Misery Bay IPA - Erie Brewing Co.

Darkmagus82

Montana

3.78/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from bottle into pint glass

Appearance – The beer pours an amber-copper color with a huge white head that has fantastic retention. Over time the billowy head slowly fades over time to give a nice amount of lacing.

Smell – The aroma is a nice mix of sweet and hoppy. A sweet tropical fruit aroma of tangerine, mango, and papaya mix with some citrus hop aromas as well as a lighter earthy smell.

Taste – The taste starts out quite bready, with less sweetness then would have been anticipated from the nose. With the bready flavor is a lighter citrus flavor as well as a very light caramel taste. As the taste advances further the bready flavor fades some while the citrus hop grows stronger. With the citrus comes some earthy and pine hop flavors as well. In the end these flavors all combined to leave a citrus and earthy flavor in the mouth.

Mouthfeel – The body of the beer is on the creamier side with a carbonation level that is slightly below average. Both are quite nice for the hop and bready flavors and make for a good feeling brew.

Overall – A nice drinking IPA with a smooth taste and good feel.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2012 00:19:20 | More by Darkmagus82

DaveBlack

Virginia

3.25/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

A: Medium pour yields a dark copper beer with a finger's worth of slightly off-white head. The head lasts a nice long time and leaves a fair amount of lacing behind.

S: Not all that hoppy of an aroma for an IPA. Lots of toasty, biscuity malts and a slight spiciness from the hops. I might have pegged this as a rye beer.

T: A lot more bitterness than the nose would suggest. heavy hit of the bitter hops right up front, with a fair amount of malty backbone to hold it up. The aftertaste starts out bitter, but fades into a weak, slightly metallic taste that is not altogether pleasant.

M: Medium body with moderate carbonation. A slightly oily mouthfeel.

O: A decent beer. Fairly easy to drink, though nothing special. Worth a look.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2012 17:53:59 | More by DaveBlack

happy4hoppybeer

Pennsylvania

3.03/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 5 | smell: 1 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Beautiful dark copper, with a creamy and bubbly white head, about a finger or so thick. Very nice retention, and thick bubbly white lacing. Very nice.

Falls flat on the nose, however. Can't really detect anything. So I'm not going to bother.

Rather dull. There is a good sharp bitter hoppiness that is detectable, and it seems to be the kind of brutal sharp and bitter hoppiness that hardcore hopheads desire but can't get in a lot of DIPAs, but it's all for nothing as there are stale bread tastes, and a lifelessness I can't put my finger on.

Medium body, with lots of carbonation to carry the tastes through.

Overall, I think this is an IPA that has/had potential, especially for the hophead like me. But it just falls short, and ends up being rather average.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2012 23:32:40 | More by happy4hoppybeer

WrathsU

Florida

3/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

A - Copper body with a slight amber tint. Poured a thin white head that didn't last long at all. No lacing apparent.

S - Not much of an aroma. Hints of pine and citrus hops with a faint underlying malt backbone.

T - Starts with a sweet caramel flavored malt flavor intertwined with faint pine resin. Bread and baked good flavor starts to come in near the end. Bitterness level is nice throughout, get a pretty clean finish at the end.

M - Medium bodied with a lack in carbonation and no detectable alcohol burn. Bitterness can be a tad sharp on the tongue but not super crazy or anything.

O - Not such a good tasting. The beer is lacking flavor and aroma for an IPA big time. Without that it's kind of hard to say it's a good beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2012 22:46:41 | More by WrathsU

WoodBrew

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The Misery Bay is a sharp, slightly bitter, IPA. My boss brought a bottle back from PA over the Holiday Season. The beer pours a nice clear copper with thin white head that is leaving a spotty lace. The smell includes bitter citrus with floral tones and a hint of pine. The taste starts very shapr and bitter with a grapefruit punch that lingers. There are subtle pine and floral tinges, but grapefruit dominates. The mouthfeel is a medium body with good carbonation. Overall it is not a bad IPA. A bit more malt balance to ease the sharpness would help.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2012 01:43:46 | More by WoodBrew

tdm168

North Carolina

3.9/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a translucent copper with a thin layer of soft, foamy, white head that sits on top for a while. There is obvious carbonation rising to the top. The nose has a musty, sweet, floral, vague citrusy aroma. The flavor is mildly bready up front with a powerful piny, earthy hop bitterness that quickly takes over any malt presence and dominates the flavor. The bitterness lingers on the palate well after the swallow is over. As the beer warms a little balance becomes noticeable in the flavors. The malt reclaims a little focus and the hops calm down a bit. This is a medium bodied beer with a good deal of carbonation.

This is a powerful IPA. Upon my first sip, I was ready to declare it a hop bomb, but after a few sips and a little warmth, it mellowed and the flavors really came together. Ultimately, it's still quite hoppy and the malt could be a little more intense. The bitterness detracts from drinking too many of these, but this one was enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2012 01:28:27 | More by tdm168

yesyouam

New York

3.28/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Misery Bay IPA is a hazy, light amber ale topped with a very faint, off-white film. It has a sweet caramel malt aroma, maybe a hint of resiny, wooden hops... maybe not. It's medium bodied, smooth, almost flat. The finish is kind of slick. It tastes very caramelly and slightly sweet, with a wooden bitterness at the finish. I Probably wouldn't call this an IPA, but maybe it could pass as an ESB.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2011 15:34:35 | More by yesyouam

bigdeuce

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Nice looking pour with excellent lacing down the glass. Craggy head with a nice golden, clear color. Sharp hoppy bitterness, preceded by a nice malty sweetness, which subsides as the bitterness takes over. The hops are not overwhelming, although nice. Easy drinking beer and very session-able. Very dry on the palate, making it hard to put down. Not overly thick, a bit medium-thinner body. Another nice offering by Erie!

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2011 03:14:23 | More by bigdeuce

BeerLover99

New Jersey

2.65/5  rDev -22.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

A: dirty orange sharp body, 2 finger off-white fluffy head,
mighty spiderweb lacing

S: mint, grassy, HUGE YEAST/bready nose

T: sweet lemon grass/pine, big yeast middle,
slow chalky/floral bitter finish

M: med/light body, plenty of carbonation
semi-dry mouth

O: 1st Erie offering, not great. Don't know
if got bad batch, but tastes like stinky yeast
would be willing to try a few more of their beers.
Won't buy this again.

NOT MY THING!

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2011 16:55:14 | More by BeerLover99

Boto

Connecticut

3.28/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12oz. bottle: This one pours a cloudy, medium dark golden color. There was a small white head on it that didn’t linger long or leave much of any lacing. Bit of a milder aroma for an IPA. Mainly piney hops and a bit of caramel malt sweetness behind it. The taste is OK. Just a mild hop bite to it. Mainly pine hops and an OK malt body behind it. Good, but lackluster.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2011 23:56:51 | More by Boto

chefhatt

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer has a nice golden amber color body with a 1"finger head, that lays down slowley to a thin lace around the edge. The smell is earthy of hops with some pine to. The taste is of floarl hops to start off, then i get some sweetness and bitterness on the back of the tongue. Great mouth feel, well carbonated. Overall this is a average IPA, and would drink it again.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2011 02:20:38 | More by chefhatt

Cylinsier

Pennsylvania

3.45/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

tap

Pours a mostly clear amber to light copper color, medium white head retains as a lacing.

Smells of piney hops and orange zest, maybe some honey sweetness.

Taste is strongly floral and pine hoppy with a bit of malt sweetness like honey or mild maple following. Some herbal and spiced elements as well.

Feels moderate with mild carbonation throughout.

Pretty decent IPA, very bitter so it will appeal to hop heads, but nothing sets it ahead of other decent IPAs. Just a good brew, worth trying and enjoyable, but not going to jump out at me again in the future.

Serving type: on-tap

08-16-2011 15:08:34 | More by Cylinsier

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.18/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This beer poured out as a golden yellow color with a thin white head on top. The smell of the beer reminded me of a Beligain IPA a little more than an American one. The floral aroma blended with a little bit of yeast on the nose. The taste was also a bit floral but not really as hoppy as I was hoping for. It also had a little bit of a bready taste to it. The mouthfeel of the beer was on the lighter side. Overall it was a mediocre IPA to me. Wouldn't have to have it again.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2011 21:27:38 | More by Knapp85

tjsmith910

Florida

3.48/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thus far, the most enjoyable IPA I have had. Poured from bottle into a pint glass

A - Burnt Orange in color with a 2 finger off white head. about a 1 finger head remained after 3 to 4 minutes and 2 to 3 gulps. Lacing was even and plentiful

S - I rate all beers a 3 due to the fact that I have no sense of smell

T - Starts a little bitter but quickly becomes smooth and is full of flavor. Hops are strong here but not over powering.

M - Smooth feeling as the alc. content definitely hits you immediately

O - Best IPA on the market that I have experienced thus far.

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2011 16:01:39 | More by tjsmith910

beerthulhu

New Jersey

3.58/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: A steady and even paced effervesce rises within a autumn orange body that showcased a good visual clarity. The head was bready in structure, of 2 fingers high, pearl white, and retained nicely even 4-5 minutes in. Concentric circles line the glass of close proximity providing good visual coverage with few open windows of visibility.

S: Pine, dried orange citrus and a bit of tart grapefruit comes on the open. A nice level of herbal hopping and stalky notes with a finish of fresh floral scents.

T: The flavor seemed a bit thin substance wise on the first sip, but thankfully appears to feel fuller there-after. A nice level of hopping, pine, dried oranges with a bit of herbal and floral notes. Woodsy pine and some sweet toasted speciality grains provide a nice dryness and toasted flavor. The body seems to thicken up a bit as well the hops appear to gain strength deeper into the drink with each passing sip. Lingering soft citrus hop fade.

M: The body was creamy, with dry pine and floral notes warming the inner cheeks. Toasted grain with a spicy bite of citrus and dry oranges are offered on the swallow with a fair offering of carbonation.

D/O: Perfect level of hops for the casual ipa drinker that will thirst the palate for more. Not overwhelming, but a good balance for drinkability sake and a modestly hid 6.5%abv that you hardly feel all says keep drinking me. Overall a respectable amount of hoppiness, balance and easy to down ipa by the six-pack.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2011 14:55:00 | More by beerthulhu

Billolick

New York

3.33/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12 ounce bottle, no freshness info to be had.

Pours a lighter shade of amber, with an orange huse, solid light tan cap, stays a good while. More then average bubbles rising to the top. Goes slowly to a 1/4 inch head, loose collar, ample low sheeting and thicker strands of lacing.

Moderate nose of American smelling hops.

I get some bittering hops but the flavor is pretty hop free, malty sweetness really carries the freight here.

Doesn't reach the better then middle of the road level. Just not enough going on here to hold my interest.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2011 01:18:16 | More by Billolick

drinkiusmaximus

New York

2.68/5  rDev -21.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

A- pours a coppery orange color with a fingers width head slight retention and minimal lacing.

S-smells like a belgian ipa a little funky spicy like cloves and banana. picking up a wheat smell too.

T- Banana and bubblegum and wheat a little caramel no real hop notes.

M- slightly thin for my idea of an ipa.

D- I finiished the six pack over 3 days probably as an attempt to figure out what was wrong with this beer not something i will get again.

Prost!!!

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2011 01:07:59 | More by drinkiusmaximus

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.15/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a light golden brown color, with a large off-white head that fades slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma contains light caramelized malts, some hops, some citrus and some bananas.

T: The taste starts out with mildly sweet flavors of citrus, bananas and caramel. Then a very mild hops presence for the style comes in along with a hearty but not too heavy malt character creating an odd balance. The after-taste is slightly sweet.

M: Crisp and a little smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

O: Not very tasty, goes down ok, not too filling, mild kick, not the best representation of style, there are definitely several other IPA’s I would choose before this one.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2011 03:37:41 | More by TheManiacalOne

tone77

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has a light brown color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is of hops, a hint of sweetness. Taste is a good balance of hops and malts, not as bitter as most in this style. Seems to be lacking much citrus flavor. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall is a solid pick.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2011 14:30:35 | More by tone77

Brent

Kentucky

3.78/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A little mystified why a brewery give a beer a downer name like this, but I'm sure there is a reason . . .

Poured a copper-tinged caramel. Bright carbonation. A bit bitey at the front wiht hops, then slightly roasted caramel malt ramps up. Perhaps a bit more caramel malt-forward than average for the style. A rather sharp edge to the finish.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2011 13:56:58 | More by Brent

chinchill

South Carolina

3.73/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz undated bottle in pint glass. Trace of sediment at bottom of bottle added mid-taste.

Pours a clear amber with a very thin but lasting head. Carbonation looks moderate.

Aroma is surprisingly malty and subtle for style. Lower score reflects this lack of hoppiness, but the aroma is appealing.

Taste follows aroma to a limited extent. This is a flavorful brew, but quite malty and the bitterness (IBU = 75, says brewer) is subdued for an IPA. Plenty of nice toasted grain flavor in the finish but limited hop flavor; certainly no hop "bite" or "slam".

Smooth and decent body, but feels slightly under carbonated.

Despite the detractions and departures from style noted above, I enjoyed this beer quite a bit and would be happy to have it again.
If you like pale ales but find IPAs too bitter or hoppy, this is the IPA for you.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2011 23:52:26 | More by chinchill

avaccani

Ohio

3.23/5  rDev -5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Poured a hazy copped. Very loose thin white head that didn't lace at all. Seems to be a pattern with their beers.

S - Not a whole lot going on. A little malt sweetness, not much in the way of hops.

T - Strong grapefruit, citrus, some malt sweetness. The overall hop presence was lacking. Especially in aroma. The grapefruit flavor faded to an earthy musty flavor that lingered until next sip.

M - Body and carbonation was spot on.

O - This was average as best. Nothing to write home about. If you were to drink one of Erie Brewing's beers, I'd recommend Railbender or Drake's Crude

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2011 02:19:58 | More by avaccani

jrallen34

Illinois

2.63/5  rDev -22.6%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Misery Bay, what a perfect name for this beer; I was in misery from the pour until I struggled through the last sip... 12oz bottle poured into a pint glass. The best part about this beer is the label so if you do venture down this path enjoy the scenery... Pours an ugly murky peach with a weak light tan head. The head is a watery mess, a few sparse bubbles, not even a hint of lace... The aroma is way to sweet, grape juice with malt, no hop presence at all... The taste is equally sweet and boring with a bit of alcohol on the finish. Easy to drink but so boring, its not worth the effort.

Skip this atrocity.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2011 04:14:01 | More by jrallen34

BlackBearForge

Florida

3.5/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Misery Bay pours a crystal clear copper amber with very little head formation and next to no lacing.

The aroma exhibits bready malts and a general grassy hoppiness as well as a slight metallic tang.

The flavor has malt aplenty with a general hop bitterness without much in the way of hop flavor other than a grassy nature. The bitterness does not overpower and polishes the malt nicely on the finish. The metallic aftertaste is present slightly as well as a yeasty spiciness.

The mouthfeel is silky smooth and just a tad shy on carbonation but what is present is adequate.

With no discernable dating on the bottle it's hard to tell if I'm missing out on hop flavors that should be present. Not a bad beer by any shot but probably won't become one of my go to IPAs.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2011 00:18:01 | More by BlackBearForge

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.28/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Wonderful frothy and domed head. The liquid is solid copper and perfectly clear. Lots of spider web lace on the glass.

Smell: Quite earthy for the style. Some beef stew to the nose. No notable hop. In a word, disappointing.

More malty than most IPA's, but the hop is present in the swallow. Full bodied with a low level of carbonation. Bitter ending but without interest or complexity.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2011 02:44:17 | More by smcolw