Review: DC Brau On the Wings of Armageddon Imperial IPA

DC Brau On the Wings of Armageddon Imperial IPA
9.2% ABV

DC Brau Brewing, Washington, DC
12 oz can

Served in Duvel tulip glass
No date on can
Reviewed on 2/22/14

This imperial IPA pours a somewhat hazy amber color with a good bubbly off-white head that has decent retention. Good lacing.

Smell consists of hops, grapefruit, pine, malt, fresh herbs and flowers, touch of spice, touch of wheat.

Taste consists of hops, spicy grapefruit, pine, herbal/floral notes, malt, slight caramel, dry wheat.

Mouthfeel is quite dry and bitter on the palate though not as intense as some other IPAs.

Overall, this is a nice tasting imperial IPA that's full of hops, grapefruit, and pine flavors and looks quite good in the glass.  Pleasant spice and floral/herbal flavors mix in to provide a broad range of flavor.  This brewery is new to the Maryland area in terms of distribution, and this beer is supposed to be fairly well sought after and hard to find.  It rates as quite a good IPA, though perhaps not in my upper echelon.

My score: 93

Review: Stone RuinTen IPA

Stone RuinTen IPA (2013)
10.8% ABV

The Stone Brewing Co., Escondido, San Diego County, CA

22 oz btl

Served in Duvel tulip glass

No date on bottle
Reviewed on 7/5/13

This double IPA pours a bright amber, slightly gold color with a bubbly off-white head.

Smell has strong hops (even with the glass not quite near the nose), pine, citrus, slight grass, touch of malt, some spice, grapefruit.

Taste has dry and bitter hops, some malt, grapefruit, pine, floral/grassiness, citrus, spice, slight pepper.

Mouthfeel is quite dry and bitter on the palate yet some decent smoothness in the middle.  Lingers on the palate, as to be expected.

Overall, this a quite hopped double IPA that is fairly dry and bitter yet smooth in the middle, as some semblance of malt asserts itself. Citrusy with grapefruit and some orange and even lemon flavors coming through, and accented well with a good presence of pine and floral.  The bottle says it's "a stage dive into a mosh pit of hops," and yet again Stone rocks it with an IPA.  Each one is hoppy, tasty, and distinct.

My score: 95

Review: The Alchemist Heady Topper

The Alchemist Heady Topper
8.0% ABV
The Alchemist, Waterbury, VT
16 oz can

Served in Duvel tulip glass
No date on can

Reviewed on 7/7/13 

This double IPA pours a hazy gold color with a bubbly white head that has good retention. Great lacing.

Smell consists of strong resiny hops, grapefruitm floral, grassy, slight pepper, some malt, some salt.. 

Taste consists of strong hops that are moderately dry and bitter, grapefruit, floral, herbal, peppery, some malt, touch of salt, some wheat, touch of white wine.

Mouthfeel has the hops penetrating the mouth, giving a full, balanced feel on the palate.  Very fresh.

Overall, this is fresh, hoppy IPA that has a strong, definite taste that penetrates the mouth but yet is decently balanced and not overly done.  Even as it's hoppy with strong grapefruit/citrus flavors, other flavors such as floral/herbal notes, pepper, and malt come through.  Very drinkable.  This has become the Holy Grail for craft beer drinkers in the U.S. (ranked #1 on Beer Advocate).  It's easy to see why it's so highly sought after.

My score: 97

Review: Sierra Nevada Hoptimum

Sierra Nevada Hoptimum (2013)
10.4% ABV
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Chico, CA
12 oz btl

Served in Duvel tulip glass
No date on bottle
Reviewed on 5/26/13

This imperial IPA pours a light amber color with a good thin off-white head.  Decent lacing.

Smell consists of strong bitter hops, grapefruit, citrus, strong floral, herbal, hints of pepperiness, malt.

Taste consists of dry, bitter hops, strong citrus flavors with grapefruit, some apricot, touch of orange, strong floral notes, spiciness, malt.  Quite crisp and tasty.

Mouthfeel is smooth yet somewhat earthy on the palate.  Quite dry and bitter.  Very fresh and crisp.

Overall, this is a fresh imperial IPA that has a strong flavor profile of dry, bitter hops and a strong mix of citrus notes.  Even though the hops are quite dry and bitter, they don't overwhelm, and there's enough maltiness to make this rather smooth.  As it warms up, some good texture comes through.  Nicely done.  Rates well with other imperial IPAs.  As it's from Sierra Nevada, it's widely available at a decent price. 

My score: 96

Review: Moab Desert Select Ale

Moab Desert Select Ale
8.59% ABV

Moab Brewery, Moab, UT

32.8 oz ceramic swing top bottle
Served in Duvel tulip glass
No date on bottle
Reviewed on 3/28/13

This black imperial IPA pours a fairly dark color with a thick and frothy light beige head that has quite good retention.

Smell consists of hops, malt, some citrus, spice, floral, herbal, pepper, some chocolate, rye, some bread.

Taste consists of hops, malt, coffee, chocolate, rye, bread, pepper, floral and herbal notes, slight soy sauce.

Mouthfeel as some good dryness and bitterness right at the front.  Fairly smooth and even on the palate.

Overall, this is a nice tasting black imperial IPA that has a nice flavorful profile that has shades of Heavy Seas Black Cannon and even Firestone Walker Wookey Jack. Fairly hoppy, malty with chocolate and coffee flavors, and distinctive rye and floral/herbal notes.  A nice find at Shab Row Bistro in Frederick, Maryland.  A huge bottle and somewhat pricey, but from a brewery that I haven't seen available elsewhere (so I couldn't pass it up).  The reviews online are so-so (what review there are--it's pretty much unreviewed), but I found it to be quite nice.

My score: 90

Review: Green Flash Palate Wrecker

Green Flash Palate Wrecker
9.5% ABV
Green Flash Brewing Co., San Diego, CA
12 oz bottle
Served in Duvel Tulip Glass
Date notched on bottle: Brewed on 2/5/13
Reviewed on 2/17/13

 


Pours an almost clear golden amber color with a good frothy slightly off-white head.  Quite good lacing and head retention.  Plentiful carbonation evident.

Smell consists of hops, citrus (particularly apricot and grapefruit), pine, rye, some malt, some breadiness, some spice.  Strong dry and bitter hops are what hit you right at the onset.

Taste consists of strong bitter hops, pine, citrus particularly apricot and grapefruit and perhaps a lemony touch, rye, some alcohol, some malt, strong dryness.

Mouthfeel is earthy with a good grainy texture.  Strong bitterness and dryness overwhelm the palate in a good way.

Overall, one of my favorites, reviewed fresh for a new release, and it still does not disappoint. This is a bold tasting, super hoppy IPA that's well deserving of its name as it overwhelms the palate (with the name, you can't say you weren't warned).  Crisp and fresh tasting (drinking this one 12 days after its bottling date), with pine, citrus, malt, and even rye notes coming through amidst super hoppiness.  Definitely one for the hophead, and, for my money, one of the better imperial IPAs available.  Currently, number six on my top ten list.

My score: 97