Imperial Brown Ale
Legend Brewing Co.

Imperial Brown AleImperial Brown Ale
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From:
Legend Brewing Co.
 
Virginia, United States
Style:
American Brown Ale
ABV:
7.5%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.86 | pDev: 10.1%
Reviews:
16
Ratings:
26
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 04, 2018
Added:
Mar 01, 2005
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  2
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by ncaudle:
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Rated by ncaudle from Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -9.3%

Jul 14, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.19 by robebo44 from Virginia

Jan 04, 2018
Photo of Tone
Reviewed by Tone from Missouri

4.21/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours a black color. 1/4 inch head of an off-white color. Great retention and good lacing. Smells of sweet malt, roasted malt, alcohol, hint of dark fruit, and slight hops. Fits the style of an American Brown Ale. Mouth feel is smooth and clean, with an average carbonation level. Tastes of sweet malt, roasted malt, alcohol, hint of liquor, slight Belgian yeast. hint of dark fruit, and slight hops. Overall, good appearance, bl;end, body, and complexity.
Jul 09, 2017
 
Rated: 4.09 by token_23223 from Virginia

Feb 25, 2017
 
Rated: 3.79 by Taphouse_Traveler from Florida

Feb 08, 2017
 
Rated: 4.29 by andypark from Georgia

Jul 18, 2016
 
Rated: 3.83 by Boone757 from Virginia

Dec 10, 2015
 
Rated: 3.88 by Barleycorn from Pennsylvania

Dec 09, 2015
 
Rated: 3.94 by Fusion7777 from Virginia

Jul 18, 2015
 
Rated: 4.25 by Billybaroo990 from Pennsylvania

Oct 21, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by tryhansen from Virginia

Jan 15, 2012
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Reviewed by ClockworkOrange from Pennsylvania

3.35/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
A 22 ounce bomber bottle poured into a nonic pint glass. The ale appears a hazed medium chestnut color with two fingers of quickly fading foam. Nose and flavor are of caramel, toffee, slightly nutty, sweet and grainy. The body is slightly lacking, but the carbonation levels are adequate.
May 28, 2009
Photo of jwc215
Reviewed by jwc215 from Arizona

3.43/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Thanks to jcwattsrugger for bringing back this 22 oz. bottle for me from Virginia...

Pours dark brown with a tan head that stays. Trailing lace slides down the glass with a few dots sticking.

The smell is of brown sugar, toffee, and some resin.

The taste is of brown sugar and resin. There is a hop presence, in the form of resin, but remains sweet throughout. Boozy. It has characteristics of a barleywine and a brown ale. Interesting. A bit astringent. Whiskey-ish, sweet finish.

Medium-to-full bodied. A bit sticky, with some residual sugars sticking to the palate, along with some saltiness.

Not too fond of the touch of salty character. It's an interesting attempt to imperialize a brown ale, with a barleywine touch. It could work, but, this one's a bit tough to get through. This bottle reads 8.5% alcohol, so I assume they upped it 1% this year - it shows. Things just don't seem to mesh as well as they could, but has enough to be able to finish it after slow sipping.
Jun 07, 2008
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Reviewed by tayner from Arizona

2.71/5  rDev -29.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2
22 oz bottle 8.5% marked on it

medium shoe-leather brown with an off white head that didnt last or lace much

smell was very understated with mostly alcohol nose with a little nuttiness.

After the smell i was surprised to taste up front a rancid nut flavor. it had all the old nut oil taste which i couldnt get past..

I hope this was a bad bottle, but it has been refridgerated so im not so sure. it didnt smell bad, or taste bad, just rancid nut oil...

not something i would drink again ever.
Mar 29, 2008
Photo of boston2bburg
Reviewed by boston2bburg from Virginia

3.57/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a 22 oz. bomber into Sam Adams 'super' pint glass on a cool fall day off work. Immediately impressed with appearance. Semi-opaque light brown color with a large head that dissapates to a steady thin layer.

The smell, on the other hand, is extremely understated. If you get right in there you may be able to pick up some caramel and toffee notes but it smells more like tap water to me. This is something I wish Legend would address across the board.

Flavor attacks the taste buds with chocolate and caramel melding with an earthy, spicy hop backing. Fitting for the style, but nothing too unique or exciting. Mouthfeel is chewy with a dry finish. Pretty drinkable for an imperial ale. Alchohol warms slowly and isn't very noticeable to the taste. I'd have another.

Note: This bottle was marked 8.5% instead of 7.5%.
Nov 09, 2007
Photo of ghostmech007
Reviewed by ghostmech007 from Virginia

3.9/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
In a cask at the Capitol Ale House in Innsbrooke.

Deep brown almost black in color. Fluffy but thick three finger head. Good lacing on the pint glass.

Nose is of roasted malts, coffee, caramel, and grains.

The flavor is big and balanced. Big grain flavors in front. Caramel and coffee flavors follow the time. Present bitterness never leaves the tasting. Nice big full bodied brew and very smooth finish.

If you can find it you can drink it but the OH molecule is a little to high to have a lot of it at 7.5%. A good solid brew through and through but it could be a little bit better in all areas.
Oct 01, 2007
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Reviewed by phisig137 from Virginia

3.58/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Pours a deep mahogany brown, with a fluffy three finger head. Good retention, followed by sticky lace.

Aroma is of lightly roasted coffee, toasted malts, caramel, and a touch of stale grain. The flavor is a bit better, being nicely balanced between the malt and hops. Great toasted grain, biscuit, caramel, and milk chocolate flavors up front, followed by a firm bitterness. Full bodied and smooth. Drinkability is decent, but the alcohol does leave a lingering burn after the swallow.

Overall, not bad.... but not great. Usually I'm a huge fan of Legend's seasonal offerings, but this just doesn't quite do it for me. There just isn't enough of a brown ale left in here after "imperializing" it. Like Legend says, it's kinda like a weak barleywine, and a poor one at that. It's worth picking up and trying. For less than $5, it's a good value, but I won't be hording any, like I do their barleywine...
Aug 20, 2007
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Reviewed by FenwaySquid from Florida

4.42/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Presentation: 22 oz. brown bomber bottle, no dating of any kind, poured into a pint glass.

Appearance: Poured a clear deep reddish brown color. The head formed 2 fingers thick and retained nicely.

Aroma: Burnt caramel, coffee, nutty, and some piney hops mixed in there as well.

Taste: Starts off with some bitter burnt caramel and coffee flavors, very deep. The hops remain in the background in the beginning and middle and there's almost some sweet malts coming through there as well. The finish is bitter and chocolately, with some carbonation lingering on the back of the tongue as well along with a slight alcohol warming.

Mouthfeel: Fairly thick, almost chewy, yet still quite smooth. The carbonation was more livel than it looks in the glass, but it balanced nicely.

Overall: This is good stuff. Their regular brown ale is one of my favorites and this might be even better. The bottle claims 8.5% ABV but it's hidden quite nicely. Highly recommended, especially if you're a fan of brown ales.
Aug 13, 2007
Photo of hopsaplenty
Reviewed by hopsaplenty from District of Columbia

3.75/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
22oz. brown bottle, no date information.

Clear deep oxblood. Dense tall head of mixed size latte colored bubbles which slowly settles to a brief collar, and left no lacing. Dispersed carbonation streams laze upwards. Rich aromas of roasted coffee, burnt caramel, and soft piney hops fill the nose. Mouthfilling roasty flavors are complimented with an ample malt body. The light pine hops fill things out and carry into the finish. The bitterness adds an astringent note which lingers. The finish is a bitter, piney, and sweet triumvirate which ends in a draw. The whole thing is a mishmash of flavors that simply never seems to organize itself. Medium body with a smooth, almost silky mouthfeel. The flavors were enjoyable despite their lack of organization, and the 8% alcohol is only noticeable after the fact. I’d still be willing to try another bottle.
Aug 07, 2006
Photo of weeare138
Reviewed by weeare138 from Pennsylvania

3.82/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Thanks to hopdog for this...
Appears a rich brown with a red hue. A small tan head quickly fades into a small cap. Tiny remnants of lacing are left around the glass.
Smell is of toffee, caramel, mild sourness, and earth notes.
Taste is of the same aromas with mild sour cherries buried behind the flavors. I'm not sure if that's good and I'm not sure why we keep having this problem with the Legend brews. Steve said he put this one in the fridge as soon as he received it so who knows?
Mouthfeel is medium bodied, sweet up front that fades into a quick tartness.
--update 9/11/07
appears a dark chestnut with a milky, tan head that slowly fades into a batter-like cap and collar.
Smell is of hoppy grapefruit, grassy, earthy, and herbal with notes of fresh grain.
Taste is of the mentioned aromas with a decent balance. Notes of black tea and rye shine through.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied, slightly astringent, along with caramel sweetness, cocoa, toffee, malts, and a decent amount of hops.
Previous scores:
A - 3.5
S - 3.5
T - 3.0
M - 3.0
D - 3.5
Jul 14, 2006
Imperial Brown Ale from Legend Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 26 ratings