The hops are not overpowering but not wimpy, either. This beer is nice but there's an off, kind of tangy brown note that throws off the flavor profile.

Mouthfeel - This is medium-bodied with a mild bitterness just at the end.

Drinkability - This is very drinkable for a DIPA. It is on the lighter side of the style so goes down well.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2009 23:40:53 | More by RoyalT

deltatauhobbit

Maine

3.78/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a fairly dark amber color with a decent sized semi-tan head, the head fades fast though and leaves no lacing.

Smell is mostly caramel malt for a DIPA, there is some hoppiness to it but it doesn't have that raw hop aroma or strong citrus aroma that most DIPA's have.

Taste is definitely way too malty and lacking a strong hop bite but for a DIPA it is rather easy to drink, just not an extreme version of the style.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2009 19:52:49 | More by deltatauhobbit

lordofthewiens

Maine

3.73/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This beer was a cherry amber color with a thin tan head and a very little bit of lacing. It had a pronounced floral aroma. The taste was mostly piney hops, but not too hoppy. I didn't get much malt presence, and thought it was a bit on the unbalanced side. I really like Geary's, but I think this could have been a better DIPA.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2009 21:10:17 | More by lordofthewiens

gford217

Georgia

3.33/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle courtesy of connecticutpoet poured into a tulip.

Pours very dark for a DIPA, a deep clear amber with a big creamy white head that shows great retention and lacing. It's a very appetizing looking brew.

The aroma is almost that of a balanced DIPA. It's got plenty of citrus hops including oranges and grapefruits but the caramel malt sweetness is also a major player in the nose. Doesn't quite smell like a DIPA.

The taste is even sweeter than the aroma suggests with the sweet caramel malts really dominating the taste. There is some earthy hops that show throughout as well with a slight bitterness in the finish. In addition, there is a sweet vanilla type sweetness that shows up in the finish.

The mouthfeel is very smooth and not nearly as (hop) bitter as I was expecting. There is another toasty bitterness that comes through that doesn't seem to be hop-related.

This is a nice, drinkable DIPA but the hop profile is probably not quite as significant as I would like, even for a balanced DIPA.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2009 22:04:46 | More by gford217

far333

Connecticut

3.58/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Apparently this beer is no longer retired. It's listed on the Geary's web site as year-round. Just picked some up at Liquor Depot in Simsbury, CT.

Pours a clear burnished copper with a swarm of fine bubbles rising upwards to a tightly bubbled half inch head of orangey-beige.

Low aroma of doughey malt and subtle floral hop.

Flavors of caramel malt, marshmallow and toffee, ABV warmth, some non-descript hop bitterness offsetting the strong malt sweetness.

Smooth mouthfeel, moderate to low carbonation. Tasty and drinkable beer, but seems more like a strong ale.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2009 12:28:37 | More by far333

bignick

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at The Publick House in Brookline 4/20/06. Served in a pint glass.

This is a pretty good take on the DIPA style. While it is not overwhelming, it doesn't disapoint, either. What strikes me most about this beer is the lack of a hop punch. Sure, while the hops are obviously present, they are pretty well-balanced and seem to surround the inside of the mouth rather than kick it. There is a nice sweetness, without being sticky. It is a bit bready, but also extremely drinakble for its style and abv. I like this offering, and I am glad I tried it.

Serving type: on-tap

04-21-2006 05:13:38 | More by bignick