Old Grogham Imperial IPA
Natian Brewery

Old Grogham Imperial IPAOld Grogham Imperial IPA
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From:
Natian Brewery
 
Oregon, United States
Style:
Imperial IPA
ABV:
8.5%
Score:
82
Avg:
3.53 | pDev: 13.03%
Reviews:
15
Ratings:
33
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Aug 27, 2020
Added:
Jan 20, 2012
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  0
Palisade hops were added throughout the boil and dry hop schedule, along with high alpha American hops for bittering, Noble hops for aroma and a few other varieties in-between to balance the heavy malt profile. Rum soaked Oregon oak spires added during the final stages of fermentation bring flavor notes of caramel and vanilla to complement the bitterness. Originally a winter seasonal.
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Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

2.47/5  rDev -30%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.5
It seems like we're reviewing beers today that can go get fucked. Good, without the Strange Brew festival this year, my average score has been trending up. Time to temper that with yet another 'it sucks' review.

Pours a slightly darker amber like color, darker than most ipas, 1/2" off white head. Aroma is not pleasant. Rum spirals, caramel and bittering hops clash hard af. Don't forget a hefty waft of alcohol there too.

Taste is plenty bitter, but still clashing. Wood, alcohol, bitterness. Palisade and Noble hops can get bent in an ipa. This ain't your hood bro. Plenty malty, and while that would be a drawback in an ipa a lot of times, this actually tries to assemble something better than what the bittering hops and rum spirals amount to. At times its like a real bitter brown ale with some terrible oak rum spiral additions creating what tastes like a 16% abv beer. Glad this was a single purchase, do not recommend under any circumstance.
Aug 27, 2020
Photo of AndrewGoria
Rated by AndrewGoria from Washington

4.05/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I want to rate this beer higher but this is my problem, it's listed as an imp IPA but it smells, tastes and feels like a barleywine
May 10, 2015
Photo of Donkster46
Rated by Donkster46 from Washington

2.52/5  rDev -28.6%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Agreed with one poster who sail this was very malty and not hoppy.
Jan 06, 2015
Photo of Sound_Explorer
Reviewed by Sound_Explorer from Washington

3.25/5  rDev -7.9%
Having this fresh and having it a few weeks later, same 6 pack, I wasn't impressed either time. Very malty to me and not a lot of hop flavor at all for an DIPA. Maybe i got a bad batch, I don't know but just not a good example of DIPA or IPA at all. Better as a Red or Winter instead based on it's malt character. Still drinkable for one of those styles.
Nov 29, 2014
 
Rated: 3.72 by Rothobinide from California

Nov 02, 2014
Photo of mactrail
Reviewed by mactrail from Washington

3.77/5  rDev +6.8%
Handsome dark amber color and plenty frothy in the New Belgium snifter. Lots of lacing and a nice tingle on the tongue. A whiff of Sailor Jerry's and vanilla. Flavor of wood and toasted malt. Lots of bitterness that loads up the taste buds.

I think this is not a bad combination, and should be an education for brewers making overly flavored beer concoctions. Still, it's a powerful, bitter DIPA but the slight boozy tang adds to the drinkability somehow. From the 16 oz can bought at New Seasons Market in Portland.
4.0 3.75 3.75 3.75 3.75
Sep 14, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by allentownpaguy from Pennsylvania

Feb 06, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by JohnK17 from Pennsylvania

Jan 22, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by lccrunchy from Pennsylvania

Nov 28, 2013
Photo of Spikester
Reviewed by Spikester from Oregon

3.74/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
More than half the glass was light tan head from the initial pour. Second pour was almost as lively and the head has real staying power. Plentiful lacing.
Smell is rum dank hops some light malt.
Taste was initially all spicey rum. Following the initial rum and booziness it settles into more bitter hops with a good amount of caramel malts.
Mouthfeel is a bit thin for the style more IPA than Impy.
Overall an interesting if somewhat peculiar beer. And with two thirds of the glass emptied there is still a good half inch of head! Final pour yields another three fingers of head. It took three pours to drink this pint. Must be a record of some kind. Would I recommend this? Not for everyone. For the wanting something different folks? Yes.
Nov 26, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by BigJYoungblood from Oregon

Oct 30, 2013
Photo of RblWthACoz
Reviewed by RblWthACoz from Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Not a good start with this beer. Popped the can and it gushed. Had been sitting in my fridge for about a week and a half. This gives a massive head in my beer that is going nowhere. Flavor is decent. A pleasant enough hop influence. I do get a very mild infection on this one. Thankfully, I am trying this sooner rather than later. An okay beer.
Oct 14, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by jmdrpi from Pennsylvania

Oct 05, 2013
 
Rated: 3 by bbeane from Pennsylvania

Sep 12, 2013
 
Rated: 3 by Knapp85 from Pennsylvania

Sep 05, 2013
 
Rated: 3.25 by lilsmizzul1225 from Indiana

Jul 15, 2013
Photo of flagmantho
Reviewed by flagmantho from Washington

3.58/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Poured from 16oz tall can into a pint glass.

Appearance: rich orange hue with a moderate haze and a light effervescence. Head is two thick fingers of light tan foam with a bit of an orange cast. There's good head retention and a nice lacing on the glass. Attractive!

Smell: sweet and slightly oxidized malt aroma with some cidery notes. Hops are piquant with a piney, citrusy character. Not bad, but not terribly clean.

Taste: the taste is exactly what I'd expect from the aroma. Somewhat oxidized malt, dusty hops with plenty of citrusy bite, and a slightly acidic jolt of bitterness. Serviceable, but run-of-the-mill.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied with a good level of carbonation and a pretty good creaminess, especially for the style.

Overall: I don't love this beer, but it's not objectively bad. Its flavor profile is simply not for me.
Jul 05, 2013
Photo of woodychandler
Reviewed by woodychandler from Pennsylvania

4.06/5  rDev +15%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75
I am CANfounded by this one! I know that msubulldog25 sent me some CANs as I passed one onto my local, in-person trader, tone77 but I scored this CAN at the Friendly Greek a few days ago. Did a review disappear into the ether? Has The CANQuest (TM) finally addled my mind to the point that I CANnot keep track? I dunno, but it is just a wee tad disCANcerting!

From the CAN: "Pint In A C[AN]"; "Imperial India Pale Ale"; "Old Grogham [-] Named in honor of the 18th Century British Vice Admiral whom wisely joined spiced rum and beer during long voyages to keep his sailors healthy and hydrated."; "na-tian [ney-sheh n] - Noun 1. We Brew Beer. That's About As Definitive As It Needs To Get".

As a retired US Navy sailor, this is the kind of beer that speaks to me. I would LOVE to get underway again and to do so under sail as opposed to engine & screw(s) would be even better! Cheers to VADM Grogham for having the sense to realize that we sailors are on the water and do not necessarily want more of it. I remember LCDR DeGeorge chastising me for not drinking enough H2O while on watch on Mount 501 during Gulf War I and being very angry when I asked for advance ration of beer in lieu of water. I could only try ... Below decks M/Fers ... Allow me to reiterate - Cheers to VADM Grogham!

A good bit of offgassing occurred during the Crack and I was initially CANcerned about a potential gusher, having experienced such events previously, but it did not come to fruition. Instead, the Glug o' the 'Grog (ha, beat that, you scoffers!) did create the disaster that I had hoped to avoid. This was one carbonated beer and I could not control its creation of head! I had beer and foam exploding everywhere like the climax (ahem!) of a gang bang on an adult website. Once things settled, I had two-plus fingers of dense, rocky, tawny foam like the top of a chocolate meringue pie and even better was its staying power. I signed my name with my finger in it as it slowly fell. Take that, Guinness, with your shamrock head! It may have been Father's Day, but I heard my Mom-Za, "Woody, quit playing with your beer!" Aw, Ma, it just cried out for my finger! Color was a hazy deep-amber and the nose was very spicy. The hops and the alcohol were involved in an interplay that caused it to have a raw, eye-watering intensity of pine, black pepper, alcohol heat, yeasty mustiness and light caramel. Literally eye-watering as I teared up and then sneezed. HO! I may need a lie-down following this little number. By the time that I finally got the remainder of the CAN into the glass, I estimate that I lost just under four (4) fluid ounces in the initial debacle. Mouthfeel had an initial heat that filled my sinuses and refused to die down. It was also a little on the watery side and once I finally caught my breath, I felt as though I had been gargling with minty mouthwash. Speaking of mint, I have some growing wild in my backyard. Okay, a short break later, it was still pretty intense in its flavor and the mouthfeel still seemed loose, swimming on my tongue, rather than embracing it. Finish was also quite intense between the multitude of flavors, the heat and the extreme dryness. It was ironic that I was now ready for some water. Phew! What would VADM Grogham think of this beer? He would probably order me into the crow's nest to get myself together.
Jun 16, 2013
Photo of RonfromJersey
Reviewed by RonfromJersey from New Jersey

2.75/5  rDev -22.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75
$3.25 tall boy can from Abe's.

Hazy dull amber body, topped a monstrously billowing off-white head. Leaves good stretchy lace.

Earthy hop aroma with a smidgen of background citrus.

Super sweet malt base gives way to a pile of pine and buckets of bitter.

Medium smooth mouthfeel.

A rather unexceptional PA debut.
Jun 06, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by BraveGator from Georgia

May 21, 2013
Old Grogham Imperial IPA from Natian Brewery
Beer rating: 82 out of 100 with 33 ratings