Grains Of Wrath Double IPA
Church-Key Brewing Company

Grains Of Wrath Double IPAGrains Of Wrath Double IPA
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From:
Church-Key Brewing Company
 
Ontario, Canada
Style:
Imperial IPA
ABV:
8%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.86 | pDev: 9.33%
Reviews:
10
Ratings:
13
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jun 09, 2015
Added:
Oct 21, 2007
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
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Photo of biegaman
Reviewed by biegaman from Canada (ON)

2.85/5  rDev -26.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75
Grains of Wrath is a great name but it doesn't have such a great look; the faded tone and dismal clarity aren't what I, personally, consider aesthetic. Here's hoping, however, that the mandarin colour and pineapple highlights are indicative of a supremely fruity, tropical profile...

But I'd be sadly mistaken. In truth, the sample I tried at the brewery did not smell like this - that one had some semblance of citrusy hoppiness and was at least identifiable as an IPA. The contents of this bottle, while evidently the result of fermentation (in a bad way), don't even really smell like beer.

The taste is regrettably reminiscent of my early, failed homebrew experiments. It has a weird syrupy component both in terms of hop and malt, one that leaves a cheap impression, superficial flavour, and empty mouthfeel typical of an off-brand stove-top extract kit. Put simply: this beer is a total mess.

A proper DIPA should have a vivid, brimming hoppiness that hits you like an anvil to the forehead. Grains of Wrath, however, strikes more like a water gun - weak, and more annoying than anything else. Any kind of citrus or herbal notes are short-lived and accompanied by all sorts off-flavours that ultimately leave a foul taste in the mouth. And that 7% turns out much less mild than you'd expect.

I pride myself on maintaining a few strict rules when it comes to reviewing beers. Chief among them: never review an infected beer. In this case, however, realizing that I have wasted a hefty chunk of change on undrinkable product, I'll make an exception. This is one of my rare few "angry" reviews.

And it's because this isn't the first time I fall victim to Church Key's poor quality control. The draught I tasted at the brewery was, though far from great, decent enough to warrant a few bombers. But what was bottled turned out different. And since I paid for what's in the bottle that's what I'm reviewing. The results, as you can see, aren't good. I couldn't even finish a full glass.
Jun 09, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by KrisDLSmith from Canada (ON)

Mar 04, 2013
Photo of mick303
Reviewed by mick303 from Canada (ON)

4.04/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
650 mL bottle, no freshness date. Poured into an oversize wine glass. Produced a really nice cascade of cream-coloured head, really solid retention, leaves good lacing. Colour is a caramelized amber, with steady carbonation.

Smell has dry bitter hops, mild grapefruit with plenty of other fruity notes, a bit of lemon-pine, apricot, almond, a solid amount of malt compliment, pretty balanced, fruit-forward, a pleasing amount of hop bitterness.

Taste has a real fruitiness, surprisingly sweet off the start, rich and full, tropical and grapefruits come forward. More biscuity malt comes through, with come caramel hop notes. Hops come late, mildly herbal and dry-citrusy,a touch minerally, altogether quite tasty. Finish is medium dry, a bit tart, malty for the style. A more palateable fruity hopped flavour, less bitter than some American examples, but pretty flavourful, complexity is also pretty interesting.

Mouthfeel is moderate, quite slick, carbonation is moderate could maybe use a touch more, pretty drinkable, pretty rich, although the alcohol is present and warming on the finish, it is quite pleasing.

An interesting example, won't be my favourite DIPA but I have to admire the quality of this in a local craft brew, more juicey and fruity than others, with a strong malt foundation, it is an interesting take and doesn't feel hop-dominated. Tasty stuff, and drinks really nicely.
Jan 17, 2013
Photo of hopsolutely
Reviewed by hopsolutely from Canada (ON)

3.57/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
From notes taken last week; on tap at Imbibe in Kitchener.

Pint pours an oily amber with golden highlights. Has minimal white head and a greasily slick mouthfeel. Pleasant citrus in the aroma with a slightly buttery tone, that is earthier than many DIPAs. Flavour of sweet of caramelized malts with a rapid transition to bittering hops in the finish. Malts are definitely present in the body but don't bring as much balance as I'd hoped. However still a hop-forward taste, as befitting the style.

An interesting beer and and worth trying, but not my favourite Ontario-brewed DIPA.
Dec 25, 2012
 
Rated: 4.25 by Molson2000 from Canada (ON)

Oct 05, 2012
 
Rated: 4.25 by wilmaster001 from Canada (ON)

Apr 10, 2012
Photo of bryehn
Reviewed by bryehn from Canada (ON)

3.73/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Sampled twice as part of the Bar Volo Cask Days event at Beau's Oktoberfest 2011.

Poured a hazy/wavy pencil yellow colour with a slight copper tone.

Very grainy aroma. Citrus and butter were in there, but dominated by grains like wheat, barley and grass. Also got a cherry tone.

The taste was bitter and floral with a concentrated honey and buckwheat flavour. Very grainy, like hay but it worked.

Medium-bodied with an oily quality and a syrupy aftertaste.

Tastes and feels like a farm fresh beer workers in the 1890s would drink and has a really nice hop character. It's fairly unique and Church Key should really think about bottling this one.
Oct 02, 2011
Photo of cyrenaica
Reviewed by cyrenaica from Canada (ON)

4.25/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
650ml bottle
8.0% ABV

I tried this beer on March 17, 2008 at "Smokeless Joe's" in Toronto, Ontario. The beer is a new beer from Church Key and is only available in 650ml bottles (according to Joe). The beer poured a nice dark translucent orangy-brown whitch a thick, creamy, off-white head. The aroma was very hoppy, with some hints of malt and licorice. The mouthfeel was medium-bodied with high carbonation, and the bitterness was quite evident. The flavour was quite hoppy with definite grapefruit hints.
May 12, 2008
Photo of bobsy
Reviewed by bobsy from Canada (ON)

3.67/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Draught at Volo. Custom brewed for them by Church-Key, so I guess its a bit of a house beer? This beer pours into the tulip a wonderful copper colour with a small white head, leaving behind sheets of lacing, seemingly defying all logic in the process. The aroma is a bit lacking, containing a bit of mild citrus, grain and possibly grass. It really didn't delight my nose like a DIPA should.

Thankfully, this is the only negative for this beer because the flavour is definitely all there. Grapefruit, pine needles and sweet malt duke it out before leading to a long bitter finish. The mouthfeel is heavy, and suits the heftiness of the flavours exceptionally well, but has a slight roughness that keeps it from being perfect.

Church-Key should feel proud for producing Ontario's first commercial DIPA, and doing a very solid job of it.
Jan 29, 2008
Photo of Viggo
Reviewed by Viggo from Canada (ON)

3.83/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
On tap at Volo. Didn't really like this one at first but it has grown on me.

Pours a clear orange/red, thick off white head that settles down to a thin ring, some nice lacing, good retention. Smell is very sweet, grains and caramel, oranges, spicy citrus, some alcohol, almost pinesol like. Taste is very sweet at first, almost cloying, but levels out after a bit, caramel, some fruits, floral, grapefruit and oranges, spicy bitterness and alcohol in the finish. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with high carbonation, can be pretty rough. Interesting take on the style and pretty drinkable for 8%.
Jan 06, 2008
Photo of grub
Reviewed by grub from Canada (ON)

4.03/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
sampled on tap at volo dec 6/07.

pours crystal clear reddish copper colour with a small dense off-white head. the head drops slowly and leaves lots of lace behind.

aroma is nice. bit of alcohol. grain. big biscuit malt. floral and earthy hops. hint of toasty character.

taste is good. medium-high bitterness level. light alcohol. lots of biscuit malt. bit of grain. big floral and earthy hop character, with just a hint of grapefruit more in the bitterness than flavour. definitely a dipa, but not very american. more like a big english ipa - floral and earthy as opposed to pine and citrus. i've rated it as more of an "english dipa".

mouthfeel is good. medium-low carbonation level. nice medium body.

drinkability is good. well balanced and quite enjoyable. a solid and interesting brew that gives a new spin on a big ipa.
Dec 19, 2007
Photo of Sammy
Reviewed by Sammy from Canada (ON)

3.8/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This will become the first beer available when Volo receives its brewpub license, Hoppy aroma and bitter-biased, a sipper with high ABV and certainly high IBU. Medium mouthfeel. A decent and fair DIPA, on the bitter side for hop head feeding. Decent grapefruit-like colour.
Had on tap a couple of months later and it was very smooth, one of the better DIPAs
Oct 21, 2007
Photo of Derek
Reviewed by Derek from Canada (BC)

3.95/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
Volo Cask Days 07.

A: Hazy copper, light tan head, a little retention & lace.

S: Citrus, pine, alcohol/booze, toffee, biscuity grain.

T: Nectarine, aspirin, pine, grapefruit, biscuity grain, good bitterness, alcohol is warming.

M: Moderate body and carbonation, hop acidity, smooth, well-attenuated with a dry finish.

D: The alcohol is a little hot. With a little cellaring, it would probably mellow nicely.
Oct 21, 2007
Grains Of Wrath Double IPA from Church-Key Brewing Company
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 13 ratings