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Imperial IPA
Epic Brewing Company
- From:
- Epic Brewing Company
- Utah, United States
- Style:
- Imperial IPA
Ranked #1,994 - ABV:
- 9.5%
- Score:
- 86
Ranked #18,687 - Avg:
- 3.83 | pDev: 11.23%
- Reviews:
- 84
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- May 09, 2022
- Added:
- Feb 10, 2011
- Wants:
- 18
- Gots:
- 48
This beer is the epitome of Epic’s IPAs. This hard hitting brew manages to pack a punch while still providing that fantastically complex IPA flavor. Slightly floral aromas hit the nose while resinous flavors dominate the body, finishing with the ideal palate cleansing bitterness.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by argock:
Reviewed by argock from Virginia
3.61/5 rDev -5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.61/5 rDev -5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Poured from 22oz brown bomber into a Duvel tulip. Batch #13 on the side of the front label (bottling date Dec 27 2011). Purchased at Peabody's Wine and Beer Merchants (Boone, NC) for $9.09.
A: Very hazy peach-orange with a thick 1-2 finger off-white head with good retention and copious craggy lace.
S: The aroma could be a lot more stout with the malt and hops too close to call. The caramel and pale maltiness is very sturdy and projects a fair amount of aroma. The complex hopping does not really come through to the extent it should as some citrus, floral, and strong herbal notes come through.
T: The flavor is solid but not spectacular by any means with a good dose of bittering and floral, lemon-orange citrus hops. The maltiness is not shying away with a lot of crackery and light caramel flavor. Not the stiff hoppiness found in the best of the best.
M: Creamy with a slight tackiness. Body is full with light-medium carbonation.
O: This Imperial IPA is nothing special. It is solid but nothing more and overpriced like most of the Epic line. I am going to steer clear of Epic from now on and buy tried and trues when tempted like 2 Hop Stoopids instead. How can Lagunitas price Hop Stoopid at $4.49 and Epic at $9 in the same category with Hop Stoopid better-to-much-better? That is truly a mystery and a sign that Lagunitas is going to last and Epic may be a flash in the pan.
Apr 15, 2012A: Very hazy peach-orange with a thick 1-2 finger off-white head with good retention and copious craggy lace.
S: The aroma could be a lot more stout with the malt and hops too close to call. The caramel and pale maltiness is very sturdy and projects a fair amount of aroma. The complex hopping does not really come through to the extent it should as some citrus, floral, and strong herbal notes come through.
T: The flavor is solid but not spectacular by any means with a good dose of bittering and floral, lemon-orange citrus hops. The maltiness is not shying away with a lot of crackery and light caramel flavor. Not the stiff hoppiness found in the best of the best.
M: Creamy with a slight tackiness. Body is full with light-medium carbonation.
O: This Imperial IPA is nothing special. It is solid but nothing more and overpriced like most of the Epic line. I am going to steer clear of Epic from now on and buy tried and trues when tempted like 2 Hop Stoopids instead. How can Lagunitas price Hop Stoopid at $4.49 and Epic at $9 in the same category with Hop Stoopid better-to-much-better? That is truly a mystery and a sign that Lagunitas is going to last and Epic may be a flash in the pan.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by maddogruss from New Jersey
3.9/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.9/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Had this from a bottle.
A: pours dark, amber boy with a thick, off-white head with nice retention and lacing.
S: strong, grapefruit peel (cascade hops?) smell with hints of sweet alcohol; subtle earthiness
T: somewhat sweet, citrus taste with a nice, earthy/citrus rind aftertaste; pretty well-balanced beer between the hops and grain
M: full bodied and smooth; solid
D: great beer; awesome feel and taste combo; well balanced beer with the alcohol not too overpowering in the taste.
May 09, 2022A: pours dark, amber boy with a thick, off-white head with nice retention and lacing.
S: strong, grapefruit peel (cascade hops?) smell with hints of sweet alcohol; subtle earthiness
T: somewhat sweet, citrus taste with a nice, earthy/citrus rind aftertaste; pretty well-balanced beer between the hops and grain
M: full bodied and smooth; solid
D: great beer; awesome feel and taste combo; well balanced beer with the alcohol not too overpowering in the taste.
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho
3.88/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.88/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Draft at BitterCreek. Medium brass color, small silky head, lacing coats the glass. Gentle hops aroma, grows bolder in taste. Really nice feel. Doesn’t present itself as an IIPA.
Jan 08, 2020Reviewed by iguanodon from Utah
3.26/5 rDev -14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.26/5 rDev -14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
[Original rating 2012-09-07] Pours hazy orange/gold with a white head that leaves good lacing. Aroma is citrus, spicy hops, some other fruit, maybe apple? Taste is bitter hops and... Alcohol! Lots of alcohol. Check the label... 9.5%, I can believe that. There’s that fruit again in the finish. Over all not bad but the alcohol could be toned down a bit.
Oct 03, 2018Reviewed by drdiesel9483 from Ohio
3.71/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.71/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Look - copper color slight white head and skimming
Smell - piney resin scent
Taste - simple to the scent but more floral
Feel - medium body and a medium light carb
Overall - pretty good but pretty old school and nothing special
Dec 17, 2017Smell - piney resin scent
Taste - simple to the scent but more floral
Feel - medium body and a medium light carb
Overall - pretty good but pretty old school and nothing special
Reviewed by Ob512316 from Pennsylvania
3.73/5 rDev -2.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.73/5 rDev -2.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
22oz bottle poured into glass. The latest instalment of the exponential series that I tried.
Look: between gold and amber with a medium consistent head.
Smell: hints of tropical fruit, some alcohol.
Taste: Tropical at first, ( mango, pineapple, papaya) then caramel finish, the tropical fruit never goes away
Overall: this beer is an imperial IPA. I don't know why people question that. Good beer none the less.
Nov 14, 2017Look: between gold and amber with a medium consistent head.
Smell: hints of tropical fruit, some alcohol.
Taste: Tropical at first, ( mango, pineapple, papaya) then caramel finish, the tropical fruit never goes away
Overall: this beer is an imperial IPA. I don't know why people question that. Good beer none the less.
Reviewed by Jugs_McGhee from Colorado
3.4/5 rDev -11.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.4/5 rDev -11.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Impression from a fresh bomber purchased at a NorthEastern Colorado beer store:
ABV is dangerously well-disguised, and it doesn't bend too tropical even though it does hint at pineapple...a note that I'm not too keen on in (I)IPAs. Pale malt sweetness opposes any hop bitterness, keeping it pretty well balanced without having to result to overly sweet caramalt or crystal malt.
Hop pungency and depth of flavour could be improved, but all around it's an enjoyable expression of an imperial IPA even if it doesn't stand out in the oversaturated style.
B- / WORTHY
Oct 07, 2017ABV is dangerously well-disguised, and it doesn't bend too tropical even though it does hint at pineapple...a note that I'm not too keen on in (I)IPAs. Pale malt sweetness opposes any hop bitterness, keeping it pretty well balanced without having to result to overly sweet caramalt or crystal malt.
Hop pungency and depth of flavour could be improved, but all around it's an enjoyable expression of an imperial IPA even if it doesn't stand out in the oversaturated style.
B- / WORTHY
Reviewed by stephens101 from Oklahoma
3.86/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.86/5 rDev +0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Bright, clear orange in color with a firm white froth that sticks. Lotta' fruit (mango, orange, pineapple) in the aroma. Not a lot in the way of hops. Taste is caramel malt forward with a fleeting bitterness and some orange rind to be found in there somewhere. Medium in body with a slight alcohol heat throughout the finish.
I can dig it. And I can move on.
Jul 15, 2017I can dig it. And I can move on.
Rated by beermejapan from Japan
2.86/5 rDev -25.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
2.86/5 rDev -25.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Overly malty and sweet. Very little hops for an imperial IPA.
Jun 25, 2017
Imperial IPA from Epic Brewing Company
Beer rating:
86 out of
100 with
366 ratings
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