Perfectly centrist moderate-medium body stays lighter and less assertive than Brothers Hoptimization (despite heightened Imperial IPA tag). Evenly dispersed orange-grapefruit-pineapple-peach tang and subtle piney hop bittering ride above toasted caramel malts.
Harmoniously integrating toasted caramel malting and sugar-caked vanilla piquancy into stylish orange-peeled grapefruit and pineapple bittering, succulent Imperial IPA never lets sharp hop astringency or pungently heady 9.2% ABV run wild. Instead, almond-glazed marmalade, red cherry, tangerine and peach tang reinforces juicy citric appeal as well as caramelized honey nut sweetness.
Promised “Supersonic” hop explosion never comes, but well-integrated Imperial India Pale Ale retains expressive tropical fruiting and mossy earthen dewiness. Lemony grapefruit-orange-pineapple tang and white peach tartness stretch out above middling rye wheat spine. Refreshing celery watering occupies citric hop crisping.
Best In Show at 2015 Virginia Craft Brewers Fest, lauded Imperial India Pale Ale procures sharp citra-hopped glisten for evergreen-fresh pine needling, spicy tropical fruiting, sweet floral accents and dank herbal nuances. Juicy orange-peeled yellow grapefruit, pineapple and lemon tang brightens the front end while tertiary mango, peach, nectarine, papaya and tangerine illusions seep thru mid-palate above mineral-grained barley malting. Exquisite, well-balanced, crisply clean and highly recommended.
Rounded Imperial IPA never hits you over the head with heady hop bittering. Instead, honeyed peach, apricot and nectarine tang battles back stylish grapefruit-peeled orange juicing and bitterly hard-wooded Chinook hop resin.
Bold dry-hopped ‘lupulin delight’ benefits from sharp citric-hopped bite and sticky resinous pine bittering. Juicy grapefruit and lemon zest get sprayed atop orange-peeled pineapple, nectarine, tangerine, mango and passionfruit tang. Mildly creamed caramel malting grounds its citric-spiced tropical finish.
Mildly creamed crystal-malted rye spicing and piney grapefruit thrust “pave the way” for stylishly centrist medium body. Dry-hopped Mosaic and Amarillo hop bittering contrasts sugar-spiced navel orange, mango, red cherry, peach and tangerine tang over toned-down rye wheat influence.
Exquisitely designed hyper-IPA never overloads the floral-perfumed citrus hops or resinous pine oiling, instead allowing its sweet cookie dough yeast to deepen the fruit-spiced honey malt expanse without disappointing bitterer hop heads. Sweet orange-peeled lemon zest brightens grapefruit, pineapple and mango tropicalia as well as apple, peach and tangerine subsidy. Clean vodka-nipped crystalline water provides brisk crisping.
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead, crisply tropical-fruited 2015 update of brewers’ Captain’s Reserve stays refreshingly invigorating. Tangy orange-peeled grapefruit, pineapple, mango, peach, papaya, nectarine and cantaloupe juicing gets sweetened by wheat-honeyed caramel roast while moderate hop-oiled pungency, earthen pine resin and herbal notions provide sharp contrast.
On tap at Draught Industries, highly regarded tropical hybrid brings toasted coconut shavings to stylishly sharp piney-fruited bittering. Mild Pina Colada sweetness adorns tangy pineapple resonance and advancing grapefruit-peeled orange rind bitterness. Raging citric overtones allow alcohol acidity to burn its way into the gluey plastique aftertaste.
On tap at Ambulance, exhiliratingly unconventional collaboration with North Carolina’s Wicked Weed and Oregon’s Ecliptic successfully blends barrel aged Belgian tripel with red-wined tequila twist for daring IPA. Brisk pineapple, peach, grapefruit, mango, melon, lemon and pear fruiting contrasts subtle piney hop resin and light vodka-like alcohol astringency. Lively citrus finish fortified by agave nectar influence.
On tap at Growler & Gill, crisply resilient hop-headed Imperial India Pale Ale soaks floral-wafted citrus zest in pungent hemp-oiled piney hop bittering. Juicy orange-peeled grapefruit rind briskness and hefty lemon rind respite provide mighty bite countering subtly sweet honeyed malts. Tertiary mango, pineapple, papaya, peach and tangerine fruiting reinforces sharply citric tropicalia.
