Epicenter Ale
Silver Gulch Brewing and Bottling Co.

Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Silver Gulch Brewing and Bottling Co.
 
Alaska, United States
Style:
American Strong Ale
ABV:
7.9%
Score:
83
Avg:
3.58 | pDev: 10.06%
Reviews:
5
Ratings:
20
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jul 09, 2021
Added:
Aug 31, 2011
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  2
An American Strong Ale brewed to commemorate the November 3, 2002 Denali Fault earthquake, 7.9 on the Richter scale and 7.9% ABV. An ale of significant alcoholic strength, it is a warming beer that is best drunk in pints by a warm fire on a cold night, or at Silver Gulch.

40 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by TechTriumph:
Photo of TechTriumph
Rated by TechTriumph from Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -2.2%

Jul 06, 2013
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4 by 6thstreetbrewpub from District of Columbia

Jul 09, 2021
 
Rated: 3.76 by BirdsandHops from Oregon

Feb 10, 2020
 
Rated: 3.52 by unclekeith from Alaska

Sep 07, 2019
 
Rated: 3.5 by kylehay2004 from Illinois

May 14, 2018
 
Rated: 3.75 by rspauldi from Texas

Jun 17, 2016
Photo of jmbranum
Reviewed by jmbranum from Oklahoma

4.35/5  rDev +21.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Bought in a 32 oz growler from the Anchorage airport, transported via carry-on baggage from Anchorage to Seattle to atlanta to oklahoma city on a crazy set of redeye flights. Refrigerated after that.

Enjoyed the next day in okc, poured into a wine glass .

Very pretty clear amber-brown with an off-white head.

Nice boozey malt aroma.

Flavor - leads with the alcohol, almost akin to drinking a shiner bock with a shot of bourbon added (fyi - black label heaven hill is a good choice for the bourbon). Lots of malt and some sweet caramel. I think more/better hops would have taken this beer to an exceptional place.

Full-heavy mouthfeel.

This beer was good but not great. I hope the brewery considers tweaking this one a bit as I think a different hop profile and/or an addition of some spices could do this beer a lot of good, possibly moving it into Xmas ale/winter warmer territory.
Aug 03, 2015
 
Rated: 3.56 by IdrinkGas from Pennsylvania

Jul 19, 2015
 
Rated: 3.25 by Smileitsfreetobehappy from Alaska

Sep 19, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by kscaldef from Oregon

Jul 11, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by pathead from Wisconsin

Jun 13, 2014
Photo of Bockrules
Reviewed by Bockrules from New Mexico

3.35/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
poured from the growler into a pint glass

A - Pours a perfectly transparent copper capped by an astringent off-white, 1-finger head. Tons of of small bubbles are rising from nucleation points on both the bottom and sides of the glass. Head stays intact as an incomplete disk of bubbles all the way down the glass. Leaves behind a small ring of bubbles on the bottom.

S - A musty smell of caramel malt and red apple greats the nose after it is pouted into the glass. Not much aroma from the growler itself, but a musty smell.

T - Caramel malt and a hint of alcohol upfront. The body is definitely malt-driven with tons more caramel and candied sugar, and just a hint of cinnamon - slightly dry apple hop notes play second fiddle and try to keep with marginal success to keep everything in balance. More of the same plus a flash of whisky as the beer passes over the back of the tongue leads to lingering peat, candied sugar and caramel malt finish.

M - On the heavier side of medium bodied with moderate carbonation to give it a slightly creamy mouthfeel. I would have gone with something perhaps more lively or done this beer on cask to draw some interest to a rather bland flavor profile.

I bought this beer in the Anchorage airport on the way back from a Seismological Society of America meeting. The name was just too fitting to pass up and I was under the impression for some reason that it was an IPA. I did have a pint of the IPA on draft (Snow Hook), and can report that that was a far better beer than this one. Yes, it does have all the characteristics of a strong ale, but the end result is rather blah and uninspiring. Not a bad beer by any means, just nothing of merit to lure me back for another. I've yet to find a geophysics-named beer that I adore.
May 06, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by sprucetip from Alaska

Mar 09, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by galapaghost from Delaware

Feb 11, 2014
Photo of flexabull
Reviewed by flexabull from California

3.33/5  rDev -7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25
A friend brought this back from Alaska, filled at the Anchorage Airport.

Pours a bright and pretty clear light amber color with a pretty nice white head.

Aromas are pleasant, but kind of muted. Notes of caramel, brewed tea, and light bread and grains.

Flavor is definitely on the sweet side. Caramel malts, creaminess, light brown sugar, and a hint of brewed tea. Finish is warm, with real faint earthy hops.

Mouthfeel is nice. Full and smooth, with good carbonation.

Overall? Decent, but nothing special. Just too one dimensional, and leans to much to the sweet malty side with not much else going on.
Jul 11, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by blackcloud from Alaska

Dec 31, 2012
 
Rated: 3 by Iowacraft from Iowa

Sep 10, 2012
Photo of Spinshag
Reviewed by Spinshag from Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Epicenter is dubbed an American strong ale. It was created fir the 11/3/02 earthquake here in Fairbanks, AK. It is a bit of Scottish bitters and has too much bite for a stronger ale. I think they need a new florally hops like the Belgians use and it would be much, much better! Cheers!

Ahoy hoy!
Jun 22, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by JohnnyP3 from Alaska

Mar 18, 2012
Photo of jmdrpi
Reviewed by jmdrpi from Pennsylvania

2.8/5  rDev -21.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Brewery says it was brewed to to commemorate the November 3, 2002 Denali Fault earthquake, 7.9 on the Richter scale. 40 IBUs

served on tap in a tulip glass at Humpy's in Anchorage.

appears a clear dark golden in color, with just a few whisps of white head. aroma is slightly sweet, sugar and malt, with a touch of floral hops. taste is "thin", and overpowered by an offputing herbal metallic aftertaste. needs more body, carbonation is fine.

overall, because of the negative aftertaste, I wouldn't order it again.
Aug 31, 2011
Epicenter Ale from Silver Gulch Brewing and Bottling Co.
Beer rating: 83 out of 100 with 20 ratings