Instigator India Pale Ale
Indie Ale House Brewing Company

Instigator India Pale AleInstigator India Pale Ale
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From:
Indie Ale House Brewing Company
 
Ontario, Canada
Style:
American IPA
Ranked #1,562
ABV:
6.5%
Score:
88
Ranked #13,831
Avg:
3.94 | pDev: 8.88%
Reviews:
19
Ratings:
49
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jul 31, 2023
Added:
Dec 18, 2011
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  5
A key beer in the craft beer revolution. IPAs were originally made in the 1800’s in England with extra hops and alcohol to survive the long sea voyage from England to India for the troops there and became so popular for the refreshing bitter taste that the rest of the world soon caught on. When home brewers started experimenting in the 1970’s and 80’s this style led the way and today it is the most popular style of craft beer. Ours is an ‘homage to those first craft brewers that went looking for trouble.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by DaveBar:
Photo of DaveBar
Reviewed by DaveBar from Canada (ON)

3.75/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Had as part of a paddle at the brew house.

A- Pours a nice white head that lasts for 3mins or so before film out. Medium gold colour.

S- Good hops

T- Lots of hops but mild on the malt. Not sweet at all which I though there would be a bit of as I like this style.

M- Dry and crisp

O- Nice brew overall. Good balance but the flavor just is not there. Doesn't have to be a hit the mouth on the first sip but this brew is mild, mild, mild. Not for me so I'll try something else next time

Food Pairing

This ok brew went ok with.......... Cheese and crackers. A touch of honey or jelled fruit to break the palate.

Enjoy
Sep 07, 2015
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.85 by Jonathan-Morgan from Florida

Jul 31, 2023
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Reviewed by TooManyGlasses from Canada (AB)

4.1/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Single can from Fortinos in Hamilton - canned Feb 1, 2023. Had the big brother Double Instigator first.
Pours a cloudy bright golden apricot colour - as with the DIPA version a moderate amount of proteinaceous floating debris (though slightly less so), finger plus of creamy white head.
Ripe citrus, pine, a touch dank with a sweaty note on the nose; softer tropical and caramel malt aromas.
Taste starts sweet with cereal grain and a bit of caramel followed by over ripe orange, pine resin, and a touch of apricot and tropical fruit - moderate but not overpowering bitterness.
Bright tingling carbonation on medium mouthfeel with a crisp bittersweet finish.
May 26, 2023
 
Rated: 3.25 by boszormeny from Canada (ON)

Dec 27, 2022
 
Rated: 4.02 by Monkeyknife from Missouri

Dec 24, 2022
Photo of leaddog
Reviewed by leaddog from Canada (AB)

3.61/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Appearance - Pours a gold with four fingers of frothy white head.

Smell - earthy, citrus, leafy, hint of piney, and floral hops, hint of pine resin, grapefruit and citrus peel, caramel, bready malts, and earthy yeast.

Taste - very mild earthy, citrus, leafy, hint of piney and floral hops upfront. The pine resin is there but very minimal same with the grapefruit and citrus peel. The caramel, bready malts, and earthy yeast round out the brew.

Mouthfeel - Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Finishes slightly sticky with the hops and malts lingering quite mildly.

Overall - An average IPA that leans towards more on the malt side then the hop side. For some, that could be a good thing but for me, I was hoping for more hop presence in this brew. Ah well, still an easy drinker.
May 24, 2022
 
Rated: 3.93 by irishkyle21 from Canada (ON)

Feb 24, 2022
Photo of Tony787
Reviewed by Tony787 from Canada (ON)

4.06/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I bought a can at the LCBO in Ontario 473ml at 6.5%.
Poured a 2finger head into glass hazy orange color with good carbonation with sentiment floating around.
Tropical fruit flavors pineapple
and grapefruit.
medium bitterness level smooth and creamy. And surprisely easy to drink
Overall a good west coast style IPA.
Cheers.
Dec 24, 2021
 
Rated: 4.15 by Simon212 from Canada (ON)

Jul 10, 2021
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Reviewed by thehyperduck from Canada (ON)

4.17/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
473 mL can from the LCBO; dated Jan 19 2021 and served slightly chilled. First time I've seen an Indie Ale House brew here in Lambton county.

Pours a foggy golden-amber colour, generating one finger of sudsy, frothy white head that vanishes within ninety seconds or so. It leaves behind an attractive band of arcing lace, with the other remnants including a thin collar and filmy cap - looks like a proper pale ale to me. Notes of grapefruit and orange citrus on the nose, with hints of pine resin, lightly caramelized sugars and stone fruit.

A quality west coaster, featuring a relatively robust backing of bready malts and light honeyed sweetness underneath plenty of hoppy goodness. Lots of grapefruit pithiness near the midpoint, with lesser notes of stone fruit and orange peel also coming through; pine and resiny bitterness begin to take over at the finish, with a resiny, mildly fruity aftertaste that lingers on the taste buds for a moment or two after each gulp. Medium in body, with moderately low carbonation that gently prickles the palate, giving just the right 'bite' to this mid-strength IPA; feels smooth and a little slick in the mouth, without much sign of the 6.6% at all. Great drinkability.

Final Grade: 4.17, an A-. Instigator IPA seems to be one of this brewery's most popular offerings, and it's not hard to see why - a finer old school American IPA would be difficult to find these days, at least around here. This type of IPA once dominated the shelves, but has largely been supplanted by hazier equivalents - though as time goes on, I'm really coming to appreciate the West Coast style, which tends to be more balanced (relatively speaking) and less acidic/heartburn-inducing. Regardless of your personal preferences, all hopheads can consider this to be a safe, very worthwhile pick-up.
Mar 18, 2021
Photo of Cramshawbar
Reviewed by Cramshawbar from Canada (ON)

3.83/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
The West Coast style scared me off a bit, as I don't enjoy the style's malt-laden sweetness.
This poured lovely with a nice, gentle little head retention, and copper colour.
The nose was not too malty, but of course you can smell and taste it. Yet it wasn't obtrusive.
Still not my style, I prefer Ontario IPA or NEIPA and this isn't close to either, but it's still a decent version of a beer.
Oct 30, 2020
Photo of Pmicdee
Reviewed by Pmicdee from Canada (ON)

3.56/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Pours a bit cloudy with a beautiful fluffy head that sticks onto your nose. Smells like vodka. Taste is bitter and hoppy and alcoholly. A bit sweet and fruity too. Lots of tasting notes. I would consider this more of a NEIPA than a west coast IPA
June 3 2023
May 03, 2020
Photo of taxandbeerguy
Reviewed by taxandbeerguy from Canada (ON)

4.17/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
500 ml bottle served cold into a pint glass. LCBO purchase for $5 CDN. Listed at 6.5% ABV.

Appearance - Hazy light golden colored brew with honey brown hues. Two fingers plus of rocky white head that lasts and long time and leaves a trail of sticky lacing behind.

Smell - Somewhat tropical nose initially with huge dank and earthy undertones. Hints of pine resin mixed in.

Taste - Some sweet citrus up front, pineapple and lychee briefly before dankness takes over and is followed by bitter pine resin. Not extraordinarily bitter, but plenty to go around. Quite malty and well-balanced.

Mouthfeel - Medium bodied, a bit stickier mid sip than most, with a dry finish otherwise. Carbonation is fairly prickly.

Really good and rather dank west coast IPA, a nice change from the juice-box phenomenon that has swept the nation.
Mar 03, 2020
Photo of CAMRAhardliner
Reviewed by CAMRAhardliner from Canada (ON)

3.93/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours bright, hazy orange with a giant frothy head that lasts forever, coating the glass in lace. Citrus, peach and floral hop notes mingles with delicate specialty malts and fresh baked bread in the nose. The taste is of lemony, grapefruit hops with toasty, caramelly malts providing plenty of balance. The mouthfeel is full bodied with high carbonation. The mouthfeel is moderately bitter with lingering citrus notes.

This is a nice IPA. More restrained and malty than the most. Worth a try.
Feb 15, 2020
 
Rated: 3.94 by Bf_89 from Canada (ON)

Jun 02, 2019
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Reviewed by JunctionCat from Canada (ON)

4.44/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5
One of my fav, top 3 local IPAs. Huge citrus and pine notes, loads of foam and light body let the hops shine. Med to low carb is my only complaint, also just a personal preference, not a fault. Reminds me of being in the US, drinking a proper, fresh IPA. Wish it was easier to find outside of a few places.
Sep 14, 2018
 
Rated: 5 by rosska101 from Canada (ON)

May 24, 2018
 
Rated: 4.25 by RyanPollock from Canada (ON)

Feb 19, 2018
 
Rated: 4.59 by StormAles from Canada (ON)

Jun 29, 2017
 
Rated: 4.29 by mattmarka1 from Minnesota

Sep 06, 2016
Instigator India Pale Ale from Indie Ale House Brewing Company
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 49 ratings