Big Sky IPA - Big Sky Brewing Company

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

Amalak

New York

4.1/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I had at Champps Americana in Houston.

A. Nice amber color with a two-finger wheat head that leaves a fair amount of lacing. Bubbly.

S. Malty and sweet.

T. It has a sweet citrusy hop taste to it, smooth and floral. It has a milt bite and a bit of a sour aftertaste, in a good way.

M. Refreshing and somewhat carbonated.

O. This is just a good prototype IPA. When you ask for an IPA, if you are looking for something that is true to the style and not original (in a good or bad way) then this is excellent.

Serving type: on-tap

05-15-2012 16:53:12 | More by Amalak

18alpha

Montana

4.9/5  rDev +26.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Love this beer! There is a lot of art in this IPA.

It has enough IBUs to be a solid IPA but it doesn't beat you to death with the hops. The malty quality takes the edge off of the bitterness. I love hoppy beers but I don't claim to be a hop head. I think this is a beer most hop heads will enjoy but if you are looking for maxed out IBU, you'll probably be disappointed. Still, this is a pretty big beer.

The finish is the key. It brings you right up to the edge where a lot of IPAs lose it. Rather than the ragged bitter finish you get with most American IPAs, Big Sky takes you right to the edge and then eases you into their signature clean finish.

If you are looking for a big, clumsy beer this ain't it. If you are looking for an IPA that cuts lines like a figure skater, you might want to give this one a try.

Serving type: on-tap

11-04-2011 23:36:42 | More by 18alpha

FanofHefe

Illinois

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

Served on-tap in a pint glass. Clear, dark amber body with a two-finger tan head. Decent retention and spotty lacing.

Not an overpowering IPA aroma by any means, but decent. The hops tend more toward the tropical and floral side on the nose, with just a touch of citrus. A light malt note in the background.

The more bitter grapefruit hop notes come through much stronger in the flavor. Still, a bit of tropical and floral notes accompany. A decent caramel malt balance makes for a solid IPA flavor mix.

The mouthfeel is on the lighter side of consistency. Overall, a very solid IPA that is very drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

06-01-2011 23:22:26 | More by FanofHefe

LBBeer

California

4.08/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A--very nice copper color with distinct lacing

S--Big malt note, not a lot of hops

T--Nice malt profile, that couples well with some serious bittering hops. Just the right anmount of body.

M--Creamy for a hoppy brew, very nice though, great balance

D--Soft carbonation, but not too light. Very sessionable IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

03-13-2011 08:20:21 | More by LBBeer

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

In tap at the brewery in August 2009. Reviewed from notes.

Pours a pale apricot orange color win a white head. Some clingy lacing. Nose brings rich citrus and a bit of floral aspects. Taste is a bit bready with some pale malt. Slight bitterness and some orange and citrus. Feel is light to medium with good carbonation. Drinks quite well. One of my favorites from them.

Serving type: on-tap

10-14-2010 12:17:52 | More by Thorpe429

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

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

This beer appears a clear medium copper amber, with a thin off-white head, which leaves some random lace around the glass in its wake. It smells of caramel nougat, and grapefruit-dominated citrus hops. The taste is follows almost identically - sweet creamy caramel, and tangy varied citrus hops. The carbonation is quite low, the body smooth and creamy, and it finishes dry, with a woody hop essence.

A nicely balanced IPA, with some slightly unusual, yet tasty variants on the good ol' citrus/caramel theme.

Serving type: on-tap

08-04-2010 06:34:34 | More by biboergosum

popery

California

3.15/5  rDev -18.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours fairly dark for the style. It's a shade of reddish gold with a good white head. Aroma is fairly hoppy but not altogether pleasing. Citrus, pine, grass and an herbaceous woodiness are all present from the hops. The woody note is my main source of complaint. It's even stronger in the taste than the aroma, lending the flavor of fresh bark or a thick stem - uninteresting and blandly bitter. Otherwise, the flavor is fairly dry with some yeastiness. Malt flavors are mild, just a boring background bread flavor. Feel is a bit effervescent but finishes thin.

Serving type: on-tap

06-07-2010 06:01:20 | More by popery

Daniellobo

District of Columbia

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

Nice and very drinkable draft IPA

Presentation: 16 oz draft offering. Menu offers a fair one liner description and brewery location. Served in pilsner-like glass.

A - Amber body with a 1/4" head, good retention and lacing.

S - Resin/pine character with citrus/grapefruit notes.

T - Flavor follow with a hoppy profile that is not shy at all but does not assert itself too much either. Grapefruit, and pine.

M - Medium body and carbonation with a nice crisp bitter finish.

D - Nicely drinkable, almost balanced leaning on its hoppy side, which works rather well.

Notes: I'll be happy to revisit on tap, and sure enough when I come across a bottle. Nice IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

12-15-2009 00:37:53 | More by Daniellobo

david18

New York

4.43/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I loved this beer. It was one of the better IPA's I've had in a long time. Great hoppy aroma, great clarity of color. Perfect India Pale Ale flavor, all around excellent beer. I would recommend it to anyone who can find it. I had it at the beer bar in NY NY in Las Vegas.

Serving type: on-tap

10-31-2009 01:59:33 | More by david18

shakeheap

Oklahoma

5/5  rDev +29.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Passing through Missoula there was the billboard on the side of the interstate. Brewery next exit. Free samples. How'm I gonna pass that up?

Oh, man. They were all pretty good here at Big Sky. The IPA... outstanding. Excellent. My current favorite beer.

Passing back through in the other direction I drank my brewery limit (only IPA this time) and bought a cool bottle opener that says "Big Sky Brewing Company: We make water fun!" Indeed. I'd be needing it for the half-rack I bought fresh out of the brewery fridge and carried back to the roof of the hotel in Seattle.

Night before leaving I sat up there between the Needler and the Sound watching the ferrys run back and forth and thinking it would be the last time I'd have this beer for a long time... if ever. Big Sky doesn't have distribution in Texas. Good News! They do in Oklahoma and since I visit often... oh yeah!

To my tastebuds this the perfectly balanced hoppy/citrusy IPA. My session beer.

Serving type: on-tap

03-11-2009 22:52:13 | More by shakeheap

xmahns

Montana

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

Great balance for an IPA. I am usually disappointed by IPAs because they tend to be to hoppy with little to no compensation for malts. Not this one! Great roasted malt aromas right up front and in the middle of the taste profile and awesome hop finish, nice touches of black pepper from the hops.

Serving type: on-tap

12-23-2008 17:41:58 | More by xmahns

Gavage

New Jersey

4.1/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: light orange with 2" head that lasts. Some mild lacing develops.

Smell: grapefruit, caramel, and some soft bitterness is easily detectable by the nose.

Taste: nice caramel base. Grapefruit and milder orange citrus, soft pine, and a touch of honey. Bitterness is strong but not overwhelming.

Mouthfeel: crisp throughout with some dryness at the finish. Short aftertaste as the bitterness lingers a bit. Medium bodied.

Drinkability: nice session IPA that you can find yourself drinking a bit quicker than normal. Great on tap.

Serving type: on-tap

11-28-2007 23:12:42 | More by Gavage

Georgiabeer

Georgia

3.9/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Barclay's on College in Oakland. Poured a dark amber with a decent head and great lacing. The smell is citrusy hops and a light graininess against a slightly malty background. The taste is solid. Grapefruity hops, light wax flavor, apricot, and honeysuckle. Slightly sweet, but balanced. Good mouthfeel- decent body, but slightly on the watery side as far as mouthfeel goes, not flavor. Quite good. I could see that this would be heavenly after a day of hiking in Yellowstone.

Serving type: on-tap

08-03-2007 21:44:46 | More by Georgiabeer

orsulacp

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I had this on tap at the Montana Ale Works in Bozeman, it was the featured brew. The nose was big with floral and grapefruit smells not much malt. It had a cloudy orange tinted copper color with a small white head. The taste was very good, grapefruit and piney hops, very earthy with a good bready malt background. Not too bitter, not too fruity just right. It had a medium light mouthfeel. Good solid west coast IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

08-16-2006 01:44:17 | More by orsulacp

TastyTaste

Minnesota

2.45/5  rDev -36.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

On Tap at Bryant Lake Bowl:

Definitely misses the style, a dark copper/brown bodied beer. The smell is malty, very malty, almost too malty and sweet. Hops fight for air. Taste is pretty off vs. the style. Carmel malt is as big if not bigger than the hops presence. The carmel cloys, too sweet. A grating beer, not my favorite at all.

Serving type: on-tap

06-25-2006 07:37:15 | More by TastyTaste

dfried

Minnesota

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

On tap at the MacKenzie Bar in Minneapolis. Nice big 1" head, the body was a deep amber, maybe a bit rustier than some IPA's. The smell was rather light, but you can notice the citrus-y hops. The taste is first of citrus/grapefruity hops, then the pale malt comes to back that up after a moment. About halfway through the beer, it seemed a bit metalic and the hop flavor seemed to be not all that prominant in the finish, but by the end neither of those were an issue and there was a pretty strong grapefruit flavor persisting from the hops. There is some pine/resin flavor from the hops as well, and this made for a dry mouthfeel for the beer. This would have to be considered a 'balanced' IPA as there was a pretty distinct malt flavor in the finish too, almost kind of a yeasty/bread flavor as the beer warmed. All in all a pretty solid IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

06-09-2006 13:43:54 | More by dfried

tavernjef

Minnesota

4.15/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at the Happy Gnome: Gorgeous dark copper color. Clear body and glimmering. Thin and quick cap of dusty white foam slips away soon after the pour. Lacing is in a few globby strings and bigger spots.

Aroma is clean, crisp, and rounded in a wonderful fruity sweetness thats deep and rich mixing well with a hoppy grapefruit pith thats been bruned or scorched into a dry pine bittering sour tone. Quite nice. A bit resinous and greasy too.

Flavors are solid with good depth and roundedness, crisp, clean, and bold. Short and sweet in the front, kinda dark and apple-y, sweet, toasty, and firm. Middle, well, there isn't really a middle as it skips right to the finish with bright and crisp hoppyness of pine and juicy citrus tones. Clean, milding, and smooth bitterness ensues into the finish with a bit of grapefruityness sliding around in a dark and resinous center. It's quite good actually, and possibly deserving of a better number then what I'm giving it, but there was something about it that seemed unperplexing and medium about its flavors. I do, however, like its darker, thicker, tone.Hmmm....tough to call, could be better but how, I'm unsure. Complexity? Caramel?

Feel is somewhat thicker then most other IPA's; given its clean and crisp nature. Somehow, and whatever the reason why, it tends to carry a bit more darker heavyness for its underbelly then others that don't use the caramel brigade of malts. This was pale but rounded, semi toasted, clean and bitter, but sweet and dark. A nice aspect to the beer and its flavors. Mellows out some as it warms and the bitterness tends to seep in and out from time to time. It's darker nature and simple yet supple and giving bitterness does slow down the drinking of the brew. It's got a uniquely heavy crispness and, almost, greasy fashion. More of a "winter" IPA then for warmer months, but damn good none the less.

Serving type: on-tap

06-02-2006 00:56:24 | More by tavernjef

GClarkage

California

4.03/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

09/04/05- On tap at a wine and spirits store in Jackson Hole, WY.

Presentation- Had a few samples into 4oz samplers. The store had a fill your own growler department with about 8 different beers on tap. Very very cool.

Appearance- Fairly deep copper color, nice solid and creamy head and very nice lacing.

Smell- Big hit of pine hops. Not really any fruity scents, but nice pine tree scents.

Taste- Nice and well rounded IPA. Subdued, but nice hoppy flavor. Evens out well with a bit of toasted malt. Fairly bitter.

Mouthfeel- Just a touch on the lighter watery side. Still goes down well though.

Drinkability- Kind of like Russian River's standby IPA. Not too in your face, but just enough to keep your attention and make you want another.

Serving type: on-tap

09-05-2005 19:24:03 | More by GClarkage

beernut7

Massachusetts

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

This is a nice copper colored beer with a nice head. The flavors of this beer build upon the blueprint set forth by the Scapegoat pale ale. This beer is a bit more aggressive with a spicier hop profile and strong, but smooth bitter finish. Very good.

Serving type: on-tap

08-18-2002 08:03:13 | More by beernut7

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

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

smbslt

Illinois

3.55/5  rDev -8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Good burnt orange color with a creamy goldish head. Too much sediment though to be appealing.

Citrusy (orange) but with an oddly placed mocha influence.

Interesting floral sensation but the malts were to forward and the aftertaste was not pleasant.

Mouthfeel fine except the finish - did not really matter at this point.

Subtle or just confused - the beer I mean. Did not seem like it should be in the IPA category. May score it higher as a pale ale.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 23:31:28 | More by smbslt

zac16125

South Carolina

3.91/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle into a pint glass
random numbers on the bottle but nothing that makes sense

A: crystal clear, dark amber, 2 fingers wifth of light tan head. Leaves tons of lacing.

S: lots of citrus, lemon and orange peal, mint

T: Piney bitterness, citrus rind, solid malt backbone. Pretty simple, but tasty.

M/D: carbonation on the heavy side, medium body, drinkability is good.

O: Nothing special, but an enjoyable, above average IPA. Id drink this again.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 21:29:53 | More by zac16125

facundoCNB

New Jersey

3.71/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

a clean amber pour with a finger of fluffy white head. smells biscuity with some grassy hops and caramel. the flavor has lots of piney and soap like bitterness from the hops, lots of caramel and nutty flavor from the grain bill even out the flavor. medium body with a decent amount of carbonation.

a pretty good ipa, not bad at all for a year round. a little generous on the abv as well, which isn't noticeable at all. really diggin the overall malt profile of this one.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 16:06:48 | More by facundoCNB