Imperial IPA
Elevator Brewery & Draught Haus

 

This is part of their MBA selection of current. It looked excellent with a nice light tall off white head with the beer itself being that of a light clouded honey color. The smell was a bit light in the citrus category more of a light caramelized orange with malty undertones and sweetness. Upfront taste is more sweetness from the malts which seems to hide that distinct grape Hirt taste that I seem to note in the imperial line. Finishes with a hoppy, sweet, bitter bite which in my book is right on the spot. I rate it as a good imperial.

Wow this beer really changed my opinion of this brewery. It turns out that this is a really great beer keeping to the "midwest style" IPA. Loads of tropical fruit goodness.

A- Pale, clear gold with a white head and nice lacing.

S- Some what muted but Im picking up pineapple layered over oranges, lemons, limes and some lightly toasted malts.

T- This is where this beer shines, and its the most important part of a beer. Lots and lots of pineapple, sweet tangerines, lemon-lime and a slight citrus rind bitterness. Over all this is a sweet juicy beer.

M- Perfect carbonation, clean with a sweet juicy feel and a limited bitterness.

Had the chance to sample this seasonal specialty on tap at the brewpub. Cloudy, deep amber with orangey hilights, one finger of of white foam. Head shrank away, no lacing. Full hop aroma with lots of grapefruit citrus small. Taste was full of more hops, citrus, lemony, a bit piney as well. There is some malt sweetness, but the hoppiness was overpowering, but that is the way it is supposed to be. Clean crisp hoppy bitter finish. A nice effort, and what I would expect from and Imperial IPA.

This is the February selection in Elevator’s "MBA" program. Hazy dark amber color with a medium foamy beige head with pretty good retention. Minimal lacing. Nice aroma of citrusy hops with a light malt undertone. Medium-bodied with a strong hops character, sometimes piney sometimes citrusy. The hops bitterness is balanced a bit by sweet malt. The finish is lingeringly bitter with more citrusy hops. This beer is tasty if somewhat 2-dimensional. It’s nice to see Elevator making more of a foray into big beers, and this is a good entry.