Decadent Imperial IPA - Ska Brewing Co.

blackcompg

Illinois

3.05/5  rDev -16%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from their red-wax sealed bomber bottle...

Appearance - Poured a finger of creamy thick yellow eggshell head, color of the beer is a slightly hazy yellow-orange amber, really a beautiful bright color, golden yellow accents on the sides. Great lacing at the end of the session.

Smell - Big grapefruit, pineapple, floral hops, and a touch of sweet carmel.

Taste - Wow, this starts with a big explosion of red grapefruit, pineapple, mango and sweet vanilla carmels, then floral and meadowy hops, and then there is almost what seems to be a sharp tart spiciness...oh nooo, it's not spice or tartness at all, it's straight alcohol, and it gets pretty hot by the end of the quaff. There is some lingering green hops and grapefruit pith in there too, but the alcohol provides a tko punch at the end...

Mouthfeel - Starts medium+ body and mouthfeel, then some low+ carb provides some nice tingle and brightness...but as soon as the palate starts to cleanse it all starts turning hot from the alcohol.

Overall - I'm really bummed here - It really starts out with some nice flavors, although a bit on the sweet side - but then all of a sudden there is literally a mad slash n burn from the alcohol. The alcohol is not hidden here at all, and in fact takes over and punches pretty hard at the end of the quaff. After the burn recedes you really are left with some nice hop flavors way long into the finish, but that hard punch of alcohol is impossible to ignore. And as such, I can't recommend this one.

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2012 03:26:21 | More by blackcompg

dvmin98

North Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -3.6%

05-20-2013 10:24:47 | More by dvmin98

GRG1313

California

3.75/5  rDev +3.3%

05-17-2013 03:17:21 | More by GRG1313

RandyPuckett

Texas

4/5  rDev +10.2%

05-17-2013 02:08:06 | More by RandyPuckett

mjw1200

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev +3.3%

05-16-2013 06:36:16 | More by mjw1200

strib

Texas

3.25/5  rDev -10.5%

05-15-2013 23:52:35 | More by strib

MarkyMOD

Colorado

4.25/5  rDev +17.1%

05-11-2013 23:41:49 | More by MarkyMOD

AnnArborJoe

Michigan

3/5  rDev -17.4%

05-10-2013 16:59:49 | More by AnnArborJoe

--Dom--

Missouri

4/5  rDev +10.2%

05-10-2013 05:06:52 | More by --Dom--

jxc5

Texas

3.75/5  rDev +3.3%

05-10-2013 01:52:39 | More by jxc5

45nDown

Arizona

3.25/5  rDev -10.5%

05-07-2013 05:26:08 | More by 45nDown

kustard

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +17.1%

05-05-2013 23:17:25 | More by kustard

BlakeAM

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -3.6%

04-28-2013 04:11:45 | More by BlakeAM

FLBeerGuy

Florida

3.75/5  rDev +3.3%

04-28-2013 03:39:29 | More by FLBeerGuy

Ak555667

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +24%

04-18-2013 14:38:08 | More by Ak555667

Rozyravens

Texas

2.25/5  rDev -38%

04-02-2013 20:43:42 | More by Rozyravens

hoppytobehere

Colorado

3.38/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at the Ska Brewery in Durango, CO. 16 oz pour.

A: Amber color, very little head or retention.

S: Caramel malt, sugar, little bit of hop citrus. Strong alcohol presence.

T: Really average for the style. I like more hop-forward double IPAs, and this is definitely not one. Lots of malt sweetness and little hop character.

M: Good carbonation. Drinks pretty well for a 10%.

O: With so many awesome IPAs out there, this one falls short.

Serving type: on-tap

03-30-2013 15:52:13 | More by hoppytobehere

Jamison85

Indiana

4.5/5  rDev +24%

03-26-2013 05:19:48 | More by Jamison85

Jparker37

Wisconsin

3.81/5  rDev +5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

1pt 6oz bottle poured into a pint glass.

S - Pine, plum, honey, mild biscuit malt. Little bit of sweetness to it. Hops are more floral as it warms up.

A - Light copper, great clarity. Medium sized head falls to a small cap, off-white, tight bubbles, little bit of lacing.

T - Big toasty malt. Perfect mesh of citrus and pine hop flavor. Balanced, moderate bitterness. The finish is spicy from a mix of hops and alcohol.

M - Noticeable sweetness that winds up drying out nice. Medium to medium-full bodied, short of moderate carbonation.

O - This is pretty middle of the road for me. Maybe I was a little late on drinking this beer fresh as it was obtained through trade. Aroma never really jumped from the glass. Flavor was all there, it was balanced for the style and featured a delicious spicy finish that had me craving more.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2013 02:00:12 | More by Jparker37

ChiefHopHead

Texas

4/5  rDev +10.2%

03-12-2013 03:17:17 | More by ChiefHopHead

Cvescalante

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -3.6%

03-11-2013 19:25:09 | More by Cvescalante

LambicKing

Virginia

3/5  rDev -17.4%

03-07-2013 03:35:50 | More by LambicKing

Hanzo

Virginia

3.25/5  rDev -10.5%

03-04-2013 07:42:41 | More by Hanzo

nzerbe

New York

3.5/5  rDev -3.6%

03-04-2013 02:39:47 | More by nzerbe

drummermattie02

Texas

3.75/5  rDev +3.3%

02-25-2013 23:49:30 | More by drummermattie02