Big Sky IPA - Big Sky Brewing Company

Fusion_Pirate

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

Purchased in a six-pack from my local grocer.

A: Poured into a New Holland Brewing 16oz glass, Big Sky IPA yielded a 1/2 finger of head, with heavy lacing and strong retention around the glass. The color is a gorgeous dark, copper/amber color...darker (more IIPA) color than what you'd expect from a standard IPA. Beautiful!

S: Strong floral and citrus notes hit the nose immediately- then a rich, powerful caramel rush finishes it. Not a typical IPA smell combo, but really awesome nonetheless.

T: Here's where the hops come out of the woodwork, and in a balanced, almost understated way. A nicely rounded flavor overall, with a sprucey, semi-floral bitterness, coupled with more of that rich caramel-candy malt noted earlier in the initial smell. Not the greatest flavor on Earth by any means, but smooth, balanced and sessionable.

M: The carbonation is great- on the mild side, aiding and supporting the flavors, not overpowering them. It hits the tongue with a silky-smooth flow and goes down well; but I wouldn't mind a slightly drier finish.

O: For the price ($9.00 sale for a sixer), this beer is a real steal! I wouldn't hesitate to pick this one up again on a warm summer afternoon sometime. Kudos to Big Sky for a unique, accessible and satisfying take on the India Pale Ale formula.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2012 02:57:07 | More by Fusion_Pirate

barczar

Kentucky

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

Pours a brilliantly clear copper color with a solid inch and a half cream head that dissipates slowly, leaving spotty lacing.

Aroma is dominated by dank resin, cannabis, and pine, with a hint of grapefruit pith. Bready malt and more citrus emerge, with notes of caramel and toast.

Initial sip is somewhat lacking in a mid palate flavor. Muted citrus, orange and grapefruit pith underlie the flavor profile, which shifts immediately to a bitter, piney, dry finish. Citrus hops emerge more in subsequent sips, but the malt is almost nonexistent.

Body is moderate, with moderate carbonation, and a slightly astringent finish.

Overall, the bittering hops were a bit dominant, and they drowned out almost all malt flavor. Wish the flavor had followed the aroma more closely. Sacrilege, but it's finish is too bitter for my taste.

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2012 20:56:24 | More by barczar

soju6

Missouri

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

A: Pours an amber color with a good head that fades slowly to nice lacing.

S: Aroma of citrus-pine with a trace of malt sweetness.

T: Has a good citrus bite with some malt sweetness and a bit of grain.

F: Medium body, crisp and nicely balanced.

O: Enjoyable IPA. Another quality beer from Big Sky.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2012 05:54:17 | More by soju6

bump8628

Oklahoma

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

Another great beer in a can just showed up in time for summer. IPAs are especially well-suited for this format. As expected, the canned version of this beer is better than the bottled, which is also solid.

Let's get on with it. Pours a bright orange-copper with a healthy head of ecru foam that drops some thick rings around the glass. A bit of a hybrid between the English and American styles. The malt, with its warm biscuit and toffee notes, is all English, while the herbal and piney hop flavors are All-American. Somehow a nice balancing act between the two is found, and instead of being a distraction, this sets it apart from the wealth of other IPAs sitting on shelves. 65 IBUs and 6.2% ABV - right where I like my IPAs.

I'll still go for the west coast hop bombs every time, but Big Sky IPA is a nice changeup and the canned option is nice to have around for a laid back weekend excursion.

Serving type: can

07-06-2012 17:08:12 | More by bump8628

DavoleBomb

Ohio

4.05/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a pint glass.

4.0 A: Clear orange amber color. Two fingers of frothy beige head. Retention is pretty good and a finger sized ring of lacing is left.

4.5 S: Rich and malty IPA. Boatloads of caramel, some toastiness, and a solid neutral sweetness. Herbal and flowery hops. Smells wonderful.

4.0 T: Taste is like it smells. Malts are more in charge than the hops. Lots of caramel followed by toastiness and a light fruitiness. Hop flavor is herbal, flowery, and a touch citrusy.

3.5 M: Medium body. Good moderate carbonation. Could be creamier, but okay. Super smooth.

4.0 D: Well crafted, malty IPA.

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2012 02:35:27 | More by DavoleBomb

TwelveOunces

Kentucky

3.75/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This beer pours clear copper orange with a two finger off white head, decent retention. There isnt much on the nose, there is some citrusy hop bitterness. The taste is very east coast IPA, there is some citrus flavors and and a metallic malt feel. The beer drinks pretty easy, leaves behind a bitter and dry aftertaste. This is a pretty good IPA, dont know how old mine is but I would like to try it fresh because I feel it would have a bigger nose.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2012 22:29:10 | More by TwelveOunces

Jfriz25

Wisconsin

4.13/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance- golden amber with big foamy white head. Leaves some decent lacing.

Smell- faint citrusy smell, less than I am used to in an ipa nowadays but still pleasant

Taste- orange and pine are the two dominant flavors held together by some sweet malt. Nice balance and flavor.

Mouthfeel- Fairly full body, not very resiny. Pretty par for the course.

Overall- it was a good find in a make your own 6 rack and in the same situation id get it again. Perfect for someone who likes hops but isn't in to the overpowering stuff.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2012 00:10:14 | More by Jfriz25

UCLABrewN84

California

3.58/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Best by 9/13/12.

Pours a clear copper with a 1 inch foamy khaki head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Foamy patches of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt and some grassy and herbal hop aromas. Taste is very much the same with pine and herbal hops up front and the malt coming through on the finish. There is a medium amount of bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good IPA that has lots of earthy hop aromas and flavors.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2012 02:32:36 | More by UCLABrewN84

barnzy78

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Originally reviewed this in 2009, deserved a re-review...I enjoyed this one much more than previously.

12oz bottle, pours amber/copper with a tall foamy beige head. Nice clarity, excellent head retention and lacing. Aromas are malty caramel with grapefruit citrus, and faint pine. Tastes are malty up-front with a nice caramel backbone followed by bold piny hops that have some grapefruit notes. Well balanced with a strong malt presence that holds up to the resinous hop profile. Mouth is medium bodied, smooth, and creamy with ample carbonation. Overall, I've had this one a few times now, and each time I seem to like it more and more. Even though it's not the best IPA out there, it has a good price-point for a 6er; I might actually buy this one again.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2012 03:10:15 | More by barnzy78

bmwats

Louisiana

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

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into my Big Sky Brewing Co. - Moose Drool pint glass.

A: Medium brown. Pours about a half finger, foamy, brown white head. Settles fairly slowly, leaving a blanket of foam on the surface, and a thick beer ring. Thick, substantial, beer ring and residual spiderweb lacing.

S: Soapy, pine and light honey.

T: Pine, fresh tea, wood, and a little cola.

M: Thick, and robust body, characterized by a deep, biting pine that lingers on the palette throughout the experience. Very dry finish.

D: Sip and enjoy.

Atmosphere is good. Deep dark hue, nice head, plenty of lacing. Nose is full, very piney with light sweet notes, with a soapiness to it. Flavor is full-bodied woody pine, with cola and tea leaves. Overall, this is a really good quaff.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2012 03:15:02 | More by bmwats

megahurts4

Louisiana

3.75/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Big Sky IPA

Appearance: brownish red, medium head, and some lacing.

Smell: hops and a malt-nuttiness.

Taste: nice whole hops and malts.

Mouthfeel: medium and bitter.

Overall:
This is a decent brew. Its more average than anything, but it has plenty of flavor.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2012 05:26:11 | More by megahurts4

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

Kiwano

New York

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

A - yellow orange - thick head at first then a thin head

S - a little fruity with some hops

T - Some sweetness and fruit on front with pine and then nice bitterness at the end - nice amount of hops -

M - great balance of smoothness and carbonation

O -- tasty - refreshing -- feel a bit of the alcohol good sweet/bitter balance more on the sweet side at the beginning but the bitter balances it out and takes it over which is nice

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2012 00:32:05 | More by Kiwano

harrymel

Washington

2.95/5  rDev -23.6%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Bottled: unk

Pours a nice amber with a sheet of solid light yellow foam and excellent clarity. Smells english malt dominant with some herbal and floral hops. Maybe a hint of grapefruit. Flavor is fruity and bitter with a good overture of malts and apprehensively applied spiciness. Medium bodied with hi carb and semi dry finish. Average beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2012 05:28:35 | More by harrymel

TheSixthRing

California

3.83/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance - Pours a clear, ruby amber with a thick and pillowy 3 finger, off-white head. Great retention. Leaves a thick, impressively sticky lace.

Smell - Faint. Spiced hop. Earthy.

Taste - Follows the nose. A fair amount of spice and citrus hop, with a good balance of malt, apple and earthy. Not an especially aggressive IPA, but an interesting flavor nonetheless.

Mouthfeel - Light to medium body. Carbonation lends to a nice, crisp bite.

Overall - A very good IPA. Not especially hoppy, but makes up for it in great balance and a nice, complex flavor.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2012 04:14:54 | More by TheSixthRing

JuicesFlowing

Kansas

3.68/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a standard pint glass. The beer is a really dark copper hue. A frothy vanilla cream head sits on top and dissipates to a film. Good sticky lacing. The beer smells slightly malty underneath the bright grapefruit rind hop aroma. The beer tastes balanced between a faint malt sweetness and a strong hop bitterness. There's a sticky taste profile in there that I've also experienced in Breckenridge Lucky U IPA. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with a semi-sweet finish(?)

Overall, not a bad IPA, but lacking, considering I love all other offerings from Big Sky.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2012 01:40:43 | More by JuicesFlowing

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

3.73/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz Bottle - from Total wine summerlin las vegas NV for 1.59$

Appearance - Clear dark copper colour with a large size frothy beige coloured head. There is an average amount of carbonation and there is some good lacing. The head lasted for 5 minutes before it was gone.

Smell - Malts, caramel, hops, grapefruit, pineapple

Taste & Mouth - There is an average amount of carbonation and the taste is made up of sweet caramel and malts mixed with hops. It also has a grapefruit flavour mixed with some apricot and pineapple. It ends with a fairly bitter hoppy and yet sugary sweet aftertaste.

Overall - An above average IPA that has some flavours typically found in a DIPA. It still seems like it's missing a little something that I can't put my finger on. I'd drink it again and would suggest that it's worth trying if you see it on the shelves.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2012 23:49:25 | More by spinrsx

Mattamue

Iowa

3.48/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle into a pint. No bottle/expire date.

a Creamy-tan head. Lacing clings to the glass like the surf retreating from the beach. Very subdued carbonation, could count the lines of bubbles and there is less than a dozen. Burnt amber, translucent.

s Citric notes on par with hops resin. Apple and cheddar. Sweet malt in the background.

t Pear and apple up front. Hops bitter herb middle of the taste and the aftertaste.

m Watery light body. Easily tasted and re-tasted. Very dry.

o Not impressed with the appearance. Surprised by the taste. Held back again by the thin body. Would recommend, would choose another IPA for myself for regular drinking.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2012 00:35:50 | More by Mattamue

depechemode1983

Texas

3.05/5  rDev -21%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A - Pours out a hazy copper/bronze color. The head is 2 1/2 fingers and off-white. Its dense through the middle but has a foamy looking crown. Retention is excellent and lacing is superb.

S - Has a strong bitter piney smell up front but balances out nicely through the middle with sweet malts and tropical fruits. Mainly pineapple and ruby red grapefruit.

T - A little light on flavor. Mostly you get bitter pine and grapefruit rind. A little mono toned on the taste. Not too bad though.

M - Almost medium bodied. Carbonation is nice. Kinda bubbly. No complaints.

O - Just slightly about average. Very simple and straight forward.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2012 21:52:59 | More by depechemode1983

hoplover82

Texas

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

A-Pours a crystal clear amber color with a full/medium creamy persistant off white head that leaves extremely strong lacing in it's trails down the glass.

S-The aroma is beautiful of citrus fruit and a noticable amount of earthy pine from the hops. And the malts are mild and caramel like along with some soft bready notes in the back.

T-The flavor is much like the aroma with notes of pine and citrus fruit up front and a strong bitter presents in the finish I get a soft hint of caramel and fresh baked sweet bread. There are some fruity esther notes from the yeast as the beer warms. The hops are up front as they should be. Very nice interpretation of the style.

M-It has a full, chewy yet creamy body. And a slightly dry/bitter finish that lasts for a long time.

O-Overall I was suprized by this beer. I wasn't expecting it to be this good, but it is. And I highly recommend this beer to any hop lover like myself. Cheers everyone!

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2012 04:51:03 | More by hoplover82

arizcards

Arizona

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

Received a bottle as a gift for helping out a friend recently. Best by 4-12-12.

Beer poured a clear orange with a solid white head that is leaving lacing behind.

Nose is floral, citrus, and mango.

Taste is some mango with a grapefruit rind finish.

Feel is quite smooth for the style, malt backbone lends to a smooth finish. Carbonation is fairly light.

Overall i like this ipa. It is solid in all aspects and almost at a sessionable abv. I have had it at a few tailgates-very enjoyable!

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2012 01:52:48 | More by arizcards

irrgalaxy

Minnesota

3.35/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured into pint glass.

A: Dark amber color, with significant amounts of red for an IPA. Significant head with fairly large bubbles.

S: Crisp, hoppy aroma.

T: Smooth taste, not overly hoppy as the aroma would have you believe. Nice finish on the middle of the tongue.

M: Regular.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2012 02:52:02 | More by irrgalaxy

superspak

Michigan

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

12 ounce bottle into pint glass, best by 5/3/2012. Pours crystal clear orange amber color with a nice 2 finger dense light khaki head with fantastic retention that reduces to a thick cap that lingers. Some decent lacing on the glass. Aromas of big grapefruit, orange, pine, floral, caramel, biscuit, and herbal spiciness. Nice and well balanced aromas with good strength. Taste of big grapefruit, pine, orange, caramel, honey, biscuit, and herbal spices. Good amount of bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of citrus, pine, caramel, and biscuit on the finish for a bit. Great malt and hop balance, showcasing a great citrus flavor throughout. Medium carbonation and body; with a fairly creamy and slightly sticky mouthfeel. Very smooth drinking; with basically no alcohol warming presence. Overall, some seriously excellent stuff here. Great balanced flavor profile, and very smooth drinking. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2012 03:00:17 | More by superspak

Jamesthebrit

Michigan

3.6/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: A really nice looking IPA. Copper color.

S: Slight hops, subtle floral.

T: Quite smooth. Hops are not overwhemling. Sweet at first and finishes a little bitter.

Mouthfeel: Too much carbonation. Otherwise sits comfortably.

Overall: An above average IPA. It has a lot of subtle flavors with nothing too offputting. Very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2012 20:01:18 | More by Jamesthebrit

comfortablynumb1

California

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

12oz bottle into a H24 Barrel Roll Series snifter...

A - Pours copper with a one finger off white head that dissipates at a fairly hasty pace. A decent amount of lace coats the glass...

S - Caramel malts and good dose of citrus fruits. A little subdued, but what does come through smells like there is a good balance between hops and malt...

T - Like the scent suggested this one is very well balanced. Caramel malts, orange, mango, grapefruit, and a little lemon zest. Finishes clean with some lingering grapefruit...

M - Super smooth. Medium bodied with a good amount of carbonation...

O - Solid IPA. Not only would this be a great session beer, but it would be a good introduction for someone looking to get into the style. Definitely something I will buying again in the near future...

Cheers...

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2012 00:07:51 | More by comfortablynumb1