Almanac IPA
Almanac Beer Co.
Beer Geek Stats:
| Print Shelf Talker
- Style:
- American IPA
Ranked #3,427 - ABV:
- 7.5%
- Score:
- 87
Ranked #17,741 - Avg:
- 3.86 | pDev: 9.84%
- Reviews:
- 51
- Ratings:
- From:
- Almanac Beer Co.
- California, United States
- Avail:
- Rotating
- Wants
- 9
- Gots
- 78
SCORE
87
Very Good
87
Very Good
Notes:
Introducing our year-round Almanac IPA, a West Coast hop bomb overflowing with hop flavors and aromas. We start with a copper-hued malt base of California-grown two-row barley, with small additions of German Vienna Malt, Crystal Malts and Biscuit Malt.
Then we start layering on the hops—grown all along the west coast in California, Oregon and Washington. We combine Apollo, El Dorado, Simcoe and Mosaic Hops to create our own unique twist on the IPA style with intense aromas of grapefruit and tangerine peel, melon, pineapple and pine trees. The finish has a clean bitterness and light saltine cracker note.
Then we start layering on the hops—grown all along the west coast in California, Oregon and Washington. We combine Apollo, El Dorado, Simcoe and Mosaic Hops to create our own unique twist on the IPA style with intense aromas of grapefruit and tangerine peel, melon, pineapple and pine trees. The finish has a clean bitterness and light saltine cracker note.
Reviews: 51
| Ratings: 293
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Reviews by mfnmbvp:
3.88/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
22 oz. bottle, no apparent bottled on date present.
Poured into a Duvel tulip glass.
A - It pours a crisp juicy golden orange body, with a slight chill haze on it. About two fingers of frothy doughy white head. Lots of big sticky strands of lacing left behind.
S - A herbal, yet fairly malt forward aroma. Bready & doughy, with restrained notes of herbal hops, grass, & caramel.
T - Taste follows the nose: bready & herbal. Honeyed caramel malts and notes of juicy peaches & apricots. Notes of honey & pine sap. Very delicious. All of the malt varietals come through nicely.
M - Feel is smooth, juicy, & drinkable. Only semi-bitter, medium-bodied, with nice carbonation.
Overall, a slightly above average IPA offering from Almanac, would be nice to see this more readily available, and perhaps in a six pack format.
Almanac India Pale Ale -----4/5.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
22 oz. bottle, no apparent bottled on date present.
Poured into a Duvel tulip glass.
A - It pours a crisp juicy golden orange body, with a slight chill haze on it. About two fingers of frothy doughy white head. Lots of big sticky strands of lacing left behind.
S - A herbal, yet fairly malt forward aroma. Bready & doughy, with restrained notes of herbal hops, grass, & caramel.
T - Taste follows the nose: bready & herbal. Honeyed caramel malts and notes of juicy peaches & apricots. Notes of honey & pine sap. Very delicious. All of the malt varietals come through nicely.
M - Feel is smooth, juicy, & drinkable. Only semi-bitter, medium-bodied, with nice carbonation.
Overall, a slightly above average IPA offering from Almanac, would be nice to see this more readily available, and perhaps in a six pack format.
Almanac India Pale Ale -----4/5.
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More User Reviews:
5/5 rDev +29.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
I frequently agree with Beer Advocate reviews, but the fact that this beer is not in the 90s is a travesty. This is a flawless IPA. I rank it among my favorites: Stone Enjoy By, Ballast Point Sculpin; and Boneyard RPM. It's very floral. Great aroma, great taste, and great mouthfeel. Do yourself a favor and try this one with an open mind.
339 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
I frequently agree with Beer Advocate reviews, but the fact that this beer is not in the 90s is a travesty. This is a flawless IPA. I rank it among my favorites: Stone Enjoy By, Ballast Point Sculpin; and Boneyard RPM. It's very floral. Great aroma, great taste, and great mouthfeel. Do yourself a favor and try this one with an open mind.
339 characters
4.25/5 rDev +10.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
On tap at he bier stein the other day. I know these guys are known for their wild ales, but this was really a surprisingly good effort I thought. While nothing earth shattering, the beer was light and easy to drink, with good bitterness in the finish, and just the right amount of sweet malt, light tropical fruit and dry citrus to balance the bitterness. Very nice IPA.
373 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
On tap at he bier stein the other day. I know these guys are known for their wild ales, but this was really a surprisingly good effort I thought. While nothing earth shattering, the beer was light and easy to drink, with good bitterness in the finish, and just the right amount of sweet malt, light tropical fruit and dry citrus to balance the bitterness. Very nice IPA.
373 characters
4.13/5 rDev +7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
32oz growler for $3 yes please and thank you!
A — Pours a nice brightly golden coppery hue. There is a tall off white colored head that forms, which leaves behind absolutely epic lacing.
S — Smells bold and earthy, piney, bitter, dank, dry hoppy goodness.
T — Bitter, drying, lemon tartness, pine needles, pine cone, caramel sweetness, bitter, dank, resinous, excellent.
M — Astringent and clean, great finish.
O — Wonderful overall, this is an extremely bitter and piney IPA, juicy hop notes need not apply here, great and bitter and clean, totally surprised. This thing is seriously underrated, are you kidding me?!
634 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
32oz growler for $3 yes please and thank you!
A — Pours a nice brightly golden coppery hue. There is a tall off white colored head that forms, which leaves behind absolutely epic lacing.
S — Smells bold and earthy, piney, bitter, dank, dry hoppy goodness.
T — Bitter, drying, lemon tartness, pine needles, pine cone, caramel sweetness, bitter, dank, resinous, excellent.
M — Astringent and clean, great finish.
O — Wonderful overall, this is an extremely bitter and piney IPA, juicy hop notes need not apply here, great and bitter and clean, totally surprised. This thing is seriously underrated, are you kidding me?!
634 characters
4/5 rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Very surprised about the rating for this one. This is an outstanding IPA if not world class.Has everything i look for in an IPA. Can't wait to try this one again.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Very surprised about the rating for this one. This is an outstanding IPA if not world class.Has everything i look for in an IPA. Can't wait to try this one again.
162 characters
4.16/5 rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Currently sitting at a rating of 85, which I think is low. I'd call it more a 92, 93? Very good. Has a nice take on the creamy/sweet profile that's so typical of the better west coast DIPAs, but Almanac does it at 7.5%. Better than a lot of IPAs out there.
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look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Currently sitting at a rating of 85, which I think is low. I'd call it more a 92, 93? Very good. Has a nice take on the creamy/sweet profile that's so typical of the better west coast DIPAs, but Almanac does it at 7.5%. Better than a lot of IPAs out there.
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3.74/5 rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
A: medium gold and clear behind the haze on the glass; couple of fingers of off-white head will leave some trails down the glass
S: bright fruits and citrus, flowers and grass; hints of sweetness
T: tropical and citrus fruits, chewy pale grains and caramel malt; some rough edges
M: medium bodied on the denser side; rustic and hearty, mild aftertaste
O: a nice if not exceptional IPA
389 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
A: medium gold and clear behind the haze on the glass; couple of fingers of off-white head will leave some trails down the glass
S: bright fruits and citrus, flowers and grass; hints of sweetness
T: tropical and citrus fruits, chewy pale grains and caramel malt; some rough edges
M: medium bodied on the denser side; rustic and hearty, mild aftertaste
O: a nice if not exceptional IPA
389 characters
4.12/5 rDev +6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Almanac IPA
Poured to a tulip
Sweet caramel, orange, piney nose
Sweet cooked caramel. Bready maltiness. Piney, orange and orange zest with a soft bitter backbone. Small amount woody earthiness, faint tropical flavors, slightly danky at the 3/4 palate mark. A little resinous and sticky hoppiness. Hoppy finish clears quickly, trace graininess in the finish. Thicker bodied, appropriate carbonation. Alcohol well covered. While this brew has it's moments, it doesn't do enough for me to consider it anything other than average, at most, above average. A little sweet and too much caramel for my preference. The beer straddles the fence of IPA v DIPA. Malty body says more DIPA, hoppiness says IPA. Overall, 3.8.
Had this beer again 8/10/15
Bright, citrus, slight danky and earthy, floral followed by hop spiciness-peppery, resinous, slight sticky, big time bitterness w/o being harsh, grapefruit pith notes in the finish. A pinch of tropical fruits. Hops are juicy. Malts are pale, but sweet and ever-so-slightly bready. Mild cereal grains in the finish. Thin bodied, lends itself to drinking/drinkability. I like this brew. I enjoyed very much this time around. Almanac did well this one.
1,196 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Almanac IPA
Poured to a tulip
Sweet caramel, orange, piney nose
Sweet cooked caramel. Bready maltiness. Piney, orange and orange zest with a soft bitter backbone. Small amount woody earthiness, faint tropical flavors, slightly danky at the 3/4 palate mark. A little resinous and sticky hoppiness. Hoppy finish clears quickly, trace graininess in the finish. Thicker bodied, appropriate carbonation. Alcohol well covered. While this brew has it's moments, it doesn't do enough for me to consider it anything other than average, at most, above average. A little sweet and too much caramel for my preference. The beer straddles the fence of IPA v DIPA. Malty body says more DIPA, hoppiness says IPA. Overall, 3.8.
Had this beer again 8/10/15
Bright, citrus, slight danky and earthy, floral followed by hop spiciness-peppery, resinous, slight sticky, big time bitterness w/o being harsh, grapefruit pith notes in the finish. A pinch of tropical fruits. Hops are juicy. Malts are pale, but sweet and ever-so-slightly bready. Mild cereal grains in the finish. Thin bodied, lends itself to drinking/drinkability. I like this brew. I enjoyed very much this time around. Almanac did well this one.
1,196 characters
3.75/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.65/5 rDev -5.4%
Pours amber in color with a nice fluffy white head that has great retention. Smell has lots of earthy and spicey hops forward with some fainter citrus and grapefruit rind aromas. Taste follows the nose with earthy hops forward and a slight amount of citrus rind in the finish and a hefty amount of bitterness. Some grainy sweetness is also in the finish. Mouthfeel is medium bodied bitter and slightly sticky.
409 characters
Pours amber in color with a nice fluffy white head that has great retention. Smell has lots of earthy and spicey hops forward with some fainter citrus and grapefruit rind aromas. Taste follows the nose with earthy hops forward and a slight amount of citrus rind in the finish and a hefty amount of bitterness. Some grainy sweetness is also in the finish. Mouthfeel is medium bodied bitter and slightly sticky.
409 characters
3.57/5 rDev -7.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.71/5 rDev -3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
4.5/5 rDev +16.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.05/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Can, no date:
Pours a little cloudy, little more yellow than orange, but with a tint of tan to dirty it. Head is off-white but lasts pretty well in my pour.
Nose seems to me to Lea on the El Dirado for the base - a sweet orange note there. Melon, little bubble gum, little sweet overall. Light tropical notes fairly well hidden round out the nose.
Taste similarly starts with a sweeter tropical note with a bubble gum edge to it. There's a raw bitter feel and taste underneath this, though, and it grows to make this a true IPA by mid to late mid taste. There's also a little citrus note in the transition.
A nicely crafted IPA in my opinion. This beer seems fairly fresh, and I enjoyed it fairly well. I could see it seeming a tad sweet to some, but I think there's a nice bittering note that eventually wins the day.
828 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Can, no date:
Pours a little cloudy, little more yellow than orange, but with a tint of tan to dirty it. Head is off-white but lasts pretty well in my pour.
Nose seems to me to Lea on the El Dirado for the base - a sweet orange note there. Melon, little bubble gum, little sweet overall. Light tropical notes fairly well hidden round out the nose.
Taste similarly starts with a sweeter tropical note with a bubble gum edge to it. There's a raw bitter feel and taste underneath this, though, and it grows to make this a true IPA by mid to late mid taste. There's also a little citrus note in the transition.
A nicely crafted IPA in my opinion. This beer seems fairly fresh, and I enjoyed it fairly well. I could see it seeming a tad sweet to some, but I think there's a nice bittering note that eventually wins the day.
828 characters
4.23/5 rDev +9.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.22/5 rDev +9.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Almanac IPA from Almanac Beer Co.
Beer rating:
87 out of
100 with
293 ratings
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