Barrel Aged IPA
Epic Brewing Company

Barrel Aged IPABarrel Aged IPA
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From:
Epic Brewing Company
 
New Zealand
Style:
American IPA
ABV:
7.25%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.85 | pDev: 9.35%
Reviews:
23
Ratings:
28
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jul 20, 2014
Added:
Jul 04, 2010
Wants:
  5
Gots:
  1
In the beginning, there was Armageddon. Then an impish brewer put the beer in new oak barrels to age it for 8 weeks. This was to reproduce the original IPA of the 18th century. It may be too huge for this fragile planet so enjoy this beer like it was the last one on Earth.

This is Armageddon that has been aged in new American Oak barrels for 3 months, then the beer is blended back with fresh Armageddon in a ratio of one part fresh Armageddon IPA to two parts Barrel Aged.
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Ratings by bros:

  None found.

 
Rated: 2.75 by ygtbsm94 from Utah

Jul 20, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3 by jmccullough108 from Missouri

May 17, 2013
Photo of nickfl
Reviewed by nickfl from Florida

4.18/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A - Pours with one finger of white foam that settles quickly and leaves light lace on the glass. The body is golden and perfectly clear.

S - A spicy aroma of toasted oak and leather with lots of pine hop character.

T - Very spicy up front with notes of lemon and pepper as well as some pine. The spicy character get more intense and complex n the middle with notes of dill, coconut, and lemongrass. The lemon/lemongrass character really kicks into high gear in the finish with white grape juice notes and a bit of mango.

M - Medium body, moderate carbonation, and a sweet finish.

D - Very unique and extremely fruity. The barrel character reminds me of beers that I've had aged on white oak with a more fruity and spicy than toasted character. This blends well with the pungent fruity hop character that makes me think of Nelson and sorachi ace hops. Complex, unique, and by nicely done.
Nov 30, 2012
Photo of kylehay2004
Reviewed by kylehay2004 from Illinois

4.07/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A: fairly small head, decent lacing, on a clear golden with slight amber hue body.

S: herbal and spicey aroma, very unique and interesting with wood, grapefruit citrus notes as well.

T: very complex with lots of flavors, almost a little disorganized though without flavors transitioning. oak, popcorn butter, grapefruit citrus, earthy and herbal hops, lemon grass.

M: medium body and moderate carbonation.

Overall: certainly a memorable beer. flavors become more fluid as you drink it otherwise its pretty disorganized initially. really a great one to try to have something unique and different.
Nov 30, 2012
Photo of ngeunit1
Reviewed by ngeunit1 from Massachusetts

4.2/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A - Pours a clear golden-orange color with a finger of frothy white head. The head fades down at a normal pace leaving behind some nice lacing.

S - Aroma is a mix of grapefruit, pineapple, citrus, and floral hops with some oak, vanilla, and sweet caramel malts.

T - Starts off with a mix of grapefruit, passion fruit, and other tropical hops with some bitterness, sweet caramel malts, and some vanilla. Through the middle, the floral and lightly spicy hops come through with some more bitterness and some oak and some biscuit malts. The finish is a mix of tropical and floral hops with some bitterness, oak, and sweet bready malts.

M - Medium-full bodied with moderate carbonation. Feels smooth with a dry, bitter, and lightly warming finish.

D - Very drinkable. The barrel flavor comes through nicely and the base IPA is strong enough to balance things out nicely.
Sep 03, 2012
Photo of Brabander
Reviewed by Brabander from Netherlands

3.8/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
I got this bottle from my beerbuddy David, dgilks, when we met in Belgium some week ago. David brought along this ipa and today, a sunny day in Holland, it is time to open this one. Thanks David!

Poured in a Dutch beerglass, a bit like a Struise glass, this beer looks very nice, goldenyellow fluid and a broken white two finger head. Nice carbonation. The head slowly fades away, at the end a few bubbles covering the beer.

Smell is very inviting, wood far away and freshness. Pineapple. Tatse is quit OK but stays a bit behind. Very drinkable though. Ik like this beer. Carbonation stays troughout in the beer which is good.
Sep 01, 2012
Photo of FreshHawk
Reviewed by FreshHawk from Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A - Clear, light bronze color. Medium sized, foamy, bubbly, light, sticky, white head. Decent retention leaving a nice lacing.

S - A touch on the faint side. A good amount of wild berries, tropical and citrus fruit. Slight tartness from the berries (think lingonberries or gooseberries). Pairs nicely with a faint oakiness that provides a hint of vainilla.

T - Similar hop profile to the nose. Slightly tart berries are strongest giving way to a slight orange/rind and floral flavor. Good amount of malt balance (not really bitter at all). Hints of the oak that come out more on the finish. I like how that flavor pairs with the berry hops and they meld together well. Subtle tartness on the finish that lingers.

M - Light body with above average carbonation. Light, crisp, and slightly dry.

D - Not overly bitter and no flavor dominates. Everything melds nicely and the flavors build on each other so that it gets better as I drink it. Goes down easy.

Notes: Interesting IPA. I really like how the slightly tart berry hop flavors mix with the barrel aging. The barrel flavors are subdued but are there. Well balanced and interesting.
Aug 01, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by durlta from Iowa

Jul 23, 2012
Photo of EgadBananas
Reviewed by EgadBananas from Louisiana

3.92/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
So interesting, I had to pick it up.

Pours a dark yellow color, clear. Not the prettiest IPA IMO.

Smells of citrus, flowers and some noticeable oak and bourbon notes.

Citrus and floral hops and some mild bitterness with a touch of oak and bourbon.

Slick and medium bodied, pleasant enough.

Overall, an interesting BA choice of an IPA. I think I like their normal IPA better, but this was good.
Jul 10, 2012
 
Rated: 3.75 by savagepm from Pennsylvania

Jun 14, 2012
Photo of dansmcd
Reviewed by dansmcd from Australia

4.09/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A - Pours a dark orange hue, capped by two fingers of bubbly head and decent lacing.

S - Wonderful fruity hops, grapefruit, peach, pineapple and sweet mango, kissed with vanilla and oak.

T - Hop forward as expected, all the tropical hop flavours we love, but unmatched by much of a malt profile. Some heat.

M - High carbonation and medium bodied. Slightly oily and a refreshing bitter bite at the finish.

O - I prefer the Armageddon to tell the truth, but this is great too, and rather different.
May 18, 2012
Photo of BradAndAdele
Reviewed by BradAndAdele

4.46/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Soft yellow colour -- does not look like an IPA but rather reminds us a little of lemoncello. Thick, foamy head.

Beautiful citrus aromas, with touches of musty hay and pine. Smells almost like lemon slice. A great beer for dessert.

This drink goes down a treat. Soft and smooth with lots of delicious hops. Plenty of apricots, oranges and lemons. A delighful aftertaste that could soothe any ailment.

Very expensive but worth it as a treat. Epic make some fantastic IPAs.
May 14, 2012
Photo of liamt07
Reviewed by liamt07 from Canada (ON)

3.7/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Bottle shared by Steve, 500ml into a tulip. No best before date visible on the bottle.

Clear gold with an orange tinge, white head leaving both light lacing and retention. Nose is fruity, gummy (as in the bears), candied with light floral and tropical notes. Light butter/oak/barrel character weaves its way through these. Taste comes across as acidic initially, with dominant citrus/orange rinds and zestiness - almost resembles Orange Glo at times (hardwood cleaner). Fairly notable oak barrel character presents itself again. Medium body and the zestiness persists into the finish; bitterness is mild. Decent and certainly not overwhelming, lacks the desirability factor however, this took some time to finish.
Feb 21, 2012
Photo of TheHoppiest
Reviewed by TheHoppiest from Ohio

3.95/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Poured from a 500 ml bottle purchased from Lizardville into a pint glass. Pours a slightly hazy golden amber color witha 1.5" white frothy head.

Has a sweet, malty aroma, with notes of honey, orange, and grapes. Muted in comparison to the Armaggendon IPA, but still quite pleasant. The barrel ageing is evident.

Sweet and mildly malty, with an oaky flavor that cuts the hops. Fruity, with grapes, orange blossom, and bitter hops to finish.

Medium bodied and relatively smooth, this has a tartish bitter finish.

A nice IPA, with barrel aging that serves it well, but it is not high enough an ABV to really benefit from such treatment. Nonetheless, worth a try if you can find it.
Feb 19, 2012
Photo of danieelol
Reviewed by danieelol from Australia

4/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Thanks to Chris @ Slowbeer

Pours perhaps a slightly darker shaded yellow. Decent head and lacing.

Smell is basically lemony hops with classic Chardonnay/pressed flowers smells from the oak. Malt from the base beer also makes its presence known.

Taste is similar to the aroma, with further mixed tropical hop aromas and vanilla contribution from the oak.

Mouthfeel is decently bitter and astringent. Medium in body and medium, tickly carb.

Overall an interesting and tasty experiment but essentially not as good as the base beer.
Feb 01, 2012
Photo of Sammy
Reviewed by Sammy from Canada (ON)

3.95/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Wonderful drinking IPA. Nothing special looking, a little head on yellow coloured body. More wood than hop aroma. SMooth mouthfeel, great drinkability. The hoppiness was there, it was terrifically well rounded. Bottle from Premiere Gourmet, thanks for picking up Jon.
Jan 22, 2012
Photo of lazjuarez
Reviewed by lazjuarez from Florida

3.62/5  rDev -6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured vigorously from a bottle (500ml) into a tumbler

A: Pours a light golden color with some light orange hues. About a finger worth of eggshell colored head, sticks around for a bit, but recedes leaving some small lacing. Clear with light carbonation coming off the bottom of the glass

S: Nose is of grapefruit peels, astringent but not overwhelming whatsoever. The barrel aging lends some great soft notes as well, enhancing the citrus notes and tying the pine notes almost seamlessly. Great oak, almost cedar-like qualities are more pronounced as it warms.

T: The taste is less bitter than I would prefer, but barrel aging would mellow that aspect of the beer. Less citrus, more pine in the taste, and just the right amount of oak.

M: Medium bodied; light breadiness, small carbonation, and a bit of warming alcohol. At 7.25% ABV, alcohol isn't noticeable at all. Overall a very nice take on the style, but a bit more carbonation or higher ABV would be ideal.
Jan 20, 2012
Photo of theboozecruise
Reviewed by theboozecruise from Louisiana

3.75/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a .5L bottle into an imperial pint... it's remarkably clear, with a frothy white head that takes up 1/4 or so of the glass on the pour. Really nice retention and some of the best lacing I've seen in a while. Good looking beer.

The aroma is expectedly hoppy with a hint of the barrel aging. The wood flavors come through more each time I stick my nose in but they still are the secondary flavor in this aroma.

The barrel aging comes through a lot stronger on the taste, but I'm not sure it's entirely a good thing. It's not bad but I sense a little confusion and competing rather than augmenting the natural style. It gives the beer too much going on rather than the right amount of flavor complexity in my opinion.

It's got good carbonation with a strong grapefruit hop finish.

I'm enjoying this one for sure but it's not 'world class' just a good beer.
Jan 13, 2012
Photo of ADZA
Reviewed by ADZA from Australia

3.95/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
A-Pours a semi hazy mandarin yellow hue which leaves a one finger head that stays and leaves a rim of lacing.

S-Ginger beer,tropical fruit,goosberries,lychee and a touch of vanilla oak.

T-Starts off with paw paw,tropical fruits,a touch of candy and followed closely by a pungent NZ goosberry hoppy bitter finish.

M-Medium bodied but more towards the light side with a light touch of stickiness.

O-Its a nice drop and the barrel ageing gives it nice touch but i honestly was expecting a little more from this but in saying that theres nothing wrong with it as its easy enough to drink with its ABV well hidden.
Dec 12, 2011
Photo of spicelab
Reviewed by spicelab from Australia

3.4/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
500mL bottle thanks to Chris@Slowbeer.

Muddy orange, quite cloudy, with a two-finger slightly off-white frothy head. Slow to retreat with a few lace spots and a raised ring.

Initial hit of lemon zest, before biting lavender and oaky vanilla barrel notes hit hard. Serious stuff. At times some candied citrus and pineapple comes through, but the oak pretty much has the base beer by the balls.

Preserved lemon, marmalade, lavender, oak and a moderate bitterness that is hard to pin to any hop because the barrel characteristics hang so heavily. At first I'm not a fan but the intense floral nature kind of grows on me.

Medium slightly syrupy mouthfeel with above average carbonation and realatively mild bitterness, again probably softened by the oak.

This doesn't enhance or skew Armageddon, it turns it into an axe-wielding maniac. Completely different beer that is quite an experience, but I think it needs a much shorter barrel aging so that it doesn't extinguish the base beer to such an extent.
Dec 09, 2011
Barrel Aged IPA from Epic Brewing Company
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 28 ratings