Imperial IPA
Portsmouth Brewery

Imperial IPAImperial IPA
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Portsmouth Brewery
 
New Hampshire, United States
Style:
Imperial IPA
ABV:
9.1%
Score:
90
Avg:
4.03 | pDev: 14.14%
Ratings:
124 | reviews: 84
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jul 16, 2014
Added:
Feb 12, 2006
Wants:
  81
Gots:
  4
Another beer in our stable with the “intense” designation hung around its neck. With almost double the malt as our Bottle Rocket IPA, 9% ABV and 22 pounds of hops, this medium-bodied golden ale has an amazing balance for such an assertive beer.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 4.5 by Pwbres from Maine

Jul 16, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by ajcormier from New Hampshire

Oct 31, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by InspectorBob from New Jersey

Oct 30, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by Beer21 from Florida

Oct 09, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by GraduatedCashew from California

Sep 23, 2013
 
Rated: 3.25 by rderedin from Maine

Sep 16, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by mklisz from New Hampshire

Jun 27, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by spycow from Illinois

Jun 11, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by EricDu from New Hampshire

Jun 06, 2013
Photo of BarrytheBear
Reviewed by BarrytheBear from Wisconsin

4.18/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Very thoughtful and generous extra courtesy of Cam. Thanks kindly buddy!

22 oz bottle dated best by June 13' into a tulip. Pours a murky clouded burnt orange. Adequate clumpage lasts throughout the glass along with some haphazard lacing. Even when held to the light, I cannot see my hand on the other side of the glass: interesting.

Light citrus and oodles of nougat on the nose. Toasted malts, pine, and rye bread jump in as well. Certainly not overly brash here, but what it lacks in intensity it more than makes up for in depth.

This is a different IIPA. Up front is cool menthol and sharp mint. As the beer rolls along the tongue, the weight of the toasted bread malt character lay a weighty foundation on which the rest of the flavors travel. Rye and pumpernickel, dark earthy bread, leads to a palpable iced tea crescendo at the finish after a buildup throughout the sip. Along the back end a big spatter of pineapple juiciness flashes across my tasting places as well. Bitterness and sweetness harmonize well with neither brutalizing the other into submission.

This is a nice full bodied and sticky IIPA. At 9% it certainly leaves its mark. There is so much depth and complexity here that I found myself rushing through the first half of the bottle while trying to pin down all the goings on.

I dig Portsmouth. From memory I've had this, the gruit, Kate, and the Royal Impy Stout...possibly others....and I've really enjoyed each offering. Thanks again Cam! This was a pleasant surprise.
Apr 28, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by Kelp from New Hampshire

Apr 23, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by Celtics76 from Rhode Island

Apr 03, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by mattparsons from New Hampshire

Feb 26, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by seplo from Connecticut

Feb 24, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by DonFrap from Massachusetts

Feb 03, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by AdamP from Pennsylvania

Feb 02, 2013
 
Rated: 5 by neil2me from Connecticut

Jan 03, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by ChrisL24481 from New Hampshire

Jul 16, 2012
 
Rated: 4.75 by BenSw from California

Jul 09, 2012
 
Rated: 5 by Rempo from Indiana

Jun 17, 2012