Big Sky IPA - Big Sky Brewing Company

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

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

From BeerAdvocate Magazine Volume II, Issue II:

A departure from the many English beers Big Sky brews, a healthy dose of Simcoe hops are used to bitter and flavors this beer. We dig the how the animal theme is genuine and not corny as hell, "Antilocapra americana" blazing this label.

Massive white head that slowly settles with an neat-looking plateau in the middle, ample lacing and retention is seen. Very clear deep copper color. Fresh orange zest from the hop aroma, maltiness goes a little nutty and the yeast gives a hint of fruitiness in the nose. Smoothness is packed deep, and the creamy medium body holds firm. It's a back and forth from hops to malt starting off with a sweet bready tone to a slick, oily herbal flavor. Then there's a light caramel note to a semi-prickly bitterness, biscuity grain to a bit of citric rind. Finishes off with more lingering oily hop flavor and runs a little dry.

This is a perfect snapshot of what American IPAs were back in the 1990s. Easy drinking and balanced but still with a very pronounced hop flavor, it's not a trait you see as often, and it's great to experience it again.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2009 19:32:54 | More by BeerAdvocate

elglueckert

Montana

3.75/5  rDev -2.8%

05-19-2013 22:23:05 | More by elglueckert

Sark

Montana

3.78/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Appearance- a finger and a half of eggshell velvet head, golden copper colored with low carbonation

Smell- citrus hops with light pale malt sweetness

Taste- pale malts up front, mid tongue grapefruit and hop bitters on the finish

Mouthfeel- medium bodied, moderately slow fade

Overall- a solid IPA out of Big Sky, easy drinking and not overly filling.

Serving type: on-tap

05-18-2013 03:40:29 | More by Sark

Zbeetleman

California

3/5  rDev -22.3%

05-16-2013 02:58:58 | More by Zbeetleman

aflies

Arizona

3.75/5  rDev -2.8%

05-12-2013 03:03:34 | More by aflies

Captnlhook

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -9.3%

05-12-2013 00:59:50 | More by Captnlhook

HarmonMW

Michigan

3.75/5  rDev -2.8%

05-12-2013 00:41:52 | More by HarmonMW

megamass

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -2.8%

05-08-2013 22:45:11 | More by megamass

CFHMagnet

Ohio

3.84/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Poured this one rather roughly into my pint glass. Came up with a little over a finger of sandy colored head over a rosy copper body. Lacing clings rather well to the sides.

This one smells rather sugary. Heavy malts, a bit of juicy tropical fruit.

This beer is very malt forward. Sweet malt, very sugary is the first punch, the number two punch comes right as you are swallowing. Big tropical and pine hop flavor smacks you bitterly in the tongue. The aftertaste is all piney and bitter.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied. Lightly syrupy.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2013 16:59:58 | More by CFHMagnet

jmint

Missouri

3/5  rDev -22.3%

05-07-2013 05:13:35 | More by jmint

Sande

Kansas

2/5  rDev -48.2%

05-03-2013 23:07:57 | More by Sande

Jabartheljr

South Dakota

3.75/5  rDev -2.8%

05-03-2013 01:21:25 | More by Jabartheljr

chrisjmey

Missouri

4/5  rDev +3.6%

05-01-2013 00:28:57 | More by chrisjmey

Ispeakforthetrees

Colorado

3.75/5  rDev -2.8%

05-01-2013 00:10:24 | More by Ispeakforthetrees

Black_ox

Missouri

3.25/5  rDev -15.8%

04-30-2013 22:42:50 | More by Black_ox

jjclick17

Indiana

4.5/5  rDev +16.6%

04-27-2013 23:08:46 | More by jjclick17

GermanAlcazar

Mexico

3.75/5  rDev -2.8%

04-19-2013 08:37:29 | More by GermanAlcazar

AndyP612

Illinois

4.4/5  rDev +14%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Bottle aggressively poured into Uptown Bar Pint glass.

A- Amber to dark brown. Very inviting fairly clear.

S- Hops forward with a lean towards citrus. More Hops... Cirtus.

T- Tons of fruit right off that bat to dissipate into a hoppy overtones Fruit, Grapefruit. To balance out the hop tip with malty sweetness finish.

M- Still has carbonation toward the second half of the pint. Delicious. Very carbonated leaping off the tongue. Dry finish. Still inviting.

O- The carbonation bites the cheeks yet it continues to invite you to drink more. The grapefruit presence sustains its attendance. Very dry finish is noteworthy. Feels like a west cost IPA in that I continue want more but only in a six pack increment. A very interesting feeling I feel but the feeling I get is sheer enjoyment. Cheers.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2013 03:40:51 | More by AndyP612

IPAchris

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -2.8%

04-14-2013 21:31:35 | More by IPAchris

Abe_Froman

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -9.3%

04-14-2013 03:56:34 | More by Abe_Froman

atomicskier1889

Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev -9.3%

04-13-2013 02:25:22 | More by atomicskier1889

Herky21

Iowa

4/5  rDev +3.6%

04-11-2013 14:01:16 | More by Herky21

hollywood_15063

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -2.8%

04-10-2013 01:25:51 | More by hollywood_15063

Mattyb79

Virginia

4/5  rDev +3.6%

04-05-2013 23:01:49 | More by Mattyb79

johnnyboy76

Oregon

3.5/5  rDev -9.3%

04-05-2013 01:28:44 | More by johnnyboy76