Imperial IPA
Legend Brewing Co.

Imperial IPAImperial IPA
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Legend Brewing Co.
 
Virginia, United States
Style:
Imperial IPA
ABV:
8%
Score:
88
Avg:
3.94 | pDev: 10.91%
Reviews:
46
Ratings:
61
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 07, 2015
Added:
Jan 30, 2005
Wants:
  5
Gots:
  4
This intense and substantial Imperial India Pale Ale boasts 8% ABV a meaty malt backbone, and a huge hop character! Aged three months and dry hopped for two weeks, this big orange monster is allowed to mellow while it picks up about as much hop aroma as any beer can realistically hold.This popular brew is available on draft only and it won't last long.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by TJBAIHWL:
Photo of TJBAIHWL
Reviewed by TJBAIHWL from Virginia

3.73/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5
Poured from a 22oz bomber into a snifter. The body is somewhere between ruby and copper with red-orange highlights. It's really a deep, beautiful color. The head is ample with an off-white color, great retention, and average lacing. Very active stream of bubbles going right up the middle.

My first impression of the aroma was resiny, but many varied aroma notes soon became apparent. There's some mild light fruit, which I can't pin down as either yeasty or hoppy. Seems like a bit of both. There's also buttery, toasty malt in the nose. Overall nice and complex nose.

Green fruit & light citrus notes hit your tongue first, giving way to a malt profile with more caramel than the nose, some heat as well, and finishing on some grassy & hot peppery notes. Bitterness and heat from the finish linger for quite a while. There are other, more subdued flavors in this one; maybe some piney hops in addition to the grassy, spicy, and citrusy ones.

It's got a substantial body. Carbonation is neither flat nor overpowering. You notice the bubbling action taking place on your tongue, but it doesn't get in the way of any of the flavor. Coats your mouth and finishes mostly clean.

With an IPA this big, drinkability inevitably suffers. I actually went through this one pretty quickly, mainly trying to figure out exactly what all I'm tasting. One bomber should be the limit for almost anyone. The lingering flavors get nearly sickening and the 8.5% ABV will put you in a pretty good place.

Overall, this is one of the more impressive offerings from Legend. It far surpasses their Golden IPA and even Hopfest. I would recommend it.
Feb 03, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.55 by NickTinyRace from North Carolina

Jan 07, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by joegard from Virginia

Jul 08, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by Sanchezrox23 from Virginia

Apr 18, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by JWing from Virginia

Mar 19, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by BillRoth from Maryland

Dec 28, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by jak from North Carolina

Jan 06, 2013
Photo of argock
Reviewed by argock from Virginia

4.05/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Poured from a 22 oz brown bottle into a Duvel tulip. No freshness date. Purchased at Market Street Wineshop (Charlottesville, VA) for $5.99.

A: Deep amber with 1-finger light beige head with decent retention and a nice strip of lace around the top of the glass.

S: A big time Columbus hops aroma with pine, grapefruit pith, and resin with the signature meaty, pungent herbal aroma. Maltiness is moderate caramel but mostly clean slightly bready pale malty aromas.

T: The flavor of this brew was surprisingly very good with smooth earthy and grapefruit citrus hops flavor, some pine and resin too. The hoppiness is pretty complex and well-integrated. Again very telling for a dominant Columbus character. The maltiness is very subdued but well-done with a more light caramel quality. The maltiness is "meaty" as they describe, but I think this is bolstered by the high oil content and earthy flavor of the Columbus hopping. The alcohol is very much in the background, and there is no fusel quality which I can't always say has been the case with other Legend products. This brew is very smooth and drinkable.

M: The feel is very slick and solid -- body is medium, possibly more, and the carbonation is smooth and supports the chewiness that comes on with working through the bottle.

O: I did not have high hopes for this beer, but it definitely surprised me in a very positive way. If you are a Columbus hops fan, it is a must-buy. I can't say I have always been the biggest fan (see reviews of Sixpoint beers) but this beer is starting to make a believer out of me. Great job Legend.
Dec 13, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by e30todamax from Virginia

Nov 30, 2012
 
Rated: 2.5 by baklo from North Carolina

Nov 13, 2012
 
Rated: 3.75 by ncaudle from Virginia

Oct 13, 2012
 
Rated: 3.75 by JeffreyJDavis from North Carolina

Oct 12, 2012
 
Rated: 4.25 by PGVG from Virginia

Sep 18, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by Hanzo from Virginia

Sep 07, 2012
 
Rated: 4.25 by Hallce2 from Virginia

May 31, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by Taphouse_Traveler from Florida

Feb 03, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by DoctorB2B from Virginia

Nov 20, 2011
Photo of rfgetz
Reviewed by rfgetz from New Jersey

3.78/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours a crystal clear lightly copper tinted amber with small cap of white soapy froth, decent lacing. Scent is lead by decent floral and grapefruity hops but quickly eaten up by nutty malts. Taste is like scent in that a pleasant hop profile leads before nutty malts take over, hops definitely not aggressive enough to justify the dIPA tag. Medium bodied, good carbonation and lightly drying. A good IPA, but clearly not a dIPA with the moderate hop profile.
Jul 04, 2011
Photo of Tucquan
Reviewed by Tucquan from Pennsylvania

3.7/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Had this on 2011-05-02 in Columbia, PA

A - Caramel/mahogany color with a light tan head and pretty good lacing.

S - Very fragrant even from a distance. Caramel, earthy spice, some citrus, mild bread.

T - Interesting combination of flavors. There's a barrel-aged, wine-like flavor that mixes with the strong caramel/toffee and citrus fruit. It's initially pretty sweet but it finishes with quite a bit of lingering grapefruit bitterness once it starts to dry out. I also notice a touch of sourness and black pepper in the aftertaste. Fairly boozy for an 8.5% ABV brew.

M - Medium-heavy body and medium carbonation give a thick, creamy and oily feel.

O - This is a good but not great DIPA. The flavor profile is more malty and earthy than citrus and so isn't where my heart lies but I enjoyed the new flavor experience.
May 02, 2011
Photo of BeerFMAndy
Reviewed by BeerFMAndy from Wisconsin

4.07/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
22 oz bottle split and poured into a New Belgium Globe glass.
8.5% ABV, no date.

It's disturbing how often I whip my tick out around Beerwolf77. Thanks for sharing Todd!

A - Great clarity right off the bat shows off the ruby bronze color with a nicely formed and well-retained, slightly off-white head. Pinches of lace are left behind on the glass.

S - Juicy citra hops have a nice grapefruit and guava citrus aroma backed nicely by caramel and amber malts. Woody and earthy undertones give the aroma a very nice depth and uniqueness.

T - Smooth, round caramel and toffee malt profile in the background that is a bit more powerful than it should be. Is this old and the hops have faded in flavor? Maybe not because they're certainly potent in the nose. Odd juicy fruitiness pairs with a deranged type of earthiness to it.

M - Medium-bodied and smooth with an almost creamy finish that's lacking a good hop bitterness for a double, another reason it may be a little past it's prime...hmm.

O - No alcohol is perceived in this at all, it goes down very well but needs a larger hop presence in both flavor and bitterness assuming it's not a bit old. Otherwise, as the grade would reflect, it's still quite a good double IPA.
Mar 29, 2011
Imperial IPA from Legend Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 61 ratings