Imperial Cane & Ebel
Two Brothers Brewing Company

Imperial Cane & EbelImperial Cane & Ebel
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From:
Two Brothers Brewing Company
 
Illinois, United States
Style:
Rye Beer
ABV:
10%
Score:
92
Avg:
4.33 | pDev: 6.47%
Reviews:
11
Ratings:
14
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Aug 29, 2016
Added:
Jan 04, 2008
Wants:
  6
Gots:
  1
Imperial version of Cane & Ebel, draft only.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 4.54 by michaelsmith11 from Illinois

Aug 29, 2016
 
Rated: 4.1 by Campvann from Arizona

Jan 25, 2016
 
Rated: 4.75 by brandoman63 from Illinois

Jan 16, 2013
Photo of emerge077
Reviewed by emerge077 from Illinois

3.95/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
"Last keg ever" on draft at Lush Halsted. 8 ounce pour into a stemmed goblet.

Color was a dark mahoghany that revealed an attractive deep ruby tone in the light. Thin cap of ecru foam that left minimal spotty lacing. Aroma was now richly malt-forward, no longer the bright and fruity hops that a fresh draft had. Definitely some sweetish, bready, spicy rye elements in there.

Flavor was rich and sweet bready rye, lots of caramel. Mouthfeel was rich, huge like a barleywine. There was a firm bitterness that built slowly in the background, that kept the sweetness at bay. It was good in a small dose, but overall I preferred the fresh draft I had a year+ ago, for all the same reasons fresh C&E is so much better.

Additional info from the brewer:
"Imperial Cane & Ebel was the first batch in our new brewhouse when we moved in late '07. The new system was much more efficient, it raised the ABV from 7% to 11% and created a massive version of our current Cane & Ebel. Enjoy this now for you will probably never see or taste this beer again."
Jun 13, 2009
Photo of MasterSki
Reviewed by MasterSki from Canada (ON)

3.83/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
Had this on-tap at Lush (Halsted). This was an aged keg from early 2008, so 16-18 months old. Served in a wine glass.

A - Transparent, dark amber, with ruby highlights, and some streams of tiny bubbles. A tiny bit of tan foam that dissipates quickly and leaves a ring around the edge of the glass. There's lots of lace left behind as I drink the beer. I'm not going to punish the appearance too much, as the servers at Lush seemed to be trying to avoid foam at all costs and other reviews speak of solid head retention and volume.

S - Rye, grape, caramel malts, apples, berries - not really much left in the way of hops. The age has actually made this a little unbalanced, as it is bordering on cloying here.

T - Taste is an improvement. Bready malts, lots of caramel, some residual hop bitterness in the aftertaste mixed with sour rye that builds as one progresses. The rye is more subdued in the taste than in the smell. This is definitively in (rye) barleywine territory.

M - Dry finish, low carbonation, medium body - perhaps not quite viscous enough for the ABV - smooth, and creamy. My favorite thing about this brew.

D - One 8oz glass was plenty. Residual bitterness is high, and while the booze is well hidden a buzz does creep up by the end of the glass.

As much as I really wanted to like this after hearing so many awesome things about it fresh I just couldn't get into it. It's still a good beer but the lack of hop balance has turned it from what was probably a really interesting hoppy high-gravity rye beer into a good, but unexceptional, barleywine. I sincerely hope Two Brothers repeat this "accident" in the future.
Jun 13, 2009
Photo of UDbeernut
Reviewed by UDbeernut from Florida

4.1/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Had on tap at Bier Markt in Cleveland, Oh

a: copper color with a foamy head that reduced to excellent lacing

s: sugary with pleasant hop aroma

t: carmel malts citrus flavors and sweet

m&d: full body beer, but extremely easy to drink. mouthfeel is great.

Excellent Beer.

Cheers!!!
Oct 12, 2008
Photo of kirok1999
Reviewed by kirok1999 from Ohio

4.1/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Pours a dark copper with a nice sticky head.
Smells mostly of rye with a slight sweetness.
Tastes nicely dark with lots of rye in the back of the throat. There's a nice hop balance to this too that adds to a bitter rye finish.
Smooth and creamy and very drinkable. Alcohol is not noticable at all.
Mar 17, 2008
Photo of johnnnniee
Reviewed by johnnnniee from New Hampshire

4.2/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Received this in trade from jaustin72403 Thanks for the opportunity.

Pours a solid brown with ruby highlights when held up to the light. This off white head that dissipates quickly but laces the glass on the way down. Aroma is piney citrusy grapefuity hops with some caramel malt in there too. Taste follows the smell but adds a sharp rye twang to it. Hop bitterness hangs in there long after each sip. Great brew, I really enjoyed it.
Feb 23, 2008
Photo of AylwinForbes
Reviewed by AylwinForbes from Illinois

4.67/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
An interesting muddy red slightly hazy colour with a modest foamy head. Smell is complex with some molasses and toast. Just superb on the palate, rich and complex, with some sweetness, grains, malt and hop as well. Able now to compare with the "traditional strength" C&E it is more rounded and melded and obviously hotter although the alcohol is well hidden.
Jan 28, 2008
Photo of DavidEddie
Reviewed by DavidEddie from Illinois

4.68/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
On tap @ John's Tavern (formerly John's Buffet)

Very dark reddish brown appearance. Thick khaki creamy head with sticky lacing. Smells of juicy grapefruit, soft pine, and malt. The taste is where this imperial rye brew really shines. Big bold flavors of ripe bitter grapefruit, tangy rye, carmel, and sweet malt. Some slight alcohol warming in the finish. Mouth feel is creamy, smooth, and a tad sticky. Good carbonation. The drinkability is fantastic, a bit of a sipper though. Too bad this is a one off brew, it would be nice to see this again. Get it while it lasts!

Note - IMO this imperial version is darker, maltier, and the ABV is slightly detectable.
Jan 13, 2008
Photo of rudylaw
Reviewed by rudylaw from Illinois

4.37/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
On tap @ Map Room.

Boy, was this good. It looks a deep red, burnt-amber color. I had one of the last glasses of the keg, so the head was a thicker than normal.

It smelled sugary-sweet with some seasonal, caramel and citrus notes as well. Nice and hoppy.

This guy tasted so, so good. It's better than their staple C & E... very smooth and tangy. Citrus to the taste buds of course, grapefruit... but something more earthy... raisins methinks.

If you see this on tap, you'd be a fool -- a damn fool -- not to get a pint.
Jan 12, 2008
Photo of rhoadsrage
Reviewed by rhoadsrage from Illinois

4.42/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
(Served in an American pint glass)

A- This beer has a clear but dense brown body with a hue of amber to it. There is a gentle carbonation of tiny bubbles that support a thick spongy off-white head that sticks to the glass with each sip.

S- The spicy grapefruit hops come through the smell right away. With further sniffing notes of lightly toasted dry malt with a dark note hint come through. The hops develop more of a floral/grassy quality to the grapefruit aroma.

T- The spicy taste in the malt has a dry caramel malt quality with some darker roasted notes in the background, there is some fruity qualities to the malt bill also. This leads to a big juicy grapefruit hop flavor that increases with earthiness as the beer warms. There is pleasant pungent bitterness to the hop bite at the finish. As the beer warms the bitterness turns into more of a pine resin quality with the pungency lingering for just a brief moment.

M- This beer has a medium-full mouthfeel with no alcohol heat at all.

D- This beer has some nice fresh spicy malt flavors with a good range of depth in the malt bill. There is also a faint tartness which helps the toasted malts flavor. The big hops put a nice exclamation point on the end of this beer focusing on hop flavor and character with a softer hop bitterness. Great sipping beer but I don't know where they hid the 10% ABV.
Jan 10, 2008
Photo of GbVDave
Reviewed by GbVDave from Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Served in a tulip glass at Hopleaf 1/4/08. Thanks to HeatherAnn for the assist!

A: Served a dark-red, burnt-amber color. A small, creamy 1/2 finger head caps this bad boy and leaves a lot of sticky lace down the sides of the glass.

S: Incredible aromas of fresh green hops, sugar, and sweet caramel malt. Awesome grassy aroma.

T: See above. Big roasted malt, and fresh cut grass.

M: Very creamy, thick, and coating. Spicy hops and tangy and dry rye.

D: Excellent! I wasn't sure what to expect when they tinkered such a great beer like regular Cane & Ebel. Not as much tangy rye but I love what they did. Hopefully they brew this more than this one time!
Jan 08, 2008
Photo of MrMcGibblets
Reviewed by MrMcGibblets from Illinois

4.4/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
had this one-off beer at john's buffet in warrenville and it was phenomenal. i loved the regular cane & ebel and this is more of a good thing. pours a deep, hazy chestnut brown with ruby highlights and a creamy tan head. wonderful aromas of bready caramel malt, dark fruit, hard candy, and spice with lots of resiny, citric american hops and much more. no alcohol is noticeable. complex. taste was impeccable, a wonderful balance between the big sweet malts, big, smooth, hop bitterness, and spicy rye kick. no alcohol burn. mouthfeel is great as well in this medium to full-bodied beer, some carbonation is able to make it's presence felt in this big brew. i normally knock higher abv beers on the drinkability as i can't session them but i think i'd go down before i could put this one down. i pray to allah that they make this in sixers or bombers. i think the abv was 10% but i could be wrong as it wasn't listed.
Jan 04, 2008
Imperial Cane & Ebel from Two Brothers Brewing Company
Beer rating: 92 out of 100 with 14 ratings