City Steam Innocence Ale (IPA) | City Steam Brewery Café
Brewed by:
City Steam Brewery Café
Connecticut, United States
citysteambrewerycafe.com
Style: American IPA
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.00%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
Be forewarned: One too many of these babies and you'll be seeing double! This traditional IPA is anything but what the name suggests. Bookended between a lush abundance of sweet malt and bitter hops, this fine American INDIA PALE ALE is made for (and approved by) serious beer drinkers! Our third and most recent bottled offering, it is available in stores throughout Connecticut. Brewed to a gravity of 18 Plato, it boasts an international menagerie of expensive hops, including CTZ, Zythos, East Kent Goldings, and, oddly enough, Czech Sazz. Our Brewmaster sazz you need to come in for a taste.
Added by far333 on 05-13-2003
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Reviews: 29 | Ratings: 134
2.91/5 rDev -20.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
A - super clean crisp pecan brown color, with a half finger offrothy head that a careful pour prevents, and that fades to a ring in a minute or two, active small carbonation bubbles
S - sweetly hoppy, slightly citrine, some hoppy mustiness, rather nondescript, but crisp and
inviting
T - dry hoppy flavors of blended characteristics, typical pine, floral, or citrus don't stand out, slight mustiness persists, more of an earthy kind than a gross wet basement kind.
M&D - slightly bitter, without any malt sweetness to balance, uncomplex and unchallengeing, but enjoyable and easy to drink. On the sessionable side, a great BBQ beer.
★ 637 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
A - super clean crisp pecan brown color, with a half finger offrothy head that a careful pour prevents, and that fades to a ring in a minute or two, active small carbonation bubbles
S - sweetly hoppy, slightly citrine, some hoppy mustiness, rather nondescript, but crisp and
inviting
T - dry hoppy flavors of blended characteristics, typical pine, floral, or citrus don't stand out, slight mustiness persists, more of an earthy kind than a gross wet basement kind.
M&D - slightly bitter, without any malt sweetness to balance, uncomplex and unchallengeing, but enjoyable and easy to drink. On the sessionable side, a great BBQ beer.
★ 637 characters
2.93/5 rDev -20.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
Appearance: high carbonation, 1 inch head, hazy, amber in color
Smell: pine and citrus hops with light caramel
Taste: grapefruity citrus hops dominate with piney and earthy hops along with bready caramel
Mouthfeel: Bitter with light sweetness and a dry bitter aftertaste, light body, high carbonation
Overall: An average IPA that is on the bitter side but true to style. Not bad, but nothing distinguishes this one from countless other IPAs I have had. I will pass on this in the future.
★ 491 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
Appearance: high carbonation, 1 inch head, hazy, amber in color
Smell: pine and citrus hops with light caramel
Taste: grapefruity citrus hops dominate with piney and earthy hops along with bready caramel
Mouthfeel: Bitter with light sweetness and a dry bitter aftertaste, light body, high carbonation
Overall: An average IPA that is on the bitter side but true to style. Not bad, but nothing distinguishes this one from countless other IPAs I have had. I will pass on this in the future.
★ 491 characters
3.21/5 rDev -12.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
“Born on date” of 7-31-2012, consumed on 9/29/12, poured into a Corsendonk tulip (my standard taster). The six-pack carton states an ABV of 7.5%.
A – Light copper with a white head that recedes quickly. Left some frothy lace on the glass as I sipped.
S – Malty sweetness, a hint of alcohol. Some resiny hoppiness in the nose, but not much. Is this one beyond its prime?
T – Sweet malty start with wave after wave of bitterness. A slightly piney, but very resinous bitter finish that really lasts. The sweetness lingers as well. Plenty bitter, but not a ton of hop flavor. But even with all that bitterness the malt really holds its own.
M – A bit sticky with medium to full-bodied mouthfeel. Appropriate carbonation.
O – Both my wife and I thought that the flavor profile was not unlike an aged barleywine, a la Bigfoot, just less boozy-and that’s not a bad thing. Still, I’ll wager that this one was more enjoyable 6 weeks ago. I’ll have no problem finishing the sixer, but I hope I have the opportunity to try a fresh one. At $13 for the six I was expecting more.
★ 1,090 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
“Born on date” of 7-31-2012, consumed on 9/29/12, poured into a Corsendonk tulip (my standard taster). The six-pack carton states an ABV of 7.5%.
A – Light copper with a white head that recedes quickly. Left some frothy lace on the glass as I sipped.
S – Malty sweetness, a hint of alcohol. Some resiny hoppiness in the nose, but not much. Is this one beyond its prime?
T – Sweet malty start with wave after wave of bitterness. A slightly piney, but very resinous bitter finish that really lasts. The sweetness lingers as well. Plenty bitter, but not a ton of hop flavor. But even with all that bitterness the malt really holds its own.
M – A bit sticky with medium to full-bodied mouthfeel. Appropriate carbonation.
O – Both my wife and I thought that the flavor profile was not unlike an aged barleywine, a la Bigfoot, just less boozy-and that’s not a bad thing. Still, I’ll wager that this one was more enjoyable 6 weeks ago. I’ll have no problem finishing the sixer, but I hope I have the opportunity to try a fresh one. At $13 for the six I was expecting more.
★ 1,090 characters
3.25/5 rDev -11.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
My wife who always tries to surprise me, picked this up at a local store on one of her hunting and gathering expeditions. Simply put, it's a typical East Coast IPA, not overly citrusy or piney in taste or aroma. It's easily drinkable at 7.5%, which is noted on the six-pack. Perhaps an earlier version was 6%, but not what I tried. Overall, it's just another average IPA, nothing special. I would like to try it on draft, but probably wouldn't purchase another six-pack, at least not at $11.99. There are plenty of other better beers at the same price or cheaper.
★ 563 characters
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
My wife who always tries to surprise me, picked this up at a local store on one of her hunting and gathering expeditions. Simply put, it's a typical East Coast IPA, not overly citrusy or piney in taste or aroma. It's easily drinkable at 7.5%, which is noted on the six-pack. Perhaps an earlier version was 6%, but not what I tried. Overall, it's just another average IPA, nothing special. I would like to try it on draft, but probably wouldn't purchase another six-pack, at least not at $11.99. There are plenty of other better beers at the same price or cheaper.
★ 563 characters
3.33/5 rDev -9.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
A-pours a copper/soft amber with an off white head with decent retention
S-bit of grapefruit and orange, fairly low aroma
T-lots of citrus bitterness up front followed by a strong malt backing but not overly sweet. Finishes with grapefruit bitterness
M-medium, feels a tad thick for my liking
O-not a bad brew, pretty solid ipa. Look forward to trying some more styles from this brewery
★ 386 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
A-pours a copper/soft amber with an off white head with decent retention
S-bit of grapefruit and orange, fairly low aroma
T-lots of citrus bitterness up front followed by a strong malt backing but not overly sweet. Finishes with grapefruit bitterness
M-medium, feels a tad thick for my liking
O-not a bad brew, pretty solid ipa. Look forward to trying some more styles from this brewery
★ 386 characters
3.41/5 rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Had this beer back in January 2015, reviewing from notes. The description of this beer makes it sound like it will be fantastic, but upon first sip I can tell this will be weak. The taste is watery and the hops aren't as pronounced as you think they would be. Medium bodied and a bit bland.
★ 290 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Had this beer back in January 2015, reviewing from notes. The description of this beer makes it sound like it will be fantastic, but upon first sip I can tell this will be weak. The taste is watery and the hops aren't as pronounced as you think they would be. Medium bodied and a bit bland.
★ 290 characters
3.5/5 rDev -4.9%
Poured in my trusty Founders snifter.
A: golden orange color, inch of head, then I see the floaties! Like chunks! Disgusting looking! WTF! I've never seen a beer this bad!
S: very light typical ipa smell. nothing special.
T: Very nice, sweet, good balance of malts and hops. taste saves a drain pour
M: ok, smooth. not feeling the chunks.
O: I understand the this happens with some of the best beers, but the floaties are worse than even any home brew I've had. maybe a bad batch.
★ 483 characters
Poured in my trusty Founders snifter.
A: golden orange color, inch of head, then I see the floaties! Like chunks! Disgusting looking! WTF! I've never seen a beer this bad!
S: very light typical ipa smell. nothing special.
T: Very nice, sweet, good balance of malts and hops. taste saves a drain pour
M: ok, smooth. not feeling the chunks.
O: I understand the this happens with some of the best beers, but the floaties are worse than even any home brew I've had. maybe a bad batch.
★ 483 characters
3.58/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
On tap at the brewpub on 01/18/2012.
Served in a tumbler.
Dark copper with a bit of sedimentary haze. Creamy white head with decent retention which leaves ringed lacing down the tumbler. The hop aromas and flavors are bright, oily, and pronounced; however, it also has a lemon solvent-like character that is borderline off-putting. Medium bodied; a bit slick, but it works with the hop profile. An interesting IPA with a few aroma and flavor flaws, but nothing too offensive if you're not drinking this as a session IPA.
★ 522 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
On tap at the brewpub on 01/18/2012.
Served in a tumbler.
Dark copper with a bit of sedimentary haze. Creamy white head with decent retention which leaves ringed lacing down the tumbler. The hop aromas and flavors are bright, oily, and pronounced; however, it also has a lemon solvent-like character that is borderline off-putting. Medium bodied; a bit slick, but it works with the hop profile. An interesting IPA with a few aroma and flavor flaws, but nothing too offensive if you're not drinking this as a session IPA.
★ 522 characters
3.61/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Dark amber color, with low carbonation and small head, as expected for a cask beer. I expected some aroma, but there was none really to speak of. Very nice round mouthfeel as the hops bitter hits the tongue. Hops is accented with fruit and flowery undertones, and then the bitter returns and lingers in the back. The hops flavoring is less than I expected for an IPA, but this is still a very enjoyable and drinkable beer.
★ 422 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Dark amber color, with low carbonation and small head, as expected for a cask beer. I expected some aroma, but there was none really to speak of. Very nice round mouthfeel as the hops bitter hits the tongue. Hops is accented with fruit and flowery undertones, and then the bitter returns and lingers in the back. The hops flavoring is less than I expected for an IPA, but this is still a very enjoyable and drinkable beer.
★ 422 characters
3.64/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
12 ounce bottle, w/o any freshness info that I can find
Pours fairly clear lighter almond amber, fine bubble off white head, goes to a fine collar and nice scattered low lacing.
I get mostly some sweet malts in the nose
Full bodied IPA with more then ample malting (can we talk-its on the sweet side)
and some (not enough) hops in the finish
I really dont like sweet IPAs
This one could use more hops
Malty and a bit on the boozy side.
Meh, not my favorite IPA....worth a try if you like strong IPAs that are on the malty side
★ 534 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
12 ounce bottle, w/o any freshness info that I can find
Pours fairly clear lighter almond amber, fine bubble off white head, goes to a fine collar and nice scattered low lacing.
I get mostly some sweet malts in the nose
Full bodied IPA with more then ample malting (can we talk-its on the sweet side)
and some (not enough) hops in the finish
I really dont like sweet IPAs
This one could use more hops
Malty and a bit on the boozy side.
Meh, not my favorite IPA....worth a try if you like strong IPAs that are on the malty side
★ 534 characters
3.72/5 rDev +1.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
A- Poured from the 12oz bottle to a goblet. The body of the beer is orange in color with some haze to it but not that much. A foamy white head forms to about one finger in height with great retention. Nice coat of lacing all around the glass.
S- Really not the most fragrant of IPAs. Hard to get much out of the glass besides some orange citrus juice/zest and caramel malts backing that up.
T- The flavor profile of this IPA is mostly citrus forward with some bitter pine, resin like notes as well. Orange, lemon zest and grapefruit mostly come to mind. Providing balance is a light caramel sweetness and cracked grain hints.
MF- Moderately thick body with both a creamy and a bit of an oily feel. Carbonation is at a moderately high level but the creamy feel helps it to be nice and smooth. Bitterness in the finish is fairly high.
Enjoyable IPA with a good citrus zest and pine flavor for the most part.
★ 909 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
A- Poured from the 12oz bottle to a goblet. The body of the beer is orange in color with some haze to it but not that much. A foamy white head forms to about one finger in height with great retention. Nice coat of lacing all around the glass.
S- Really not the most fragrant of IPAs. Hard to get much out of the glass besides some orange citrus juice/zest and caramel malts backing that up.
T- The flavor profile of this IPA is mostly citrus forward with some bitter pine, resin like notes as well. Orange, lemon zest and grapefruit mostly come to mind. Providing balance is a light caramel sweetness and cracked grain hints.
MF- Moderately thick body with both a creamy and a bit of an oily feel. Carbonation is at a moderately high level but the creamy feel helps it to be nice and smooth. Bitterness in the finish is fairly high.
Enjoyable IPA with a good citrus zest and pine flavor for the most part.
★ 909 characters
3.74/5 rDev +1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
On tap at the source.
Comes to the table a solid golden amber with a decent head that leaves lots of lace on the way down. Smells of bitter citrus and earth with lots of caramel maltiness to back it up. Old school aroma reminds me of Harpoon. The flavor follows the aroma with lots of grapefruit and lemon pith with hints of pine and a bit of caramel and brown bread to back it up. Medium body with a moderate level of carbonation and a slick sweet mouthfeel. Nice old school IPA I enjoyed it.
★ 493 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
On tap at the source.
Comes to the table a solid golden amber with a decent head that leaves lots of lace on the way down. Smells of bitter citrus and earth with lots of caramel maltiness to back it up. Old school aroma reminds me of Harpoon. The flavor follows the aroma with lots of grapefruit and lemon pith with hints of pine and a bit of caramel and brown bread to back it up. Medium body with a moderate level of carbonation and a slick sweet mouthfeel. Nice old school IPA I enjoyed it.
★ 493 characters
3.76/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Reviewed from notes. Had this at the Marlboro, MA festival.
A - Poured a nice slightly hazy honey/orange hue with a light one finger white creamy head that fades to leave a thin blanket with light lacing.
S - Fairly average aroma here, light citrus and grapefruit. Nothing special.
T - Taste is much better, more of those nice floral, fragrant hops screaming Cascade and Centennial. Nice grapefruit, super faint tropical. Really solid.
M - Mouthfeel is good with a very nice amount of carbonation.
O - Overall, a solid IPA in an oversaturated market.
★ 555 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Reviewed from notes. Had this at the Marlboro, MA festival.
A - Poured a nice slightly hazy honey/orange hue with a light one finger white creamy head that fades to leave a thin blanket with light lacing.
S - Fairly average aroma here, light citrus and grapefruit. Nothing special.
T - Taste is much better, more of those nice floral, fragrant hops screaming Cascade and Centennial. Nice grapefruit, super faint tropical. Really solid.
M - Mouthfeel is good with a very nice amount of carbonation.
O - Overall, a solid IPA in an oversaturated market.
★ 555 characters
3.78/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12 oz bottle was poured into a pint glass.
Appearance: This beer poured a one finger head that reduced to a thin layer. It is a hazy copper amber color with a little bit of clarity and bubbles seen coming up through the glass. Nice lacing on the glass as the beer was drank.
Smell: Citrus, grapefruit, tangerine, caramel, and grassy hops.
Taste: Tangerine, grapefruit, orange, grassy, and lemon/lime hops followed by caramel malts and mild hop bitterness.
Mouthfeel: Smooth, a little bitter, a little creamy, medium bodied, and medium carbonation.
Overall: Pretty nice IPA from Hartford. A new reason to stop there when driving on 84.
★ 639 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12 oz bottle was poured into a pint glass.
Appearance: This beer poured a one finger head that reduced to a thin layer. It is a hazy copper amber color with a little bit of clarity and bubbles seen coming up through the glass. Nice lacing on the glass as the beer was drank.
Smell: Citrus, grapefruit, tangerine, caramel, and grassy hops.
Taste: Tangerine, grapefruit, orange, grassy, and lemon/lime hops followed by caramel malts and mild hop bitterness.
Mouthfeel: Smooth, a little bitter, a little creamy, medium bodied, and medium carbonation.
Overall: Pretty nice IPA from Hartford. A new reason to stop there when driving on 84.
★ 639 characters
3.83/5 rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a bottle into a pint glass. Grabbed a single in a mix a six.
Pours bright amber with light layer of white foam. Patchy top. Laces well. Caramel malty smell. Toffee too. Taste is a firm bitter hop - lots of pine like oils. Grapefruit too. Rich full mouthfeel, excellent flavor.
Good stuff coming to bottles from this Hartford brewer.
★ 346 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a bottle into a pint glass. Grabbed a single in a mix a six.
Pours bright amber with light layer of white foam. Patchy top. Laces well. Caramel malty smell. Toffee too. Taste is a firm bitter hop - lots of pine like oils. Grapefruit too. Rich full mouthfeel, excellent flavor.
Good stuff coming to bottles from this Hartford brewer.
★ 346 characters
3.85/5 rDev +4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Received in trade from Robtobfest, thanks for the multitude of great beers and look forward to more trades!
A - wow, while not looking flat it comes out the bottle with relatively no head whatsoever but eventually ends with a small stream of bubbles and a sliver of a head, burnt orange with some amber to yellow hues
S - reserved as much like the appearance but again not bad, slight thick citrus hop juice smell, and a gentle sweetness to it
T - malty sweetness upfront that easily transfers to a more resinous hop taste, ends on a quick bitter slide with some additional sweetness
O - Really good beer, it looks and smells deceptive, hell it even tastes deceptive, but it has a complex range of taste notes it hits throughout not only the glass but within a single sip as well, well done beer
★ 799 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Received in trade from Robtobfest, thanks for the multitude of great beers and look forward to more trades!
A - wow, while not looking flat it comes out the bottle with relatively no head whatsoever but eventually ends with a small stream of bubbles and a sliver of a head, burnt orange with some amber to yellow hues
S - reserved as much like the appearance but again not bad, slight thick citrus hop juice smell, and a gentle sweetness to it
T - malty sweetness upfront that easily transfers to a more resinous hop taste, ends on a quick bitter slide with some additional sweetness
O - Really good beer, it looks and smells deceptive, hell it even tastes deceptive, but it has a complex range of taste notes it hits throughout not only the glass but within a single sip as well, well done beer
★ 799 characters
3.88/5 rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: Poured from the growler into a pint glass. Body is coppery-amber with a 1-finger white head. Leaves some decent lace on the side of the glass.
S: Not terribly strong in the nose - some grapefruity hops is about it.
T: Definitely a lot of bittering hops in this one. Some bready caramel malt for foundation, but then a big hit of hops - grapefruit, pine needles and lemon. Finishes with both a juiciness and a minerally bitterness, which is a neat trick. Heat felt on the way down and into the belly; I would've guessed this was about 7% ABV, maybe a hair under. BA says 6% but I see another reviewer said 6.6% - which seems right to me.
M: Call it medium in heft, carbonation is appropriate. Maybe a tad bit slick.
O: Solid IPA. Never heard of this brewery before today; a friend showed up with a growler and it's solid.
★ 828 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: Poured from the growler into a pint glass. Body is coppery-amber with a 1-finger white head. Leaves some decent lace on the side of the glass.
S: Not terribly strong in the nose - some grapefruity hops is about it.
T: Definitely a lot of bittering hops in this one. Some bready caramel malt for foundation, but then a big hit of hops - grapefruit, pine needles and lemon. Finishes with both a juiciness and a minerally bitterness, which is a neat trick. Heat felt on the way down and into the belly; I would've guessed this was about 7% ABV, maybe a hair under. BA says 6% but I see another reviewer said 6.6% - which seems right to me.
M: Call it medium in heft, carbonation is appropriate. Maybe a tad bit slick.
O: Solid IPA. Never heard of this brewery before today; a friend showed up with a growler and it's solid.
★ 828 characters
3.92/5 rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I see that others have rated this lower than I do. Not sure why. I think this is a robust IPA with only a small deficiency on the nose.
I like the substantial body on this beer and the color is right in the IPA range. There isn't a lot of hoppy fragrance on the nose. But, on the other hand, the Czech hops don't make much of an appearance in this brew.
Recommended.
★ 368 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I see that others have rated this lower than I do. Not sure why. I think this is a robust IPA with only a small deficiency on the nose.
I like the substantial body on this beer and the color is right in the IPA range. There isn't a lot of hoppy fragrance on the nose. But, on the other hand, the Czech hops don't make much of an appearance in this brew.
Recommended.
★ 368 characters
3.93/5 rDev +6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
I'm a hophead, so this is a good beer for me. Highlights a number of great hops in both flavor and aroma. Very common of a northwest IPA and nice to see a bold IPA in the northeast. The bottle I had was 20 days old, so still fresh and relatively young.
A little more malt body or higher lovibond would give more balance and tone down the hops and make it a better transition IPA while still focusing on the hop profile.
Overall this is a very hop forward IPA and very good for what I expect for the style
★ 507 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
I'm a hophead, so this is a good beer for me. Highlights a number of great hops in both flavor and aroma. Very common of a northwest IPA and nice to see a bold IPA in the northeast. The bottle I had was 20 days old, so still fresh and relatively young.
A little more malt body or higher lovibond would give more balance and tone down the hops and make it a better transition IPA while still focusing on the hop profile.
Overall this is a very hop forward IPA and very good for what I expect for the style
★ 507 characters
3.95/5 rDev +7.3%
Pours a light orange color with a white head. The smell is full of hops with citrus and orange peel being very present in the scent. The taste was full of grapefruit and other citrus with some pine as well. Very well layered IPA and not overly aggressive. Would try again.
★ 272 characters
Pours a light orange color with a white head. The smell is full of hops with citrus and orange peel being very present in the scent. The taste was full of grapefruit and other citrus with some pine as well. Very well layered IPA and not overly aggressive. Would try again.
★ 272 characters
3.97/5 rDev +7.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Bottled 2/14/13
Pours a nice large fizzy slightly fluffy head that rises up to the tip of the tulip glass, and fades back at a med pace for a bit, then slows to a crawl some nice retention, leaves some nice soapy lacing, a hazy sediment laden unfiltered bottle conditioned slight amber hue orange colored.
Nose is big and hoppy, nice citrus, light grapefruit and tropical fruit aromas, fairly fruity, despite more than 2 months old the hops are nice and fresh, and a faint amber malt underneath that, that start to get a bit of a candy amber malt aroma as it warms.
Taste starts with some sweet amber malts, not really caramel but a light candy flavor. Then into hops quickly, a big wave of Centennial/Cascade hops with spicy chewy hop character, a little leafy, with just a touch of grapefruit and citrus, and some bitterness at first. Tons of fluffy carbonation cuts through and keeps the hops from bombarding the tongue too much as the bitterness ramps quickly, but carbonation gets in the way a bit too much as well. The sweet malts attempt to balance but the hops run away with it. As it finishes it's semi dry but a little sticky, light amber malts disappear quickly as the hops get quite bitter, spicy and chewy mostly with a little leafy and touch of citrus lingering for quite some time.
Mouth is med bodied, lots of carbonation and perhaps a bit too much.
Overall not bad. A nice big dosing of Centennial hops I believe, or at least a Cascade varietal, with nice spicy chewy hop flavor, nice citrus grapefruit aroma, and even a little leafy, with quickly ramping bitterness. Decent malts as they attempt to balance but don't quite do so, still an enjoyable IPA.
★ 1,676 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Bottled 2/14/13
Pours a nice large fizzy slightly fluffy head that rises up to the tip of the tulip glass, and fades back at a med pace for a bit, then slows to a crawl some nice retention, leaves some nice soapy lacing, a hazy sediment laden unfiltered bottle conditioned slight amber hue orange colored.
Nose is big and hoppy, nice citrus, light grapefruit and tropical fruit aromas, fairly fruity, despite more than 2 months old the hops are nice and fresh, and a faint amber malt underneath that, that start to get a bit of a candy amber malt aroma as it warms.
Taste starts with some sweet amber malts, not really caramel but a light candy flavor. Then into hops quickly, a big wave of Centennial/Cascade hops with spicy chewy hop character, a little leafy, with just a touch of grapefruit and citrus, and some bitterness at first. Tons of fluffy carbonation cuts through and keeps the hops from bombarding the tongue too much as the bitterness ramps quickly, but carbonation gets in the way a bit too much as well. The sweet malts attempt to balance but the hops run away with it. As it finishes it's semi dry but a little sticky, light amber malts disappear quickly as the hops get quite bitter, spicy and chewy mostly with a little leafy and touch of citrus lingering for quite some time.
Mouth is med bodied, lots of carbonation and perhaps a bit too much.
Overall not bad. A nice big dosing of Centennial hops I believe, or at least a Cascade varietal, with nice spicy chewy hop flavor, nice citrus grapefruit aroma, and even a little leafy, with quickly ramping bitterness. Decent malts as they attempt to balance but don't quite do so, still an enjoyable IPA.
★ 1,676 characters
4/5 rDev +8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A-What an interesting pour. A dull, dimly-lit amber color. Very cloudy. Head is almost nonexistent directly after the pour but a cluster of fat bubbles rise from the upper quarter of the beer and birth a nice head…then the head dies off. Interesting lacing squiggles too.
S-Heavy citrus. I need to get better at recognizing my hop varietals because the nose of this beer is pungent with an all-too-familiar hop aroma. Lightly spicy clementine flesh hops. Grains and a caramel malt base. Juicy hops. I am quite interested.
T-Fresh and juicy and ripe with hoppiness. The hops stress citrus much more than any other fruit. Resinous pine sets in after the citrus. Hops are also a bit herbal. I truly enjoy the hop bouquet here. Malt is a secondary element here. There is some balance but the hops wield a coercive edge over the sweetness and I love it. Very interesting flavor. I have had IPAs like it before but it is oddly unique.
M-Exceptionally resinous for a non-imperial IPA. Carbonation is not intense but vibrating and consistent. Has the body of a DIPA. Full and round and enjoyable. Finishes with a bitter coating that lasts.
O/D-Seen this one all over the place. Love the label art. I wasn't' impressed by the $12 sixer price. But I went with it and I was very happy with the result. Its unique! I don't have the vernacular to truly explain why it is unique but its good.
★ 1,384 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A-What an interesting pour. A dull, dimly-lit amber color. Very cloudy. Head is almost nonexistent directly after the pour but a cluster of fat bubbles rise from the upper quarter of the beer and birth a nice head…then the head dies off. Interesting lacing squiggles too.
S-Heavy citrus. I need to get better at recognizing my hop varietals because the nose of this beer is pungent with an all-too-familiar hop aroma. Lightly spicy clementine flesh hops. Grains and a caramel malt base. Juicy hops. I am quite interested.
T-Fresh and juicy and ripe with hoppiness. The hops stress citrus much more than any other fruit. Resinous pine sets in after the citrus. Hops are also a bit herbal. I truly enjoy the hop bouquet here. Malt is a secondary element here. There is some balance but the hops wield a coercive edge over the sweetness and I love it. Very interesting flavor. I have had IPAs like it before but it is oddly unique.
M-Exceptionally resinous for a non-imperial IPA. Carbonation is not intense but vibrating and consistent. Has the body of a DIPA. Full and round and enjoyable. Finishes with a bitter coating that lasts.
O/D-Seen this one all over the place. Love the label art. I wasn't' impressed by the $12 sixer price. But I went with it and I was very happy with the result. Its unique! I don't have the vernacular to truly explain why it is unique but its good.
★ 1,384 characters
4.02/5 rDev +9.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I got a bottle of City Steam's Innocence Ale last week in a trade with @Motozappa, Thanks a lot! I've never heard of this brewery till Motozappa mentioned it and I'm interested to see what this beer is all about, so lets see how it goes. No visible bottling date. Poured from a brown 12oz bottle into a imperial pint glass.
A- The label looks really nice, it's got a nice design to it with a provocative librarian in the middle and they even recommend it to librarians, I think it's pretty eye catching, I know if I saw this on the shelf it would catch my eye. It poured a orange color that took on slightly golden hue and it took on more of a darker orange color when held to the light with two fingers worth of dense looking off white head that died down to a thin ring that stayed till the end and left a good amount of spotty and patchy lacing behind. This was a very nice looking beer, I really liked the color and the head and lacing weren't bad at all.
S- The aroma starts off with a slightly higher amount of medium sweetness and it's followed by the hops being the first to show up and they impart some light floral and light piney hops aromas with the citrus and fruit hops sticking out the most with some nice grapefruit and citrus rind aroma with a nice and slightly lighter juicy aspect in the background. Up next comes the malts which impart some caramel malt and bread crust like aromas with some lighter sweet malt aromas in the background along with a very light amount of doughy yeast. This beer had a pretty good aroma, the hop profile was nice and it had good balance to it.
T- The taste seems to be pretty similar to the aroma and it starts off with a slightly higher amount of medium sweetness followed by the malts being the first to show up this time and they impart some nice caramel malt and bread crust flavor with a slight grainy flavor in the background along with a very light amount of doughy yeast. Up next comes the hops which impart all the same aspects that they did in the aroma, but there's also a light spicy hop aspect and the citrus rind hops seem to stick out the most, but not by much. On the finish there's a slightly higher amount of medium bitterness with a grainy, caramel malt and citrus rind hop aftertaste. This was a pretty good tasting beer, it had nice balance to it and it wasn't overly bitter.
M- Smooth, clean, a little crisp, on the slightly thicker side of being medium bodied with a medium amount of carbonation. The mouthfeel was pretty good, it was true to style and it worked well with this beer.
Overall I thought this was a pretty good beer and a good example of an IPA, the description on Beeradvocate says that this is a traditional and old school IPA and I think it fits in to the category well, instead of fancy hops it relies on balance and I like that. This beer had good drinkability, it was smooth, clean, a little crisp, not too filing and the taste did a nice job at holding my attention, if I had another one I would drink it and I think two or three of these would be the prefect amount for me. What I like the most about this beer was the balance, it was pretty much perfect and neither aspect was too overpowering. What I like the least about this beer was nothing, there wasn't any aspect that was lacking. I would buy this beer if I ever had the chance and I would recommend it to people who like simple and drinkable IPA's. All in all I was pretty happy with this beer, it pretty much delvered everything that It said it would, but I'm not sure this one will be the talk of the librarian community. This beer made for a good first impression of this brewery and I hope I can try some more of their beers. Good job guys, this was a very solid IPA and I hope to try some more of your beers in the future.
★ 3,787 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I got a bottle of City Steam's Innocence Ale last week in a trade with @Motozappa, Thanks a lot! I've never heard of this brewery till Motozappa mentioned it and I'm interested to see what this beer is all about, so lets see how it goes. No visible bottling date. Poured from a brown 12oz bottle into a imperial pint glass.
A- The label looks really nice, it's got a nice design to it with a provocative librarian in the middle and they even recommend it to librarians, I think it's pretty eye catching, I know if I saw this on the shelf it would catch my eye. It poured a orange color that took on slightly golden hue and it took on more of a darker orange color when held to the light with two fingers worth of dense looking off white head that died down to a thin ring that stayed till the end and left a good amount of spotty and patchy lacing behind. This was a very nice looking beer, I really liked the color and the head and lacing weren't bad at all.
S- The aroma starts off with a slightly higher amount of medium sweetness and it's followed by the hops being the first to show up and they impart some light floral and light piney hops aromas with the citrus and fruit hops sticking out the most with some nice grapefruit and citrus rind aroma with a nice and slightly lighter juicy aspect in the background. Up next comes the malts which impart some caramel malt and bread crust like aromas with some lighter sweet malt aromas in the background along with a very light amount of doughy yeast. This beer had a pretty good aroma, the hop profile was nice and it had good balance to it.
T- The taste seems to be pretty similar to the aroma and it starts off with a slightly higher amount of medium sweetness followed by the malts being the first to show up this time and they impart some nice caramel malt and bread crust flavor with a slight grainy flavor in the background along with a very light amount of doughy yeast. Up next comes the hops which impart all the same aspects that they did in the aroma, but there's also a light spicy hop aspect and the citrus rind hops seem to stick out the most, but not by much. On the finish there's a slightly higher amount of medium bitterness with a grainy, caramel malt and citrus rind hop aftertaste. This was a pretty good tasting beer, it had nice balance to it and it wasn't overly bitter.
M- Smooth, clean, a little crisp, on the slightly thicker side of being medium bodied with a medium amount of carbonation. The mouthfeel was pretty good, it was true to style and it worked well with this beer.
Overall I thought this was a pretty good beer and a good example of an IPA, the description on Beeradvocate says that this is a traditional and old school IPA and I think it fits in to the category well, instead of fancy hops it relies on balance and I like that. This beer had good drinkability, it was smooth, clean, a little crisp, not too filing and the taste did a nice job at holding my attention, if I had another one I would drink it and I think two or three of these would be the prefect amount for me. What I like the most about this beer was the balance, it was pretty much perfect and neither aspect was too overpowering. What I like the least about this beer was nothing, there wasn't any aspect that was lacking. I would buy this beer if I ever had the chance and I would recommend it to people who like simple and drinkable IPA's. All in all I was pretty happy with this beer, it pretty much delvered everything that It said it would, but I'm not sure this one will be the talk of the librarian community. This beer made for a good first impression of this brewery and I hope I can try some more of their beers. Good job guys, this was a very solid IPA and I hope to try some more of your beers in the future.
★ 3,787 characters
4.04/5 rDev +9.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Growler straight from the source. Pours a translucent brownish orange with no head. Almost no lacing. Aromas of sweet grapefruit, pine and citrus. The taste is more of the same. Sweet and bitter grapefruit along with pine and citrus. Some malt and caramel as well. Grapefruit at the end. Good amount of bitterness throughout. Lightly carbonated. This beer has a nice balance of bitter hops and citrus. I've had this beer a few times, bottled and at the brewpub, and I got to say it is best fresh from the brewpub. Overall, one of the best IPAs CT has to offer.
★ 560 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Growler straight from the source. Pours a translucent brownish orange with no head. Almost no lacing. Aromas of sweet grapefruit, pine and citrus. The taste is more of the same. Sweet and bitter grapefruit along with pine and citrus. Some malt and caramel as well. Grapefruit at the end. Good amount of bitterness throughout. Lightly carbonated. This beer has a nice balance of bitter hops and citrus. I've had this beer a few times, bottled and at the brewpub, and I got to say it is best fresh from the brewpub. Overall, one of the best IPAs CT has to offer.
★ 560 characters
City Steam Innocence Ale (IPA) from City Steam Brewery Café
3.68
out of 5
based on 134 ratings.
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 2.5
Freshest keg on tap at the brewery:
Pours a lovely deep amber with copper hues. Pillowy white head that never dissipates fully. Solid lacing.
Aromas of super sweet caramel and toffee. Some grassy floral hops and a very small hint of pine and citrus.
Taste starts watery, then very sweet. Lots of caramel and toasty toffee. Very sweet sugary flavor. The hops start in the middle, solid bitterness but no discerning flavors really. Very muddled. Too much going on for one hop to shine through. Just not good at all.
Mouthfeel is medium, heavily carbed, good drinkability.
Not something I want more of. I struggled to finish the pint. I've seen this in the stores for 11.99 a six pack. You'd have to be pretty high to think that's a good deal when mediocre ipas of the same ilk are less, as are much much better ones.
★ 818 characters