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Torpedo Extra IPA
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
- From:
- Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
- California, United States
- Style:
- American IPA
Ranked #203 - ABV:
- 7.2%
- Score:
- 92
Ranked #4,234 - Avg:
- 4.15 | pDev: 10.84%
- Reviews:
- 3,138
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 11, 2024
- Added:
- May 12, 2006
- Wants:
- 415
- Gots:
- 3,539
It started as a napkin sketch in a pub, an idea for a device that could boost hop aroma without adding more bitterness. We built the sketch, and the “Hop Torpedo” revolutionized dry hopping and inspired Torpedo, one of our favorite IPA style beers. It’s an aggressive yet balanced beer featuring the complex citrus, pine, and herbal character of whole-cone hops.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by karst:
Reviewed by karst from Missouri
4.53/5 rDev +9.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.53/5 rDev +9.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Prominent citrusy American Hop Aroma (from Magnum, Crystal and Citra dry hopping) bit resinous. Clean malty sweetness in background. Clean neutral fermentation character with some low alcohol (7.2 abv) with warming. Low/no esters no diacetyl
Appearance is light reddish copper or Deep golden amber with orange-ish tint. Clear (no expected haze from dry hopping with whole cone hops) Ivory well formed head is persistent with fine beaded creamy cap, ring and lace.
Strong hop flavor with piny citrussy and perhaps lightly herbal note. High hop bitterness (70 IBUs) with additional supporting bready malt backbone. Balance is well toward hops. Very low lovibond Crystal malt gives little/ no caramel flavor but a light toasty malt flavor. No Diacetyl. Hints of tropical fruitiness nearly overwhelmed by dominate hop flavors from Crystal and magnum finishing hops. Long lingering bitterness that noes not become harsh. Medium dry finish.
Mouthfeel is of medium body with a medium high carbonation. Light bite from carbonic acids and higher IBUs tingles tongue. Smooth alcoholic warming. Never astringent. Round smoothness in mouthfeel - Dextrins from CaraPils specialty malt.
Outstanding drinkability even with its top of the range American IPA characteristics. Don't just expect a bumped up version of SN's Pale Ale this borders on a well balanced lower alcohol intrepretation of an Imperial IPA
Mar 07, 2009Appearance is light reddish copper or Deep golden amber with orange-ish tint. Clear (no expected haze from dry hopping with whole cone hops) Ivory well formed head is persistent with fine beaded creamy cap, ring and lace.
Strong hop flavor with piny citrussy and perhaps lightly herbal note. High hop bitterness (70 IBUs) with additional supporting bready malt backbone. Balance is well toward hops. Very low lovibond Crystal malt gives little/ no caramel flavor but a light toasty malt flavor. No Diacetyl. Hints of tropical fruitiness nearly overwhelmed by dominate hop flavors from Crystal and magnum finishing hops. Long lingering bitterness that noes not become harsh. Medium dry finish.
Mouthfeel is of medium body with a medium high carbonation. Light bite from carbonic acids and higher IBUs tingles tongue. Smooth alcoholic warming. Never astringent. Round smoothness in mouthfeel - Dextrins from CaraPils specialty malt.
Outstanding drinkability even with its top of the range American IPA characteristics. Don't just expect a bumped up version of SN's Pale Ale this borders on a well balanced lower alcohol intrepretation of an Imperial IPA
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by KenjiN from Massachusetts
3.18/5 rDev -23.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
3.18/5 rDev -23.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
I sampled this even though I've generally moved away from IPAs in recent years. The beer looks good, albeit dark (coppery in color) for an IPA. It's got a lasting off-white head. The nose is redolent of piney hops -- and sweet malt; the scent pervades the vicinity. The body is heavier in body than I'd expect from a beer of this (7.2% ABV) strength; it's thick. Bitter hops strike the palate first, and are quickly followed by caramel-tasting malt.
The malt base is extremely sweet -- too sweet for my taste -- and the bitterness is high. The two components don't meld.
I liked this beer when it first appeared -- it was a time when the beer-world needed an assertive, true IPA at a reasonable price. My palate has changed. Today, Torpedo reminds me why I rarely drink IPAs.
Jan 14, 2024The malt base is extremely sweet -- too sweet for my taste -- and the bitterness is high. The two components don't meld.
I liked this beer when it first appeared -- it was a time when the beer-world needed an assertive, true IPA at a reasonable price. My palate has changed. Today, Torpedo reminds me why I rarely drink IPAs.
Reviewed by Danmooney40 from Virginia
4.15/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.15/5 rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
The classic bitterness I look for in an IPA. One of my favorites.
Poured from a can into a 10 oz pub glass, medium amber color, slightly hazy, a 2 finger lingering caramel head
Nov 24, 2023Poured from a can into a 10 oz pub glass, medium amber color, slightly hazy, a 2 finger lingering caramel head
Reviewed by ResearchRado from Oklahoma
3.81/5 rDev -8.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.81/5 rDev -8.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Appearance:
Poured from a bottle into a pint glass. Amber honey. No head. Some lacing. Clear but rich in color.
Aroma:
Apricot.
Taste:
Sort of faint berry, piney hops, a little bit of malt, a little dry, bitter aftertaste.
Mouthfeel:
Clean. Well carbonated.
Overall:
Really nicely balanced West Coast IPA. Slightly darker and slightly maltier than some in the style (as a compliment). Refined and Classic.
Hops are strong - made my nose run and sneeze.
Nov 23, 2023Poured from a bottle into a pint glass. Amber honey. No head. Some lacing. Clear but rich in color.
Aroma:
Apricot.
Taste:
Sort of faint berry, piney hops, a little bit of malt, a little dry, bitter aftertaste.
Mouthfeel:
Clean. Well carbonated.
Overall:
Really nicely balanced West Coast IPA. Slightly darker and slightly maltier than some in the style (as a compliment). Refined and Classic.
Hops are strong - made my nose run and sneeze.
Reviewed by LeinenkugelDrinker from Nevada
3.99/5 rDev -3.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
3.99/5 rDev -3.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Good strong taste, robust smell, a perfect beer to sip slowly and enjoy. One of my go to IPA’s. Really great name too. Another classic by Sierra Nevada.
Nov 08, 2023Reviewed by Sheppard from Massachusetts
4.28/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.28/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours a bright orangey golden color. Lots of grapefruit on the nose. It's perfumey with grapefruit, grapefruit pith, earthy pine, black pepper. It's a really solid WCIPA.
Nov 05, 2023
Torpedo Extra IPA from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
92 out of
100 with
11715 ratings
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