Imperial English IPA
Cascade Brewing / Raccoon Lodge & Brewpub

Beer Geek Stats
From:
Cascade Brewing / Raccoon Lodge & Brewpub
 
Oregon, United States
Style:
Imperial IPA
ABV:
7%
Score:
Needs more ratings
Avg:
4.02 | pDev: 0.5%
Reviews:
2
Ratings:
2
Status:
Retired
Rated:
May 22, 2004
Added:
Mar 17, 2004
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews.
Ratings by bros:

  None found.

Photo of RedDiamond
Reviewed by RedDiamond from Oregon

4.03/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
As I heard it, this brew was aged for three months in oak barrels that were lovingly rocked back and forth each day to simulate the motion of a sailing vessel traversing Africa en route to India. This agitation was to yield maximum fermentation as in the original IPAs of the late 18th Century. A patron at the Raccoon eagerly recounted stuffing nylon stockings full of hops into the bungholes of the barrels and retrieving them weeks later. The man was quite enthusiastic about showing me the barrels, and the brewery itself though evidently he did not work there.

I am told that the beer rates at 7.5% ABV and that it is a different recipe than the regular house IPA. Apparently the oak barrels were steam cleaned quite effectively prior to aging the beer. This may account for a lack of any wine notes or oak tannins in the brew. But flavor maintains notes of vanilla/orange cream with a yeasty aroma. It is well hopped though not overly so.

This beer doesn’t taste very traditional, especially with the nitro infusion that left wall-to-wall lace on the glass. But it is quite unique actually, and very enjoyable.
May 22, 2004
More User Ratings:
Photo of Thrasher
Reviewed by Thrasher from Oregon

4/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
An interesting new beer from Raccoon Lodge. The bartender told me that when they first tapped it, it was totally flat and pretty bad. They've since injected the pour with nitro and the results are pretty good, but the beer probably isn't big enough to satisfy fans of monstrously huge double IPAs; note the appellation "English" and that should give you some idea of what to expect. The website mentions the beer was aged for 3 months in French oak barrels (to simulate the trip from Britain to India, perhaps?) but very little oak quality is imparted to the brew. It's quite a light colored golden brew with tight head and immaculate nitro lacing. Appeasing aroma of light malts, hint of graham cracker. The beer is adequately malty, using lighter, paler malts for a very un-roasty, un-grainy flavor - more like a helles or vienna. Hops provide a light crisp tang but stay well to the sidelines which I found authentically English. The alcohol is noticeable but not glaring, and the beer is entirely pleasant if a bit simple. I think less adventurous beer drinkers, who normally shy away from high hops and alcohol, could easily enjoy this beer, and the more seasoned veterans will find this a light, quaffable ale with a subliminal kick.
Mar 17, 2004
Imperial English IPA from Cascade Brewing / Raccoon Lodge & Brewpub
Beer rating: 4.02 out of 5 with 2 ratings