Big Eddy Imperial IPA - Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company

adamette

Ohio

3.45/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Live review. Poured from the 12 oz. single that I bought at Heinen's in Mentor a few days ago for $3.00 into a clean, clear glass. "SEP2412" stamped on the neck of the bottle which I will take to be the "best by" date. Incidentally, my label states 8.2 % ABV.

A Somewhat brief but solid head over a translucent shiny new penny body. Very solid look for the style. Some points lost for the briefness of the head and that it really did not stick to the inside of the glass like I would have liked to see. I like that nice copper body. 3.5

S Nice strong hop and malt profile that really only some of the elite DIPAs have had. If the smell is any indication this is going to be one solid DIPA. 4.0

T Just as the smell suggested, a powerful DIPA with strong aromatic and grapefruit hops along with a strong sweet malt presence. It does not measure up to some of my more favored DIPAs in that despite that it is rather thin. Thin is not the word with Great Lakes Lake Erie Monster or Bell's Hopslam. 3.5

M A huge beer but, as stated, actually a bit more thin than other beers within the style. 3.0

D/O Drinkability is actually not that high. I just have the single but I really cannot see reaching for a second one of these. Its size and ABV level is just huge! Overall this is a fine effort from Leinenkugel. 3.0

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2012 02:32:26 | More by adamette

Brewsky29

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer pours a copper burnt orange with an inch plus of head that laces all over the glass.

The beer has a malty sweet smell.

The taste is very nice malts at first then the hops kick in with a bitterness that hangs in there with the malty sweetness.

Smooth beer with a little carbonation.

Overall very nice beer I really enjoyed this beer and will be getting this one again for sure.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2012 00:02:25 | More by Brewsky29

jtierney89

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Nice clear brassy copper hue with a two fingers sticky white head. Resinous grapefruit nose. Faint notes of pine and citrus. Some tropical fruit as well.

An interesting IPA. Silky and creamy mouthfeel. On the heavier side of medium bodied. Light effervescence. Lots of sweetness to this beer. Lots of caramel, sweet malted grain, burnt sugar, taffy and toffee. European hop presence however it's very subtle and subdued. Mild bitterness with some lingering sweetness. Herbal spicy hop finish.

Not your standard double IPA but it is very unique. More malt then there probably should be but for some reason i'm really enjoying this beer. Might be the timing since I havn't been drinking a ton of hoppy stuff this summer so the mild bitterness is nice.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2012 01:35:34 | More by jtierney89

maximum12

Minnesota

4.05/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Picked up a single of this IIPA recently off of a nice, clean shelf. Loved the RIS when it first came out a while back, so happy to give this one a shot. Cut my teeth on Leine's a long, long, long time ago when it was the only drinkable beer at First Avenue, our regular haunt. 12 oz. bottle with a "Dec1212" date on it. I'll assume that's a "May1212" born on date...one point for dating, minus three-quarters for lack of clarify.

Pour is that lovely burnished copper that usually precedes a good hop-bomb, for some reason. Nose is heavy on the malts, with a good resinous quality to it, but the only hop flavor is floral, & not much at that.

Big Eddy IIPA dances along the dangerous edge of balance: good hops on one side, a sad precipice of too much malts on the other. First impression is of heavy caramel malting, but they're kicked aside by a rush of hops - nice bitterness, heavy oils, with appearances of tropical fruit & earthiness. Resin trumps all in the end, sticking with me until I go brush my teeth. It's that coating quality in the mouth that is the high note here, & leads to sipping more quickly than normal.

Very good? Excellent? So close. It's the caramel malts, done with a deft hand, that tip this one into the excellent category. Nice entry into the IIPA category - keep on bringing it, Leine's.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2012 02:40:13 | More by maximum12

DefenCorps

Oregon

2.25/5  rDev -41.7%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

I did a double take when I saw this. Best by 09 Nov 2012, 8.2% ABV. $2.99 single from the Village Pump.

A clear copper with a dense, cream-colored head with good retention and nice lacing, this looks pretty good! The darker than expected color warns me that this might be a bit of a malt bomb, and that's what I find. A big crystal malt nose with astringent caramel, moderately stale in some ways, is the most noticeable aspect. In fact, it covers up the hops to a big extent! I get some pine, some citrus, and a mild vegetal character.

The palate opens quite sweet with a blend of moderate hop bitterness and a crystal malt astringency. For a beer that was hopped 5 times, this tastes very disappointing. There's moderate pine flavor, grapefruit and some tropical fruit as well. However, the sweetness is way too high for my palate, and it overpowers (rather than complements) the moderate hop bitterness, and the hop flavor just isn't strong enough. Sweet, mildly astringent on the finish, this beer is medium in body, carbonated to a moderate level. While I do like the occasional sweeter DIPA, this is disappointing as it lacks balance of any sort. I feel like I'm being harsh with my scores here, but I cringe with every sip here.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2012 03:44:19 | More by DefenCorps

mjpolzin

Wisconsin

3.83/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I never know what I am going to get with the Big Eddy series from Leinies as they been hit and miss. This offering was surprisingly enjoyable although I don't know if I would buy it again since there are so many IPAs out there that I like.

The color was orangish with a small amount of head. There wasn't much carbonation and I can't decide if the mouthfeel was smooth or watery. (maybe a little bit of both) It smelled like your typical IPA with scents citrus fruits, pine and floral notes. The taste was similar to the smell and it was very balanced. It didnt knock me over the head with hops like some of my favorites do and the taste was mostly citrus and not as complex as I would like. It also had a bit of a watery aftertaste; maybe to be expected from what I consider to be a macrobrewery. So again, decent but not something I will stock up on.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2012 00:48:00 | More by mjpolzin

ZAP

Minnesota

4.4/5  rDev +14%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A-Burnt orange color....nice white lace on the glass..

S-Aroma of sweet, sticky fruits...sugars...a light floral dimension..

T-A real nice tropical fruitiness to this....mangos, papaya, pineapple...along with peaches and nectarines...

M- I'd call it full bodied but not immense...a nice drinker...Biit of a syrupy texture but ABV is only 8.2%...still a little sticky on the finish from the sweet fruitiness...finally some drying bitterness enters but only on the long fade.

O-Wow! What fantastic DIPA....they use some of my favorite hops and I guess I should not be surprised with the outcome....Warrior..check.... Cascade...check... Simcoe...check....Amarillo...check... Citra...check....Might be my five favorite hops or close to it...4 pack for about $10...decent price and hell of a beer...I will buy more....would love to blind taste this with the big hitters...thinking it is slightly off the mark with the heavies but who knows?

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2012 05:48:58 | More by ZAP

barczar

Kentucky

3.85/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a brilliantly clear reddish copper color with a persistent one inch cream head that leaves little lacing.

Aroma is dominated by grapefruit, orange, and pine. There's a substantial caramel malt breadiness at the finish, accompanied by floral hops.

Floral hops begin the flavor profile, preceding a big, bready, almost cloyingly sweet caramel malt backbone, which carries the flavor into a big grapefruit punch that ends slightly bitter and peppery and piney. Alcohol is present, and slightly overwhelming. Grassy, catty, oniony flavors develop as it warms.

Body is thick, syrupy, with fairly low carbonation and significant alcohol warmth. There's a bit of hop astringency.

Overall, a somewhat balanced (to the extreme) dipa. I might prefer a little less sweetness, but definitely a good effort.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2012 04:56:20 | More by barczar

KevyKevNasty

4.38/5  rDev +13.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I was skeptical when I thought about trying the Big Eddy Imperial IPA, as Leinenkugel has let me down so many times. This, however, was not the typical experience I usually have with a new Leinie. This Imperial IPA is packed with hops but does not let the smoothness hide beneath the bite. Very well-balanced flavor complement a great aroma and a head I usually only see with darker ales. Nice work Leinenkugal.

Serving type: on-tap

06-28-2012 00:30:44 | More by KevyKevNasty

Strix

Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Clear orange-amber, nice lacing.

Big pine and grapefruit blast in the nose.

Malty and sweet, then orange peel, grapefruit, lemon, pine, and a touch of alcohol in the finish. Nice balance - a hop bite, but it's not palate-obliterating.

Mouthfeel smooth, fairly bubbly.

This disappeared quickly. The Big Eddy series is like a completely different brewery, their Imperial Stout was also surprisingly delicious. Lenie's needs to unleash this power and keep making this series because these are the types of beers they can be proud of. Are you listening?

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2012 00:51:07 | More by Strix

Florida9

Illinois

3.78/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Clear dark copper in color. Forms a moderate sized, creamy off-white colored head. Leaves some good lacing on the way down.

S: Strong blend of caramel malts and citrus hops, with notes of orange, orange juice, and pine.

T: Starts off incredibly sweet and malty and, while this one has a good dose of hops to it, the hop choice only goes to accentuate the malty sweetness. Strong orange and orange rind quality then becomes somewhat spicy with a bit of alcohol on the finish.

M: On the heavier side of medium with medium carbonation, a moderate bitterness, and a slightly oily feel to it.

O: While I can appreciate the heavy hand on the hops, the heavy malts cause this one to be too sweet for my liking.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2012 00:28:59 | More by Florida9

siradmiralnelson

Iowa

4/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from 12oz bottle into Tulip.

A. Poured 2 finger head. Good lacing. Good retention. Color is bright bold orange. Good looking DIPA.

S. Pretty dank hop smell. Piney and herbal. Some alcohol aroma comes out. A bit of caramel malt lies beneath quite a bit of hops. Almost a hop oil smell.

T. Big hop flavor on the tongue as well. Not the freshest hop taste, but the bitterness is definitely there. Pretty oily hop flavor.

M. Medium/full bodied. Medium carbonation. LIngering bitterness.

O. Enjoyed this more the first time then the second. Seemed a little harsher the second time around. The hop presence seemed more concentrated and less fresh if that makes any sense. This is a bit less polished and refined then some of the best DIPA's.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2012 22:19:00 | More by siradmiralnelson

ThickNStout

Georgia

4.23/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle from Total Wine (Kennesaw, GA). 11.49/ 4pk. 2012 release, best by 11/19/12 (I think bottled 5/19/12). Served in a Southern Tier snifter. 

Pours copper orange with 1.5 yellowish pale head. Laces nicely. 

Smells hoppy: citrus, pine, sweet biscuits. 

Tastes like an imperial IPA should. Orange, pine, floral, sweet biscuits, grassy and a hint of booze. The alcohol is well hidden.

Medium full feel with nice edge of carbonation. Long bittersweet floral aftertaste. 

A nice smooth balanced IPA. I've been pretty happy with the Big Eddy series so far. Glad I took a chance on a 4 pack. 

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2012 22:49:24 | More by ThickNStout

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.33/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Leinenkugel's Big Eddy Imperial IPA, 2012. Five distinctive hops are added to every stage of the brewing process for our take on an Imperial IPA. 9% ALC./VOL.

Clear and luminescent, cast in glowing amber, edging on crimson, under a tight, but firm and lasting creamy, off-white head. Looks great.

Bright and bountiful aromatics, ripe fruit, assertive bitterness, but not raw or unbridled. Orange and lime, under apple and caramel.

Taste: bitter spank of hops begins right at first sip, slaps the palate up, and slinks down the throat. Juicy malt profile, plenty of ballast and balance, while the hops shine through. Would be very interested to know which hops are involved in this, but I'm they indeed are distinctive. And delicious. And just bitter enough.

Big Eddy Imperial IPA is a class act. Not too anything, not overblown in any direction, with the high alcohol revealing itself at last, but remaining a minor fact in the enjoyment of this ale. The fierce hop action at the top relents some, mellows out a little, but never truly fades. A hint of sweetness is revealed in the middle, quickly overturned by more bitterness.

A continual treat. I'll be stocking up on this one.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2012 10:19:01 | More by feloniousmonk

jjanega08

Minnesota

3.9/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Bottle Neck reads
Nov1212
B21010707

A= Pours a deep amber copperish color with a good finger of thick head that leaves some decent lacing on the side of the glass.

S= Smells pretty nice. I am not a big fan of Lineys but I have enjoyed their Big Eddy series. This is a nice hoppy punch. Peppery and spicy. It actually smells a lot like pepper or a well peppered chicken breast.

T= The taste is nice peppery and green. I like the fresh taste to it. Loads of hop spice and punch. The malt backbone is minimal but enough to hold it up.

M= A little too high on the carbonation.

O= Another impressive beer from Liney's. I have been very impressed with this series. I was too young to try it the first time around. This time I haven't missed it and it has been good. Try this beer and enjoy it while it's around.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2012 05:14:34 | More by jjanega08

ChimRichels

Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Crystal clear copper color rests beneath a gentle finger's thickness of off-white head. Not a speck of haze in this one. Lacing is there, about what you'd expect for a 9% beer.

S - The aroma permeated the surrounding area almost the instant the cap was cracked open. Very resinous and pine/cedar heavy. The longer it sits, the more it begins to smell like a big juicy ruby-red grapefruit. Interesting aroma development.

T - Just a really great DIPA. The tangy zing of the resinous hops is in your face, but the body holds its own. A solid caramel malt base prevents it from turning into an all-out hop-assault. However, the hops reign supreme here, as they should. The grapefruit pith develops the longer I sip on it, much like the aroma.

M- Very complimentary to the delicate subtleties hiding in this beer, the mild carbonation and rich body provide the perfect canvas for a portrait of a hop bouquet.

O - I loved this beer, much like the other big eddy offerings. It's nice to see Leine's flex their muscles a bit. Slap a Russian River label on this beer and it would be rated in the top 10 DIPAs on this site. But that discussion we can save for later...

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2012 02:10:10 | More by ChimRichels

tdm168

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to jtd1969 for hooking me up with this bottle.

A - orangish amber; no head

S - floral, faint citrus

T - bread, grapefruit, floral, sweet

M - medium bodied, good carbonation, smooth

I opened this with little expectations. This is a pretty solid IPA though. It has balance and good flavor. I've never been a fan of a Leinenkugel offering before. It makes me wonder why they're producing the rest of their lineup if they're capable of making a solid beer like this one.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2012 14:27:31 | More by tdm168

jzeilinger

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a medium dark copper color with very little head and a thin lacing ring.

S - Spicy and resinous citrus rinds with dark citrus aroma. Malt is caramel and a little biscuity.

T - Dark tropical fruit intensity - grapefruit, oranges, and pineapple. Biscuit caramel malt is a little sweet but blends superbly with the hops. Finishes with a pine and grapefruit bitterness that doesn't last long.

M - Medium to heavy medium body for an IPA. Coats the mouth with fruit rind sweetness and some piney bitterness.

O - This beer is a total surprise and nothing like I expected (at all). I am not a fan of Leinenkugel beer and this is the first time I will say this is one I would keep in my fridge, this is exceptional for Leinenkugel and by far the best beer they've ever produced. Nice job and worth checking out. I can't see this one keeping because it's really balanced right now, it actually could use more tropical fruit intensity to up the malt, but what's there is satisfying on the palette.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2012 00:04:33 | More by jzeilinger

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

2.8/5  rDev -27.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Glad they re-made this so I could finally tick it.

Poured into Big Eddy Chalice.

Pours a white head that settles to a collar. Color is a clear vibrant copper.

Aroma: A lot of citrus and bright fruits. Pineapples, lemons, and grapefruit. Maybe a touch of mango. There is a bit of caramel and bready malts too.

Taste: A little too much sweetness and malts here. Lots of caramel and bready malts. Some alcohol burn. Hop resiny with a bit of dankness. Earthy and floral. Lots of citrus fruit.

Mouthfeel: Bitter and sticky. Medium bodied with a good amount of carbonation. Ends dry.

Overall, a decent IIPA, but nothing I would buy more of. It just misses some of the marks when it comes to being a staple. The nose is decent, but it loses it in the taste. It's not bad, but it is a bit below average.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2012 22:50:05 | More by mothman

jera1350

Minnesota

4.05/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Light amber colored with a sticky head of sand colored foam.

Lots of fresh hops in the nose that offer up pine, citrus and grassy notes.

Lots of hoppy goodness, but with a lower bitterness. Complex hop flavor with some pine, citrus and grass flavors coming through. Solid malt sweetness without much but a trace of alcohol.

Smooth with lots of velvety carbonation and a pine resiny feel.

A very well done DIPA overall. The Big Eddy series have all been very good beers and this one is no exception.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2012 22:10:54 | More by jera1350

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

4.23/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On draught at HopCat, served in a tulip.

Ruby red body with a light offwhite head. Mild retention and OK lacing. Nose has a whole bunch of fruit juice, resin and piney hop notes. Substantial malt component, but the hops are still quite bright. Tastes of sweet cranberry juice (no tartness that is), complemented by a mix of tropical and citrus notes. Moderate bitterness, but a good bit of malt sweetness. Medium heavy body, medium carbonation. A really interesting IIPA, something I'd love to have again.

Serving type: on-tap

05-24-2012 15:14:03 | More by liamt07

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

3.93/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle poured into a Big Eddy snifter.
9% ABV, 2012, OCT1612 (Best By date printed on neck in yellow).

A - Gorgeous clear rusted amber in color, Leinie's sure knows how to make sexy-looking beer! A dense ivory head shrinks down slowly, caking the snifter in delicate lacing.

S - Strong maltiness elevates this imperial IPA to it's hefty 9% and, in true Wisconsin-style, really balanced the otherwise big hop aroma. Lots of earthy hops emerge almost secondary in nature; pine, oak chip...grapefruit, pineapple, and mango fruitiness linger towards the background. Decidedly malty, there's quite a bit of dense breadiness and biscuit in here. Mild alcohol is barely noticeable.

T - The bold malt aroma comes to a grinding halt and startles with it's lack of presence by comparison. Caramel cube and toffee sliver accompany toasted biscuit in a nice way while balanced hops pull through in the back end. Earthiness and resiny pine needle overcome the delicate fruity undertones displayed here.

M - Like the flavor, the malt's surprising lack of presence when compared to the aroma, leads to this beer feeling quite a bit thinner than one might initially assume. Aided by thinning alcohol and dry hops, Big Eddy Imperial IPA rounds out to be medium-bodied. Dry and resiny, there's a nicely balanced, smooth pine bitterness on the finish; don't expect gripping and assertive.

O - Leinie's follows suit with so many mid-western breweries and produced Big Eddy Imperial IPA with a lot of balance. For 9%, the alcohol is nearly unnoticeable. But it doesn't truly feel like and imperial IPA to me; it lacks that really strong blast of hops. Don't get me wrong, hops are there, they just aren't assertive. Maybe there's too much competition between the varieties or unique additions. Regardless, Big Eddy Imperial IPA's hoppy undertones meld nicely with the tasty maltiness for an incredibly drinkable, deceptively strong imperial IPA.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2012 02:21:37 | More by BeerFMAndy

milljs

Kentucky

4.78/5  rDev +23.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Appearance – Brilliantly clear, apricot orange to amber with tight off white foam crown that quickly dissipates. Very little to no carbonation visible in the snifter. Aroma – Spicy, hoppy, and complex. Hop notes of floral, pine, and citrus. Fresh green wildflowers, pinecones, and tangerine. Taste –Big complex hops from the aroma come thru on the taste, with more fruit. Resinous, tropical, mango, pineapple….MMMM I love citra hops. But also pine and maybe some hibiscus. Extremely complex hop taste. A floral freshness. But definitely a subtle but present malt sweetness. Honey toast. Also subtle citrus fruit, like a candied orange peel. Mouthfeel – Medium to full bodied. Creamy and complex Finish – creamy, bitter, and sweet all at once. Complex but not overwhelming. Delicious and a FANTASTIC Imperial IPA

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2012 15:48:56 | More by milljs

aasher

Indiana

3.53/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This is the first bottle I've seen of the new release for the summer of 2012. The label states that it is 9.0% abv.

This beer pours a light bodied bright amber in color with a soapy half finger head. The head quickly turned to a light lacing around the glass. The nose is big and pretty malt forward. There is a moderate amount of piney hops and a light bitterness. Cold, the alcohol isn't present in the nose. The flavors too are malt forward. It's piney with moderate bitterness. All in all, on the sweet side for a DIPA. There is a touch of alcohol as well. It drinks light in body and there is some residual sugar but I wouldn't say it's necessarily "sticky". Overall this is a decent beer but compared to all of the other DIPAs in the Midwest it can't really compete.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2012 02:54:28 | More by aasher

HEALAMONSTER

Wisconsin

4.22/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Best IPA I have had in a while. It even aged well in my basement at 56 degrees. Big hop smack in the buds and smooth finish.
I have it on good inside information that this beer will be back in stores in the fall of 2011. Get your taste buds rested up.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2011 16:45:47 | More by HEALAMONSTER