Up The Creek Extreme Ale
Thomas Creek Brewery

Up The Creek Extreme AleUp The Creek Extreme Ale
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From:
Thomas Creek Brewery
 
South Carolina, United States
Style:
Imperial IPA
Ranked #2,068
ABV:
12.5%
Score:
84
Ranked #23,230
Avg:
3.7 | pDev: 16.49%
Reviews:
193
Ratings:
518
Status:
Active
Rated:
Nov 08, 2022
Added:
Jun 03, 2007
Wants:
  21
Gots:
  64
Up The Creek is a hoppy behemoth of a beer with its 12.5% ABV well hidden under heavy layers of malt. The hops come through powerfully in the mouth, with rich roasted malt, sweet caramel, and a burst of vinous fruit. The finish is malty sweet and fruity, while the hops dissipate. Use caution or you’ll be Up The Creek!

Fun Fact: First brewed after legislation in SC was passed to allow brews up to 12.5% ABV (Currently at 17.5% ABV)

111 IBU
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Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of brobain1
Reviewed by brobain1 from Alabama

4.28/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Bought at a Fresh Market as a pick 6 for $10.99. What a deal. Copper brown look with malty nose and nice smooth lacing. No hoppy character until you take first big swallow. Very up front with hops but tend to give way to a more malty mouth feel. Definitely detect the high abv on this one. Not sure if having two is a good idea. Overall, a beer worth a look.
Nov 08, 2022
Photo of hman43
Reviewed by hman43 from North Carolina

3.29/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 2.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Look: It pours brown and slightly cloudy with a tan head. Head retention is average.

Smell: It has a malty sweet initial aroma. There are aromas of stone fruit, mostly peaches, in support of the malty sweetness.

Taste: It has a lot of malty sweetness with caramel. There is a punch of stone fruit hopes. There are some pine elements in the background.

Feel: It has a medium full body with some alcohol warming.

Overall, the malt is strong for an extreme IPA which is quite surprising.
Feb 28, 2021
 
Rated: 3.47 by npendres from Wisconsin

Oct 23, 2020
Photo of cjeep
Reviewed by cjeep from Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
serious beer, for sure. not for the faint of heart. barleywine character, so if that's not what you want, back off. no date visible, which is disappointing. beer is so big it may not matter.
L: from the bottle. kayak themed label. points for originality.
S: sweet. malty. very overripe stone fruit.
T: little bit of everything. delivers on the nose. and then some. molasses. burnt sugar. stone fruit. hoppy bittnerness in the aftertaste. Wow!
F: smooth, creamy. nice.
O: it says "extreme", and it means "extreme". It *is* extreme. If you ain't lookin' for "extreme", drink something else.
Oct 03, 2020
Photo of TheRougeBastard
Reviewed by TheRougeBastard from North Carolina

3.99/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Calling this an “Extreme Ale” is spot on, labeling as an IPA though, not so much! IMHO, Up The Creek skirts the barley-wine category! Hoppy for sure, but the sweetness is what you get. The 12.5% abc is well-hidden so very drinkable, be warned!
May 09, 2020
Photo of GuyFawkes
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois

3.75/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
From old, undated notes; poured from the bottle.

Purple/ruby red see-through hue.

Huge khaki head; thick lace.

Caramel & grapefruit blast in the nose.

Thick mouthfeel.

Taste follow nose; this is basically a US barleywine due to the caramel malt boldness. Not cloying, so this is quaffable, but far from amazing.
Nov 17, 2019
 
Rated: 4.24 by dtevans5 from Tennessee

Mar 23, 2019
Photo of ChizzieLizzie
Rated by ChizzieLizzie from Illinois

3.87/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Rich brown color. Treacle and caramel flavor. Packs a punch with a slightly bitter aftertaste. Definitely worth a try.
Jan 18, 2019
Photo of Beginner2
Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois

3.6/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75
Unusual that this is both too sweet and too hoppy. So I agree with the comments that this is more of a catch-all category like an American Strong (or even a hoppy barleywine) than an IIPA. (But let's go with what we got.)
It also doesn't help this ale that the 12.4% alcohol is not well concealed.
But it is an interesting Looking amber and the Smell is elevated sweet and hops. But they are not controlled in the Taste.

Since this may be my only from Thomas Creek for a while (no distribution to Illinois), I went on their website and see the common pattern of a family business with a passion for beer and community. And it's all good. But how about some differentiation ?
Jan 18, 2019
Photo of kcrumle18
Rated by kcrumle18 from South Carolina

4.04/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I feel that this is an underrated beer, probably the best one from Thomas Creek.
Nov 14, 2018
Photo of thegarfunkel
Reviewed by thegarfunkel from Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
This beer is not an IPA, more like an Old Ale or barleywine, and a delicious one at that. On par with Sierra Nevada Bigfoot. On clearance for $7.95 a 6 pk and 12.5% to boot. Best beer deal ever.
Oct 20, 2018
Photo of ASoftMachineMan
Reviewed by ASoftMachineMan from Florida

3.97/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Look: Pours dark garnet to form a body of the same. One-finger golden head which dissipates to extensive lacing.

Smell: Pine and alcohol esters up front, mild toffee/caramel notes at the bottom.

Taste: Sweet malt, piney hops and alcohol esters all on the front of the tongue. Aftertaste is mildly bitter pine tar and bitter orange peel on the back of the tongue.

Feel: Creamy and smooth with medium carbonation, extensive syrup on the tongue which lingers between sips.

Overall: A decent Imperial IPA for those who enjoy the style. Could benefit from having a deeper palate, or at least a better harmony between the flavors.
Jul 31, 2018
Photo of Ibeam60
Rated by Ibeam60 from Georgia

4.06/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Hoppy barleywine... great heavy beer with a lot going on
Jun 24, 2018
 
Rated: 3.19 by Vandelay1863 from Florida

Jun 09, 2018
 
Rated: 3.81 by Cob18 from Michigan

Mar 27, 2018
 
Rated: 3.77 by Buffettman2018 from North Carolina

Feb 13, 2018
Photo of goodbeergoodfood
Reviewed by goodbeergoodfood from North Carolina

3.68/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Look, pours dark oxidized copper thick frothy tan head.
Smell is orange zest, hoppy, dark fruits, brown sugar.
Taste is Big malt with a strong bitter finish the lives up to its IBU rating. Pretty sweet with some dark fruit taste and a little bit of Apple.
Feel is huge thick and sticky.
Overall not quite sure what to make of this definitely does not seem to be a typical DIPA. Certainly seems to be more of a barleywine. Is much darker than I expected. Offers a nice combination of bitter and sweetness. It's definitely a sipper. Definitely unique in character. With that said yes I would definitely drink this again. But not in the context of a DIPA.
Jan 28, 2018
 
Rated: 4.04 by travelguy from Ohio

Jan 24, 2018
Photo of Paradox1000
Reviewed by Paradox1000 from Florida

3.93/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
The label said Up The Creek "Extreme Ale" with Extreme in the largest letters. I cannot find Extreme on the website as a different batch, so am guessing all 'Up The Creeks' are the same. The 12.5% ABV is the identical. It is classified as a Double IPA. The label describes it as a "One-of-a-Kind Hoppy Behemoth". The alcohol is hidden with this sweet ale. It is tasty and very good! For those who do not like the bitterness that a Double can bring, you will enjoy this very much! For Doubles, my personal preference if lighter and very hop forward without so much malt. This is not a pale ale or DIPA!
Jan 13, 2018
Photo of mothmanscott
Reviewed by mothmanscott from Georgia

3.88/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a crystal clear mahogany brown with a little effervesce streaming up from the bottom of the glass. The pour produces almost 3 fingers of tan, frothy, moderately lasting head that recedes to a nice surface cap & thin collar leaving sticky Jack Frost webs of lace. Aroma is malt forward caramel, burnt brown sugar & raisin with notes of wood, earthy herbal, black tea & grapefruit coming behind followed by a tropical hint & a thin hint of butterscotch. Only a hint of booze in the nose. Taste is juicy & sweet with malt. Burnt brown sugar, caramel, raisin, wood & dry hints of humidor cedar, tobacco & leather with notes of strong black tea, earthy herbal & some citrus hops. Finishes caramel/brown sugar sweet, raisin & boozy with low level citrus & a hint of pine bitterness that intensifies & lingers for a while in the aftertaste. I believe there is a tropical hint struggling for a breath but it can't stay above the surface long enough to define. Mouthfeel is heavy bodied with moderate carbonation, wet, juicy & tongue embracing with a dry mid-sip intermission, mouth filling syrupy with a shallow mid-sip prickle that doesn't last beyond the swallow. This is more like a barleywine and less like an Imperial IPA. In fact it is very unIPA like. Judging it, as we must, on the merits of the style it's placed in, it would definitely recieve a higher score as a barleywine.
Dec 21, 2017
Up The Creek Extreme Ale from Thomas Creek Brewery
Beer rating: 84 out of 100 with 518 ratings