Tower 10 IPA | Karl Strauss Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Karl Strauss Brewing Company
California, United States
karlstrauss.com
Style: American IPA
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.50%
Availability: Rotating
Notes / Commercial Description:
Tower 10 IPA boasts hops from beginning to end, and everywhere in between. We fill the brew kettle to the brim with assertive Chinook hops, giving the beer its intense grapefruit and pine flavors that linger through its dry finish. After fermentation, we dry hop with a blend of Cascade and Centennial hops for a floral citrus aroma. A touch of lightly kilned caramel malts make Tower 10 a well balanced, full flavored IPA.
Mission Beach, the late 1980s. Amid a sea of neon bikinis, Tower 10 marked the spot where two college grads and a 75 year-old master brewer drew up plans for the first local craft brewery in San Diego since Prohibition. Named in honor of our first good idea, Tower 10 IPA is brewed to inspire the next one.
Added by Overlord on 03-15-2009
Ratings: 432 | Reviews: 122
Reviews by crvcac:
More User Reviews:
4.03/5 rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance - This is a nice, clear, brownish-orange in color with a full and retentive head that left some excellent lacing on the inside of my mug from pour to last sip.
Smell - The hops are subtle but show a good mix of pine and citrus with a little herb in there to boot. The malt is equally balanced and suggests a mild caramel sweetness.
Taste - This is much bigger at the taste. The pine is resiny yet doesn't overpower the wonderful citrus which has the character of an orange rind. The malt is lightly toasted with a suggestion of sugary caramel. The balance here is the story though. The three flavors, resiny pine, bitter orange, and slightly sweetened malts, are incredibly harmonious.
Mouthfeel - This is a tad shy of medium-bodied with good carbonation and an excellent bitter finish.
Drinkability - This is a true session ale that can be appreciated by both the novice drinker and experienced beer aficionado. For the price you can't beat it.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance - This is a nice, clear, brownish-orange in color with a full and retentive head that left some excellent lacing on the inside of my mug from pour to last sip.
Smell - The hops are subtle but show a good mix of pine and citrus with a little herb in there to boot. The malt is equally balanced and suggests a mild caramel sweetness.
Taste - This is much bigger at the taste. The pine is resiny yet doesn't overpower the wonderful citrus which has the character of an orange rind. The malt is lightly toasted with a suggestion of sugary caramel. The balance here is the story though. The three flavors, resiny pine, bitter orange, and slightly sweetened malts, are incredibly harmonious.
Mouthfeel - This is a tad shy of medium-bodied with good carbonation and an excellent bitter finish.
Drinkability - This is a true session ale that can be appreciated by both the novice drinker and experienced beer aficionado. For the price you can't beat it.
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3.23/5 rDev -12%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
Tap @ downtown location. Poured clear copper with a short white head. Minimal lacing. Light, grassy aroma with piney hops, white pepper, and citrus. Watery mouthfeel. Refreshing taste, mostly grapefruit and a light bitter resiny taste. Some mineral and bread flavors, dry finish. Came across as an IPA-lite.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
Tap @ downtown location. Poured clear copper with a short white head. Minimal lacing. Light, grassy aroma with piney hops, white pepper, and citrus. Watery mouthfeel. Refreshing taste, mostly grapefruit and a light bitter resiny taste. Some mineral and bread flavors, dry finish. Came across as an IPA-lite.
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4/5 rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On Tap
Karl Strauss Brewing Company
Carlsbad, CA
Orange and amber with a moderately sized, somewhat persistent, off-white head that leaves lines of lacing down the glass.
A balanced aroma consisting of citrus, pine, floral notes, and a bready and biscuity backbone.
Moderate bitterness paired with a citrusy and piney hop bill. There's also a good amount of bready and toasted malt character as well. Well balanced and highly drinkable.
Medium bodied and amply carbonated.
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this beer. I'd had the dry hopped version a few nights prior and was really disappointed with it. This, on the other hand, was a great example of an obviously popular style. Well done.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On Tap
Karl Strauss Brewing Company
Carlsbad, CA
Orange and amber with a moderately sized, somewhat persistent, off-white head that leaves lines of lacing down the glass.
A balanced aroma consisting of citrus, pine, floral notes, and a bready and biscuity backbone.
Moderate bitterness paired with a citrusy and piney hop bill. There's also a good amount of bready and toasted malt character as well. Well balanced and highly drinkable.
Medium bodied and amply carbonated.
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this beer. I'd had the dry hopped version a few nights prior and was really disappointed with it. This, on the other hand, was a great example of an obviously popular style. Well done.
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3.16/5 rDev -13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Pours a dark color for an IPA, much less Karl Straus which is usually the mildest of San Diego beers/ipas.
Smell, nothing coming across. Taste wise, a little more maltier than I would have expected. No dominant hop presence. In fact, in terms of which end it sits on, I would say malty, v. balanced or hoppy. Earthy, not very sweet. Would do well in the midwest with distribution.
Doesn't really grow on you, but you don't mind drinking it. The yeast strain(s) Strauss uses reminds me a lot of Gordon Biersch, i.e. all the beers have a similar taste to them, despite the styles being very different.
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look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Pours a dark color for an IPA, much less Karl Straus which is usually the mildest of San Diego beers/ipas.
Smell, nothing coming across. Taste wise, a little more maltier than I would have expected. No dominant hop presence. In fact, in terms of which end it sits on, I would say malty, v. balanced or hoppy. Earthy, not very sweet. Would do well in the midwest with distribution.
Doesn't really grow on you, but you don't mind drinking it. The yeast strain(s) Strauss uses reminds me a lot of Gordon Biersch, i.e. all the beers have a similar taste to them, despite the styles being very different.
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3.26/5 rDev -11.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
This beer pours a slightly cloudy yellowish orange color, with a thin white head. The head fades slowly, leaving almost no lace.
This beer has a biscuit like aroma. I can detect some citrus aroma as well, but the bready biscuit aroma dominates. This beer dosent smell like any IPA I have ever had before.
As with the aroma, this beer is unlike any IPA I have had. Biscuit flavor dominates. Some citrusy hop flavor, but mild, and subdued.
This beer is crisp and refreshing. It leaves a biscuit like aftertaste. Carbonation is good for the style.
This beer might make a decent session beer. It isnt too high in alcohol, and the flavor isnt overly aggressive.
Overall: This beer is hard to rate. It isnt a bad beer, but it is no IPA.
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look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
This beer pours a slightly cloudy yellowish orange color, with a thin white head. The head fades slowly, leaving almost no lace.
This beer has a biscuit like aroma. I can detect some citrus aroma as well, but the bready biscuit aroma dominates. This beer dosent smell like any IPA I have ever had before.
As with the aroma, this beer is unlike any IPA I have had. Biscuit flavor dominates. Some citrusy hop flavor, but mild, and subdued.
This beer is crisp and refreshing. It leaves a biscuit like aftertaste. Carbonation is good for the style.
This beer might make a decent session beer. It isnt too high in alcohol, and the flavor isnt overly aggressive.
Overall: This beer is hard to rate. It isnt a bad beer, but it is no IPA.
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3.97/5 rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Big whitish head, slowly dies above a copper golden colored IPA leaving a pretty nice lacing throughout the drinking of 12 ounces of this.
Welcoming fresh pine, grass, and citrus hops blended aroma, a very nice scent to this IPA.
Citrus hops, light oranges and slight lemon, and some mountain pine to the taste, that doesn't quite live up to the west coast hops taste I was expecting, but is a decent beer in and of itself.
A medium bodied beer that finishes with little bitter hops aftertaste.
A very nice aroma kinda lost on a medium taste, more of an IPA that I experienced in North Carolina and not what I love about drinking IPA's in Portland.
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look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Big whitish head, slowly dies above a copper golden colored IPA leaving a pretty nice lacing throughout the drinking of 12 ounces of this.
Welcoming fresh pine, grass, and citrus hops blended aroma, a very nice scent to this IPA.
Citrus hops, light oranges and slight lemon, and some mountain pine to the taste, that doesn't quite live up to the west coast hops taste I was expecting, but is a decent beer in and of itself.
A medium bodied beer that finishes with little bitter hops aftertaste.
A very nice aroma kinda lost on a medium taste, more of an IPA that I experienced in North Carolina and not what I love about drinking IPA's in Portland.
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3.69/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.95/5 rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours a chill-hazed medium orange with an off white head that melted quickly to just a thin covering with a bit of lace on the side. (possible use of a rinse aid when washing this glass).
Nose is a nice, bright citrus on the orange and tangerine side with some malt sweetness. Clean and refreshing.
Mouthfeel is creamy with lots of tiny carbonation pretty typical for the style when brewed right. I've been drinking mostly Kolsch and Milds this summer so the carbonation was a bit of a surprise but it is where it should be for an IPA.
The mildly sweet malts are balanced very nicely by the hop additons. Again, a little orange, a little tangerine, and now grapefruit.
A quickly drying aftertaste of bitter grapefruit peel follows the swallow and you begin to feel the heat of the alcohol about 1/3 of the way through a glass.
In all, a wonderful IPA to get your feet (and tongue) wet with and just perfect for me after a long summer of more traditional summer type beers.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours a chill-hazed medium orange with an off white head that melted quickly to just a thin covering with a bit of lace on the side. (possible use of a rinse aid when washing this glass).
Nose is a nice, bright citrus on the orange and tangerine side with some malt sweetness. Clean and refreshing.
Mouthfeel is creamy with lots of tiny carbonation pretty typical for the style when brewed right. I've been drinking mostly Kolsch and Milds this summer so the carbonation was a bit of a surprise but it is where it should be for an IPA.
The mildly sweet malts are balanced very nicely by the hop additons. Again, a little orange, a little tangerine, and now grapefruit.
A quickly drying aftertaste of bitter grapefruit peel follows the swallow and you begin to feel the heat of the alcohol about 1/3 of the way through a glass.
In all, a wonderful IPA to get your feet (and tongue) wet with and just perfect for me after a long summer of more traditional summer type beers.
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4/5 rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Fresh bottle waiting for my flight at John Wayne Airport. Around 3 weeks old.
Classic dry and crisp west coast ipa. Piney, resinous hops with good amount of grapefruit and orange flavor. A bit of lime in there too. Great balance of malt to hops. Nothing unique. We' ve all had this beer before, but this one does it pretty well for a fresh specimen.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Fresh bottle waiting for my flight at John Wayne Airport. Around 3 weeks old.
Classic dry and crisp west coast ipa. Piney, resinous hops with good amount of grapefruit and orange flavor. A bit of lime in there too. Great balance of malt to hops. Nothing unique. We' ve all had this beer before, but this one does it pretty well for a fresh specimen.
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4/5 rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap at the Karl Strauss truck at California Adventure/Disneyland. One of the best things about CAdventure.
Golden amber bubbly white head. Low to med. retention and lite lacing
Strong pine notes a bit floral, Grapefruit citrus and a hint of caramel.
Caramel malty tones up front transitioning quickly to the hop character supported by bold floral, pine and citrus notes. Fair to good balance.
Medium bodied a strong bittering hop presence. High carb.
Overall it's good IPA. Probably the best choice in the regular line of Karl Strauss beers. And definitely the best at CA Adventure which helps make this the happiest place on earth.
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look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
On tap at the Karl Strauss truck at California Adventure/Disneyland. One of the best things about CAdventure.
Golden amber bubbly white head. Low to med. retention and lite lacing
Strong pine notes a bit floral, Grapefruit citrus and a hint of caramel.
Caramel malty tones up front transitioning quickly to the hop character supported by bold floral, pine and citrus notes. Fair to good balance.
Medium bodied a strong bittering hop presence. High carb.
Overall it's good IPA. Probably the best choice in the regular line of Karl Strauss beers. And definitely the best at CA Adventure which helps make this the happiest place on earth.
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3.73/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Appearance - Pours a clear, bright golden orange with a good finger width head, good retention and a resulting thin, sticky lace.
Smell - Aromas are sweet bready malt and with some citric hoppiness.
Taste - Starts with a thick, bready malt character, then a citrus hop kicks in swiftly. The finish is clean and quick, with a hint of caramel in the aftertaste.
Mouthfeel - Medium bodied, with a smooth mouthfeel. Average carbonation. Goes down easy.
Overall - This is a pretty good IPA. Nothing mind blowing, but nothing to turn one's nose at, all the same. No off-putting characteristics, and it's certainly not an aggressive IPA, but it's got a nice balance; a classic IPA lost in the current hop bomb world.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Appearance - Pours a clear, bright golden orange with a good finger width head, good retention and a resulting thin, sticky lace.
Smell - Aromas are sweet bready malt and with some citric hoppiness.
Taste - Starts with a thick, bready malt character, then a citrus hop kicks in swiftly. The finish is clean and quick, with a hint of caramel in the aftertaste.
Mouthfeel - Medium bodied, with a smooth mouthfeel. Average carbonation. Goes down easy.
Overall - This is a pretty good IPA. Nothing mind blowing, but nothing to turn one's nose at, all the same. No off-putting characteristics, and it's certainly not an aggressive IPA, but it's got a nice balance; a classic IPA lost in the current hop bomb world.
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3.63/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Another gift from friends (thanks!). Poured from a 22oz bomber into my Dogfish Head shaped pint glass.
Slightly orange-tinted amber body, clear but not brilliant topped by a healthy finger of soapy ivory foam. Ropy crenellations of lace circle the glasss. Good retention.
Tangerine juice, orange zest, and pine in the nose - faint peppercorn and guava as well. Gentle but nice.
Potent hoppiness on the palate - chock full of citrus with some herbal flavors and rosewater as well. Strong but not aggressive bitterness leading into a faintly spicy, earthy finish with a touch of pine. Faint perfume notes as the beer warms take away some of the crispness, but it's clean over all.
Medium-bodied, well carbonated, brisk yet creamy. More warming than the ABV would suggest - though this impression may come from the hops themselves.
A decent example of the style, but it can't hold a candle to its superlative San Diego peers.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Another gift from friends (thanks!). Poured from a 22oz bomber into my Dogfish Head shaped pint glass.
Slightly orange-tinted amber body, clear but not brilliant topped by a healthy finger of soapy ivory foam. Ropy crenellations of lace circle the glasss. Good retention.
Tangerine juice, orange zest, and pine in the nose - faint peppercorn and guava as well. Gentle but nice.
Potent hoppiness on the palate - chock full of citrus with some herbal flavors and rosewater as well. Strong but not aggressive bitterness leading into a faintly spicy, earthy finish with a touch of pine. Faint perfume notes as the beer warms take away some of the crispness, but it's clean over all.
Medium-bodied, well carbonated, brisk yet creamy. More warming than the ABV would suggest - though this impression may come from the hops themselves.
A decent example of the style, but it can't hold a candle to its superlative San Diego peers.
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Tower 10 IPA from Karl Strauss Brewing Company
3.67
out of 5
based on 432 ratings.
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Appearance: nice amber hue
Smell: boasts a moderately resinous hop aroma. Hints of pine and other aromas typical of pacific north west hops
Taste: nice hop bite. Subtle hints of citrus with a more dominating pine like taste
Drink ability: drinkable. Not my favorite ipa, however, one that I wouldn't hesitate to order again
Overall: pretty solid. if your're looking for a kick-ass ipa from this company, i would highly recommend big barrel double ipa. if u can get ur mittens on it
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