New Belgium Brewing - Ranger

American IPA, 6.5% ABV

Appearance: Dark golden, lots of head (3 fingers), when it recedes it leaves lacing and residual foam, mild carbonation

Smell: Citrus, hops, grass, yeast

Taste: Very mild. It's never very bitter, and the hops are very subdued compared to fruit and grassy notes. The aftertaste is light, clean, and pleasant.

Mouthfeel: Feels a bit heavy in the mouth, which is an interesting contrast to the light taste. Carbonation is minimal as noted in the appearance. The thickness lends some body to the beer in the absense of heavy tastes.

Overall: This is one of the "weaker" IPAs I've ever tried in terms of IBUs. (I don't know what the exact number is, but the hops did not really come across in this bottle as strongly as other IPAs.) For a hop head like me, that's a little disappointing, but at the same time the drinkability of this beer is very high and I'd suspect that this would be a good "starter" or "transition" IPA for someone who is not yet all about the bitterness, but who is looking to advance into that realm. (Theory not yet tested.)

3/5

Great Divide Brewing Co. - Hercules

Double IPA, 10% ABV
Bottled August 2010

Appearance:  Deep burnt orange/amber color, appears to be mildly carbonated. Head leaves sticky lacing around glass.

Smell: Wood, musk, hops and light malt.

Taste: Earthy, hoppy, slightly metallic, a bit of honey.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied, carbonation is very light.

Overall: A very average IPA. The metallic taste may be due to the age of the beer, because though it's less than a year old it may still be past its prime. Beyond that, though, there didn't seem to be a very good flavor profile or balance to the beer. I didn't pick up on any particular notes beyond the bitter hoppiness and a vague overall earthy flavor. A bit disappointed by this one, but as it appears to be very well reviewed elsewhere, I'm considering the possibility that I just may have a bad bottle and should probably try it again if I get the chance.

2/5

Ballast Point - Sculpin

American IPA, 7.0% ABV

I tend to reference Scuplin a lot on here, it seems, so since I tend to always have some around I figured I would write up a formal review for it.

Appearance: Golden oak color, slight haze, visible steady carbonation that contributes to a head that is initially 3 fingers thick and recedes, leaving scattered lacing around glass edges.

Smell: Citrus from grapefruit is immediately apparent, as is a more tropical note, possibly mango. You can also smell the hops, but overall the whole scent is light and refreshing. I could get an air freshener of this and my room would smell clean and enticing.

Taste: Like with the smell, the taste is fresh -- pineapple, grapefruit, mango, with a bit of pine. No overwhelming sweetness, which I like. The malts are very understated and really allow the clean fruits and hops to be the stars here.

Mouthfeel: Average lightness, with a nice boost from the carbonation.

Overall: I don't tend to give a lot of exposition when I'm picking out flavors/smells (mostly because I'm concentrating really hard on what I'm tasting/smelling!) but for me, in IPAs, though a lot of them have similar flavors thanks to commonly used hop and yeast strains, the flavor profiles can be completely different. Sculpin is unique in that the flavors are bright and strong, and they come through assertively; however, this never feels like a heavy or overpowering beer when you drink it. For a hophead, it could easily be light enough to drink during the afternoon (unlike the Maharaja, which is definitely an evening get-your-buzz-on beer.) The balance of the flavors is really exceptional, and I personally appreciate that the malts are underpowered, as I am not a huge fan of sweetness in my IPAs. As I've mentioned before, this is currently sharing the top spot on my list of favorite IPAs (with the other obvious choice, Pliny the Elder.)

Bonus: try the Habanero Sculpin if you ever see it on tap!

5/5

Avery - The Maharaja (2010)

Imperial IPA, 10.5% ABV

This Maharaja was originally bottled in May 2010, so the one-year aging process was a trial on my part to see how well I was able to age an imperial IPA (the most ageable variety of IPA, apparently.)

Appearance: clear and copper, with noticeable carbonation. When poured from the bottle into the pint, head grows to about 2 fingers depth and the recedes after a few minutes, leaving substantial lacing on the side of the glass.

Smell: I get wood, pineapple, and some vaguely floral notes.

Taste: Wow. So the year of aging definitely deepened the alcohol content compared to what I remember from when I had it on tap and in the bottle a year ago. The alcohol taste is quite pronounced. I also get musk (not in a bad way) and pine. The maltiness is also stronger as well, compared to what I remember. It's bitter at the finish thanks to the hops, but throughout the body everything is slightly tinged with sweetness.

Mouthfeel: The beer feels thick but not chewy or viscous. The carbonation contributes a lightness that I think is quite necessary at this point due to the punch from the alcohol.

Overall: Though I think I prefer the Maharaja fresh (I just purchased another bottle which, thanks to this experiment, I plan on drinking shortly, and perhaps even re-reviewing it!) this wasn't a bad experience overall. I'm definitely curious what the ABV is at a year after bottling, since a few sips in I'm already feeling the effects of the booze. 10.5% is already not messing around, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's closer to 12% now. I first had the Maharaja on tap at the Surly Goat and was instantly impressed by how bold it is; after a year of aging it's certainly even bolder. Overall for me this is one of my favorite IPAs and is definitely a recommended brew. However, I think until I try it fresh again I can't give it full marks because compared to my top two IPAs (Sculpin and Pliny the Elder) I don't get as varied of a flavor profile.

3/5