Gubna Imperial IPA

Oskar Blues Brewing Company
Longmont, Colorado

APPEARANCE: 2.5/3
Hazy gold-brown, creamy white head that laces nicely..

AROMA: 3.5/4
Hoppy nose, very sweet aroma. Prune, raisin bread. Woody, very floral. Honey notes, lots of pineapple.

TASTE: 8/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3.25/4: Tons of resinous hop. Sweet and bready, woody and grassy notes. Heavy pineapple, subtle apricot.
Aftertaste: 2.25/3: Alcohol aftertaste, bitterness at the back of the tongue that lasts. Very dry. Slight metallic tang.
Mouth-Feel: 2.5/3: Alcohol warming–tingly. Decently balanced, but mighty big; alcohol could be masked better.

OVERALL: 2.5/3
Definitely an Imperial IPA—lots of hop, appropriate body. Complex flavors, spiciness, alcohol warming. A little big for its britches is all.

TOTAL: 16.5/20–Pour Me Another

NOTES:
Matt: This is good–I think we wanted to like it more than we do (it's just a bit big). Still, hoppy, complex and tasty, so worth a try.
Ben: 10% ABV, in a can, no less! Maybe too big for a 12-oz. can—the presentation may be throwing me. A good imperial, a treat when you're on a rocky mountain high.*

*Yes, we know, this was terrible.

Schlafly Special Release AIPA

The Saint Louis Brewery
St. Louis, MO

APPEARANCE: 2/3
Light brown/copper color. Clear. Fades to a thin, white head. Fine bubbles, steady stream.

AROMA: 1.75/4
Meadown, grassy, some citrus. Weird, skunky off-aroma—definitely not pretty. Fades to an okay grapefruit hop nose.

TASTE: 6.75/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3/4: Lots of hop flavor. Piney, meadowy, bready malt. Decently balanced.
Aftertaste: 1.25/3: Wet hay, barnyard flavors. Skunky (sorry, we just don't have a better word for it). Bitterness at end lasts.
Mouth-Feel: 2.5/3: Fizzy, but not overly so–appropriately carbonated. Not too big, but substantial.

OVERALL: 1.75/3: Needs to be improved upon. The earthy, barnyard flavors are off-putting. Good hoppy IPA, though, with a full mouth-feel. Not an awful beer as-is, but with the right tweaking, this could be a really good beer.

TOTAL: 12.25/20–I'll Try A Pint

NOTES:
Matt: Our beer guy at Royal Liquors mentioned recently that this particular beer was being retooled, specifically tweaking the hop profile to better match the bouncy citrus of the Schlafly APA. I'm guessing the stinky aroma and weird flavor is the reason. We'll review this again down the line and see if it scores better.
Ben: Some weird notes to this beer, obviously. Disturbing initial aromas and skunky flavors have gotta go. Schlafly can do much better.

Ska Decadent Imperial IPA

Ska Brewing Company
Durango, CO

APPEARANCE: 2.5/3
Hazy orange-brown. Head fades, rings the glass. Big bubbles. Nice.

AROMA: 3.5/4
Hop! Lots of grapefruit, floral citrus—you could almost smell it through the bottle-glass.

TASTE: 8.5/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3.5/4: Hop, followed by hop, then more hop. Grapefruit, orange peel, bready and sweet. Tons of malt.
Aftertaste: 2.5/3: Alcohol noticeable. Bitter finish that lasts and lasts.
Mouth-Feel: 2.5/3: Big but drinkable. Full-mouth, chewy. Alcohol warming. Probably too boozy, but we didn't mind too much..

OVERALL: 2.75/3: Big but good. Lots of hop, lots of malt. If you're a hop head, give it a try.

TOTAL: 17.25/20–Pour Me Another

NOTES:
Matt: Big, but man, this is good. From the people who gave us Modus Hoperandi, this is just as hoppy and quite a bit bigger, at a decent price point ($5-$6 for a bomber).
Ben: A giant, hoppy beer. Too much alcohol (10% ABV) for the main course, but good as an after-dinner sipping beer. Would be good paired with cheese or fruit.

Southern Tier Un*Earthly Imperial IPA

Southern Tier Brewing Company
Lakewood, New York

APPEARANCE: 2.25/3
Hazy orange-brown color. White head that lasts.

AROMA: 3.25/4
Sweet bready aroma. Strong hop aroma. Grapefruit and pineapple nose. Malty.

TASTE: 7/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3/4: Malty and bready. Lots of citrus and pine hop flavors. Strong hop bitterness. Appropriate for an imperial IPA. Full of hop flavor!
Aftertaste: 2/3: Hop bitterness lasts. Alcohol noticeable. Strong bitter aftertaste mixed with a sweet, malty finish.
Mouth-Feel: 2/3: Big. Alcohol feel and warming. Lots of body and full feeling. Almost chewy.

OVERALL: 2/3: A good example of a hoppy big alcohol imperial IPA. Not bad for style. Good to try and have in place of other IPAs to mix it up a little.

TOTAL: 14.5/20–I'll Try A Pint

NOTES:
Matt: Big. Alcohol and bitter finish a bit too much. Not bad, not the best, but worth a try. A 9.5% ABV NOT a session beer!
Ben: Good. Doesn't quite reach Stone, Green Flash, or Bell's category but good to give a try. Big and boozy. Lots of hops. Not a bad beer.

Sierra Nevada Hoptimum Imperial IPA

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
Chico, California

APPEARANCE: 3/3
Copper color, crystal-clear. Lasting off-white, foamy head.

AROMA: 3.75/4
Hop! Grapefruit dominant. Grassy, some pine. Beautiful hop aroma. Some bready maltiness.

TASTE: 9.25/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3.75/4: Bready, sweet and malty offset by citrus hop flavor. Nicely-balanced, the right amount of sweet and bitter. Citrus flavor is overwhelming (and that's a good thing).
Aftertaste: 2.75/3: Lingering hop bitterness, residual sweetness. Woody aftertaste, some alcohol is noticeable (and at 10+%, that shouldn't be a surprise).
Mouth-Feel: 2.75/3: SMOOTH. Full, big, ranks up there with the all-time greats.

OVERALL: 3/3: Big but extremely drinkable. An experience, a beer to be savored. 10.4% ABV, so look out.

TOTAL: 19/20–Keep 'Em Comin'

NOTES:
Matt: There's a momentousness, a feeling of significance to this beer—a sense, as you drink it, that you should be paying close attention to every detail. A very, very good beer.

Ben: Alcohol warming, hop aftertaste. Exactly what I want in an imperial IPA, another must-have for hopheads. This is truly a GREAT beer!

Arcadia Hopmouth Double IPA

Arcadia Ales
Battle Creek, MI

APPEARANCE: 2.25/3
Nice light brown/copper color, slight haze. Steady stream of bubbles, head rings the glass.

AROMA: 3/4
Sharp citrus, piney hop aroma. Bready, nutty malt. Sweet, hop aroma is dominant.

TASTE: 5.25/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 2.25/4: Hop flavor up-front, bitterness throughout. Very woody, malty sweetness at start, but bitterness is overwhelming.
Aftertaste: 1.75/3: Bitter, metallic tang. Flavor fades quickly but bitterness lingers.
Mouth-Feel: 1.75/3: Alcohol is noticeable, coats the tongue.

OVERALL: 1.75/3: Requires more body to offset hop bitterness. We like bitterness, absolutely, but this just isn't big enough.

TOTAL: 12.75/20–I'll Try A Pint

NOTES:
Matt: Harsh, forgettable. Any flavor fades too quickly even to note. Disappointing.
Ben: Weak, needs more body given the bitterness. Not nearly enough oomph for a double IPA.

Bell's Hopslam

Bell's Brewery
Comstock, MI

APPEARANCE: 2.5/3
Clear, effervescent. Lots of bubbles. Thin, white head. Pretty gold color.

AROMA: 4/4
Pine, grapefruit and more grapefruit. Citrus overload. Honey, orange peel. Sour notes. Glorious–sets the bar high for taste.

TASTE: 9.75/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 4/4: Tons of hop flavor. Grapefruit, pine. Floral. Bitterness and hop flavor coexist in perfect balance throughout.
Aftertaste: 3/3: If hop flavor is in the driver's seat, bitterness rides in the sidecar. Both stay with you throughout.
Mouth-Feel: 2.75/3: A really light feel, which is deceptive, given the insane ABV.

OVERALL: 3/3: My God, this is incredible. Perfectly balanced–this can't be 10%. Any real hophead needs this on his or her beer bucket list.

TOTAL: 19.25/20–Keep 'Em Comin'

NOTES:
Matt: This is really dangerous–you could easily drink ten of these (if you could find them, that is) and wrap your car around a tree. The upside is, you'd die happy. Just about perfect.
Ben: I've died and gone to beer nirvana. I'd put this up with Pliny the Elder as one of the all-time greats.

Green Flash Imperial IPA

Green Flash Brewing Company
San Diego, CA

APPEARANCE: 2.5/3
Orange-marmalade color. Hazy. Nice, creamy, rocky head–a great, lasting head.

AROMA: 3/4
Wood, pine, some nuttiness, some breadiness. Alcohol aroma.

TASTE: 7.75/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3/4: Big–noticeable alcohol. Could use more hop flavor and aroma to offset the sweetness.
Aftertaste: 2.5/3: Sweet, bready, woody. Nutty. Licorice, fig, prune-raisin. Bitter throughout.
Mouth-Feel: 2.25/3: Sweet, not quite cloyingly so. Big and rich. Bouncy. Bitter at the back of the tongue.

OVERALL: 2.5/3: Green Flash makes great beers–this is reminiscent of Dogfish Head 90-Minute IPA. A bit big, but still, a good offering by a great brewery.

TOTAL: 15.75/20–Pour Me Another

NOTES:
Matt: I like it, but it's awfully big–I prefer the regular Green Flash IPA, frankly. A great brewery, a good beer, but just a lot to deal with.
Ben: A big beer–one is enough, but really good. Take advantage of any Green Flash beers you can find. This is a classic imperial IPA.

Dogfish Head 90 Minute Imperial IPA

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery

Milton, Delaware

APPEARANCE: 2.75/3
Hazy copper color. Creamy head - persistent. Fine bubbles. Pretty.

AROMA: 4/4
Nutty, caramel, citrus, pine aromas. Really hoppy nose. Sweet. Beautiful smelling beer bringing high expectations for what's to come.

TASTE: 9.25/10 WOW!
Hop/Malt Balance: 3.75/4: Lots of malt; caramel, toffee flavors. Very well balanced.
Aftertaste: 2.75/3: Lasting bitterness. Woodiness persists - bitter finish. Offset by sweet malt. The sweetness lasts too.
Mouth-Feel: 2.75/3: A big beer - very full. Sweet. Like a liquid creme brulee.

OVERALL: 3/3: Phenomenal. A sippin' beer for sure. One for special occasions. One of our all-time favorites and a real treat when we can get it. Not for session drinking though!

TOTAL: 19/20–Keep 'Em Comin'

NOTES:
Matt: Top of the pile for hop heads like us. A rich, hoppy treat. Just great!
Ben: PHENOMENAL! Nuff said. A lot bigger than the 60-minute. If you can get it on tap, it's heaven.

Grand Teton Lost Continent Double IPA

Grand Teton Brewing Company
Victor, Idaho

APPEARANCE: 1.5/3
Copper/light brown color. Cloudy, lots of yeast—big chunks. Fine bubbles, persistent head that rings the glass. Not an especially pretty beer.

AROMA: 3/4
Hoppy, very malty. Citrus, pine, pineapple, honey notes. Some alcohol—smells big.

TASTE: 6.75/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3/4: Very malty. Sweet-bready. Needs more bittering hop.
Aftertaste: 2/3: Honey, prunes, licorice. Piney-resinous. Sweet up front, fades to lasting, subtle bitterness. Warming alcohol feel.
Mouth-Feel: 1.75/3: Big–alcohol throughout. Almost thick enough to chew.

OVERALL: 1.75/3: A big, big beer—a sipping beer, without question. Sweet, almost cloyingly so. Could use more aroma and flavor hop, could be lighter. We know it's a double IPA, but come on.

TOTAL: 13/20–I'll Try A Pint

NOTES:
Matt: Tastes like a liquid fruitcake—a lot of work to get through, just too darned big.
Ben: Reminds me of some Lagunitas big, sweet beers (e.g. Brown Sugga)—one was enough. Bring me a Sweetgrass instead.

Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
Chico, California

APPEARANCE: 2.75/3
Copper color. Cream-colored, rocky head that LASTS. Slight haze.

AROMA: 3.5/4
Very hoppy–citrus, pine, grass, floral notes. Could use a more bready nose.

TASTE: 9/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3.75/4: Really malty, but hop offsets perfectly. Big up front, hop throughout.
Aftertaste: 2.75/3: Woody hop flavor that closes to a bitter finish with grassy notes. Hops stay with you. Slight alcohol at the end.
Mouth-Feel: 2.5/3: Big, malty, hoppy. Some pine nuttiness. A bottle full of hops.

OVERALL: 2.75/3: An American IPA through-and-through.

TOTAL: 18/20–Keep 'Em Comin'

NOTES:
Matt: A really nicely balanced beer; for hop-heads, it's a no-brainer.
Ben: Whoo! That is one hoppy beer. Once again, Sierra Nevada pulls it off–I'd rank it up there with Sweetgrass IPA.

Avery Dugana IPA

Avery Brewing Company
Boulder, Colorado

APPEARANCE: 2.75/3
Hazy copper color. Creamy, rocky, lasting head.

AROMA: 3.5/4
Piney, hoppy nose. Nutty, like toasted almonds. Resinous.

TASTE: 8.25/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3/4: Very malty, almost cloyingly sweet. A big beer. Hop up front, so malt is expected (and necessary).
Aftertaste: 2.75/3: Meadowy, grassy. Caramel notes. Pine, citrus, grass, licorice. An almost synthetic aftertaste at the very finish.
Mouth-Feel: 2.5/3: Bold–lots of alcohol. Very malty, very hoppy. Complex flavors, fills the mouth.

OVERALL: 2.5/3: It's a big, hoppy beer. Lots of competing, complex flavors. Lots of hop. Lots of booze (8.5% ABV).

TOTAL: 17/20–Pour Me Another

NOTES:
Matt: A sipping beer, for sure. Very big–satisfying, complex, solid, and again, not a session beer.
Ben: A big Imperial IPA. Lots of malt, lots of hop. Complex. Almost cloying at times, but the hops offset that. A decent Imperial.