Excelsior Anniversary Series - 17
Ithaca Beer Company

Excelsior Anniversary Series - 17Excelsior Anniversary Series - 17
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From:
Ithaca Beer Company
 
New York, United States
Style:
American Pale Wheat Beer
ABV:
8.4%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.88 | pDev: 11.6%
Reviews:
27
Ratings:
115
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Apr 19, 2017
Added:
Sep 30, 2014
Wants:
  3
Gots:
  15
Our Anniversary 17 is a hybrid between a Wheat ale and an India Pale Ale. The vision was to create something that had a round bitterness, a dry finish, but a nice wheat sweetness. The aroma is straight up spicy and citrusy like pink peppercorn and oranges. This beer is bottle conditioned with a brettanomyces yeast strain so it will evolve over time and add more complexity to an already unique brew.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by logicalparadox:
Photo of logicalparadox
Reviewed by logicalparadox from New York

4.19/5  rDev +8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Delicious double IPA, framed in a pale wheat ale format. HIgh ABV is well hidden. Soft wheat provides a gentle canvas and background for a broad array of hop flavors to dance about, in a nice harmony. Will be trying this one again sometime soon!
Dec 17, 2014
More User Ratings:
Photo of grover37
Reviewed by grover37 from District of Columbia

3.95/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Split into two El Cat tulips with Lisa. Have been holding onto this one for awhile, because I'm scared.

Perfectly clear dark yellow with a huge billowy head that does not recede. Perfect.

Smell is huge brett (C?). At this age, it has really taken over the aromas. Funky, very floral, some bubblegum, citrus - lime?

Taste is not as it smells, not nearly the funk bomb it smells. Bubble gum really dominates, with more citrus, pine, a light bitterness, and a lingering funk and some resin.

Very well carbonated, light bodied. A bit of coating pine, but very light feel due to high carbonation.

Overall not really what I expected - slightly better - but not a mind blower either. Glad this wasn't too bitter - wish I could have tried it fresh as well.
Apr 19, 2017
 
Rated: 3.99 by AD17 from New Jersey

Aug 14, 2016
 
Rated: 3.5 by brpendergast85 from District of Columbia

Jul 31, 2016
 
Rated: 4.03 by Gkruszewski from New York

Jul 20, 2016
 
Rated: 3.79 by professorchow from Massachusetts

Jul 08, 2016
Photo of scotorum
Reviewed by scotorum from Massachusetts

4.13/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
ITHACA EXCELSIOR 17TH ANNIVERSARY WHEAT DIPA 6/9/16

Found what turned out to be a disastrously old bottle at a markeddown price.

Poured from the 25.4 oz. bottle into a Tree House stemmed tulip.

a: Cleart gold with a huge 2+ inch thick white head which receded slowly and required additional pours to fill the glass. Dense lacing followed.

s: Pine resin with a metallic and floral edge.

t: Follows the nose with heavy bitterness emerging immediately as well. Bitter and floral finish.

m: Medium, good body and hellacious carbonation tingle.

o: Can't be sure this was intended considering the age, but an unique DIPA now in that there is a pretty heavy floral element offsetting the potentially unpleasant aspects of the old hops. The aroma continues to be pleasantly floral as well. The added brett in this case certainly did make this a special experience.
Jun 10, 2016
Photo of ClavisAurea
Reviewed by ClavisAurea from New York

4.26/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Original bottling in 2014 served cool in a teku; 750ml bottle

Appearance: murky honey orange but thats to be expected. Tons of carbonation and a MASSIVE soapy white head with tons of lacing

Nose: Immense Brett funk in there, some spicy hop character, that Brett barnyard funk is really the only thing that comes through.

Taste: nice carbonation level, high but very refreshing. That Brett is about the only thing you get after almost 1.5 years in the bottle. Orange marmalade, spice from the hops, crackery malts, tons of Brett funk

Overall: this is one hell of a Brett DIPA. I think Ithaca nailed it on this one. The price was awesome as well, $9 I think?!? I'm going to definitely pick up some more of this if I can find it around Ithaca, NY. I know I've seen it there over the last few months.
Apr 30, 2016
 
Rated: 3.23 by T-34-85 from New York

Mar 31, 2016
 
Rated: 4.08 by Stofko1992 from Pennsylvania

Feb 07, 2016
 
Rated: 4.38 by bylerteck from Canada (ON)

Jan 02, 2016
 
Rated: 4.05 by Elimav from Florida

Dec 24, 2015
 
Rated: 4.5 by Jackcub87 from Pennsylvania

Dec 23, 2015
Photo of smcolw
Reviewed by smcolw from Massachusetts

3.72/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Golden color and cloudy. Good bar-poured head that leaves a couple of rings for lace.

Semi-sweet and spicy nose. I really get wildness in this beer.

This is a really complex beer: I don't get many of the traditional flavors--some pale malt but no wheat, a touch of sourness and hop bitterness. Lots of carbonation with a light body. Long lasting aftertaste, it's biting but not hoppy. It's like there is dry cardboard in the finish.
Dec 19, 2015
Photo of 2dogbrew
Reviewed by 2dogbrew from Virginia

4.28/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Purchased a month ago at local Total Wine, so not fresh but it's got Brett so wasn't concerned. Lots of bubbles on the pour, even when done gently. Ok with me. Once it settles I take in the aroma, a nice amount of funk there but not overpowering. Taste follows the aroma, some sweetness from the wheat. Seems they hit the mark of what they were going for. Well done.
Oct 26, 2015
 
Rated: 3.53 by InspectorBob from New Jersey

Oct 25, 2015
 
Rated: 4.24 by Duffman79 from Connecticut

Oct 14, 2015
 
Rated: 3.88 by hozersr from Pennsylvania

Oct 13, 2015
 
Rated: 4.12 by 322wingedfoot from Pennsylvania

Sep 28, 2015
Photo of WellRested518
Reviewed by WellRested518 from New York

4.58/5  rDev +18%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
If you like Orval, you're in the money.

This beer has a rocky-marshmallow head, like damn. At the pour you could compare this thing to jiggling Arabier & you would be about half a finger off. The head retention is insane, but eventually shit settles out into a nice & steady crown. The body itself is an opaque golden-yellow.

The smell is all Brett and hops. I get fresh leather, pine, bit of herbal-mint, rose pedal, and scallion... Tangerine and lime play in the background. It reminds of a meadow.

T/M -The taste is much the same with some pronounced hints of patchouli. It's astringent, but in that brettanomyces way that we know & love. Sharp, agile, and full of complexity.

Think Basketball.
Sep 20, 2015
Excelsior Anniversary Series - 17 from Ithaca Beer Company
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 115 ratings