Imperial IPA - Granville Island Brewery

Coastal_Brew

British Columbia (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +8.4%

07-22-2012 15:52:54 | More by Coastal_Brew

Muhly

Alberta (Canada)

3.54/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Bomber poured into big round beer glass.

A-orange, copper. Two fingers of head pours out easily. Good head retention with ok, but rather spotty lacing.

S-citrus, soap, and light bread malts.

T-pine, citrus, and sweet melons. A good bitter kick.

M-moderate to high carbonation, creamy with moderate mouthfeel. Finishes crisp and astringent from the hops.

O- Nothing wrong with this ale, but not making me do backflips here.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2013 01:29:17 | More by Muhly

kjyost

Manitoba (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +8.4%

04-26-2013 01:20:44 | More by kjyost

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

4.01/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

650ml bottle, GIB's 2013 limited release, 8.6% ABV.

This beer pours a hazy medium golden amber hue, with three fingers of densely packed, cake frosting off-white head, which leaves some nice bonsai tree patterned lace around the glass as it slowly seeps away.

It smells of bready, pastry-esque caramel malt, orange cream, pine needles, grapefruit and pineapple fruitiness, and a small musty character. The taste is somewhat bitter grapefruit, tangerine, and orange rind, sugary caramel/toffee malt, washed-out pine resin, and further leafy, herbal hops.

The carbonation is even, and relatively laid back, the body a decent medium weight, and fairly smooth, the airy creaminess hitting hard from the get-go. It finishes off-dry, the baker's delight malt holding tight, as the hops give it one last sharply fruity wallop.

A pretty enjoyable DIPA, one with certain cream ale leanings, and a rather restrained bitterness for that nice round 100 IBU rating subtly proclaimed on the label. Right in line with the rest of this brewery's offerings, in its gateway friendliness for the style. I would gladly have this again, perhaps on tap, this time?

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 02:40:01 | More by biboergosum

schnarr84

Alberta (Canada)

4/5  rDev +2%

04-21-2013 07:51:48 | More by schnarr84

shagal

Alberta (Canada)

4/5  rDev +2%

04-18-2013 13:49:28 | More by shagal

pudoo

British Columbia (Canada)

4/5  rDev +2%

01-25-2013 17:47:32 | More by pudoo

KalanM

British Columbia (Canada)

4/5  rDev +2%

11-29-2012 02:17:42 | More by KalanM

bumchilly25

British Columbia (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -4.3%

05-11-2012 02:05:36 | More by bumchilly25

andrenaline

Ontario (Canada)

3.8/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Props to my bro for shipping this one from Kelowna.

A - Pours a hazy copper colour, finger of beige head, solid retention and some nice sheeting lacing.

S - Earthy cedar and pine, musty caramel, bready cereal and some musty hop notes.

T - The earthy cedar dominates, hops are a tad subdued but shine through with a citrus peel bitterness that lingers. The caramel malt balance out the bitterness and a touch of ABV heat brings it all together nicely.

M - Medium bodied and smooth but the finish is a tad overly dry for my liking.

O - A tasty DIPA and certainly worth a try, that being said it's by no means my favourite DIPA out there. Lots of flavour, though I would prefer something with less bitterness and more of a citrus hop.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2012 18:28:24 | More by andrenaline

Duke

British Columbia (Canada)

4.18/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

(From a hollow-stemmed goblet)

Granville Island - Imperial IPA

Appearance: Imperial IPA pours a perfectly clear rufous, with a fluffy, white two-finger head which lingers awhile.

Smell: The nose reminds me of Granville Island's regular IPA, Brockton IPA, with the piney hops and slightly spicy caramel, but this one smells fresher and less musky. Pineapple and grapefruit are big too once the head makes way for it.

Taste: I can really taste that pineapple as I get into the beer. Throughout is a sense of the caramel and the spice builds into the finish. The hops are lovely.

Mouthfeel: Imperial IPA feels slightly on the thick side of medium-bodied. I feel like the beer coats my mouth as it makes its journey. The carbonation is on the light side.

Overall: In general I'm not a fan of Granville Island, but this is a very solid IPA. I like it. Hopefully the brewery will continue with these ballsier brews.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2012 07:16:57 | More by Duke

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

4.1/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle shared by Steve, 650ml into a tulip. 2012 bottling, supposedly in late January.

Pours a golden orange, just off-white coloured head. Light in terms of retention, lacing and legs. Filtered body. Pine and some light citrus on the nose, and some fairly prominent malt notes as well. Some sweetness, and a bit of breadiness. Lightly tropical on the palate, more pine in large amounts. Strong bitterness, over a nice malt base providing a bit more breadiness and some sweetness. Full feel, again the bitterness is prominent but the malt sweetness attempts to keep this in check. Nice, fairly bold and enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2012 15:37:02 | More by liamt07

fizzyted

British Columbia (Canada)

4/5  rDev +2%

03-15-2012 00:34:16 | More by fizzyted

FondueVoodoo

British Columbia (Canada)

3.6/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Clear amber appearance with little to no head and minimal lacing. Low amount of carbonation.

S: Grapefruit rind and pineapple with and strong pine sap. Smell is slightly sweet, similar to caramelized pineapple. Light floral notes are evident.

M: Medium bodied.

T: Pine sap and grapefruit with a very hoppy bitterness aftertaste. Alcohol is very well masked despite being 8.2%.

O: This is a light a refreshing beer. Some may find the carbonation too low but I found it nice.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2012 01:17:53 | More by FondueVoodoo

timtwoface

British Columbia (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

After hearing about this beer for quite some time I finally found it at a local liquor store and was thrilled to purchase it.

While it isn't my favourite imperial or double ipa, it's pretty darn tasty. As with all iPad a true sign I look for is a really rich taste, a punch to the face with the hops, and a delightfully bitter aftertaste, all the while masking the higher abv perfectly. This beer does that, and is delicious and almost too easy to drink, so I would suggest it to any ipa lovers out there that can find it!

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2012 05:25:06 | More by timtwoface

jzeilinger

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A big thank you to papat444 for working this one, I'm thrilled for the opportunity to try this beer.

A - Pours a medium honey copper color, mild carbonation, and a two fingered frothy, creamy off white head. The head dies down to eventually leave a thin layer and sticky foam on the sides of the glass, sort of like cotton candy.

S - Honey caramel malt, mild marmalade, some spice, and a touch of grapefruit. The fruit aspect of the aroma comes through as sugary and sweet, but blended and controlled.

T - Caramel malt base stays throughout the sip while pine, grapefruit, and spice start nipping at the palette almost immediately.

M - Medium heavy/thick body and a semi-dry finish. Grapefruit rind and pine coat the mouth with a slight spice aftertaste sitting underneath.

O - The first thing that strikes me is the unusually well hidden 8.2% ABV. The bitterness is there but it's controlled, balanced, and not over the top. The malt keeps the hop bill in pretty good check until the "bitter end"...at that point, the lingering bitterness wins with a little caramel malt left underneath.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2012 02:36:23 | More by jzeilinger

papat444

Quebec (Canada)

4.23/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

***2012 Vintage***

Thanks to BDTyre for this one.

Poured from a 650ml. bottle.

Appearance: A surprisingly clear light copper body. Hard pour reveals not much more than 2 fingers worth of foam. The lacing does clump on the sides but i can't give more than a 3. Disappointed in the appearance.

Smell: Peaches slices in fruit syrup come immediately to mind. Mango as well with a sweet touch. All fruit here with no sign of bitterness.

Taste: Fruit upfront with a mix of peaches and bitter oranges. Honey candy, hints of grapefruit as well as some tea-like flavors. You can taste the raw hops.

Mouthfeel: Astringent and hoppy as bitterness invades and is barely restrained. Veers to a certain sweetness will still retaining a bitter edge.

Overall: A bold, brash yet balanced DIPA. Hoppy and flavorful. If only it looked more like a DIPA but don't let that stop you from trying this.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2012 12:16:43 | More by papat444

LampertLand

British Columbia (Canada)

3.03/5  rDev -22.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Gonna give Granville Island's "Imperial IPA" a go in its limited release for 2012
A-served cold and poured into a stein a yellow/gold with a quick head a lacing
S-nosy bitterness of an IPA , check
T-smooth , bitter IPA almost a piny resin
MF-medium carbonation full body , check
Ov-bitterness , check

cheers LampertLand

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2012 09:55:16 | More by LampertLand

cletetron

British Columbia (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -10.7%

02-16-2012 03:02:45 | More by cletetron

tbeckett

Ontario (Canada)

3.43/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Bottle from the brewpub store.

A - Pours dark gold. Bright. One finger of white head and some light carbonation. Good rings of lace and a thick film of retention.

S - Rich citrus, boozy pineapple, resinous hops. Nice.

T - Resinous hops, some citrus, strong hops, boozy pineapple again. Orange peel perhaps as well.

M - Nice carbonation, full body, bitter finish.

O/D - A fairly standard IIPA. A decent one to sip but not a stand out.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2012 07:11:30 | More by tbeckett

schopenhauerale

British Columbia (Canada)

4/5  rDev +2%

02-03-2012 09:18:07 | More by schopenhauerale

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

3.9/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

650ml bottle poured into tulip 2/2/12

A clear copperish amber with a nice tight finger of off white head that quickly falls to a thick film that leaves partial rings of lace halfway down the glass

S candied guava and pineapple with lots of caramel malt

T a little pine to go with what I smell and the hops are slightly spicy, just a little booze but reasonable for the strength

M thick and a little syrupy, pine resin left behind with a little grit on the gums, slightly sticky on the lips and very faint heat

O a little sweet for a DIPA but I didn't mind, decent stuff for sure

I don't mind a bitter beer and this one was exactly that, not bad for the price and something I'd grab again

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2012 08:09:13 | More by wordemupg

BDTyre

British Columbia (Canada)

3.93/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Compared to other DIPA/IIPAs I've had, this seems rather mellow (surprising given the ABV). A dark orange, almost copper, with a big white head that looks like snow and its quite dense and foamy.

Rich malts, a nice bitter hoppiness. Citrus, cut grass, bread and yeast. Very well balanced, and surprisingly, not a hop bomb. A hint of creaminess at the end of the nose.

Good malty taste - nice yeasty creaminess at the end, with plenty of biscuity flavours in the middle. Nice fresh citrus hop taste that imparts a good bitterness in the flavour.

Nice mouthfeel, not a lot of carbonation. A good DIPA, the alcohol is well hidden.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2012 06:26:59 | More by BDTyre

chickenm

British Columbia (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -10.7%

11-21-2011 04:13:09 | More by chickenm

EskimoDave

British Columbia (Canada)

4/5  rDev +2%

11-21-2011 03:13:38 | More by EskimoDave