Sagefight Imperial IPA
Deschutes Brewery

Sagefight Imperial IPASagefight Imperial IPA
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From:
Deschutes Brewery
 
Oregon, United States
Style:
Imperial IPA
ABV:
8%
Score:
88
Avg:
3.91 | pDev: 9.46%
Reviews:
74
Ratings:
268
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 11, 2021
Added:
Mar 22, 2011
Wants:
  7
Gots:
  55
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by cambabeer:
Photo of cambabeer
Reviewed by cambabeer from New York

3.94/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Deep gold brown color, off white head. Hops in the nose, a little malt, a lot of sage, even more juniper a good amount of orange peel as well. Taste is mostly the juniper coming through and joining the hops to kill the malt flavors. Semi dry finish.
Nov 12, 2016
More User Ratings:
Photo of JanQuadrantVincent
Reviewed by JanQuadrantVincent from Illinois

4.73/5  rDev +21%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5
Has been a few years since I first tried it, but I loved this beer - I don't see many comparable beers out there and I wish I could more easily find it. The integration of sage and hops worked perfectly.
Feb 11, 2021
Photo of GuyFawkes
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois

3/5  rDev -23.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
"Best by 1/6/17"; drank 10/2/16 @ the Yarchives.

See-through ruby red appearance.

A rough pour yielded a huge khaki head; thick, frothy tree-rung lace.

Fresh soap, cane sugar, cotton candy & pine notes in the nose.

Medium mouthfeel.

Fresh soap, pine & cotton candy flavors up front; a dry, bitter finish. Pine-y, very sweet & very dry; this is NOT my profile whatsoever.

Drinkable at best.
Sep 08, 2019
 
Rated: 3.75 by Karibourgeois from Texas

Feb 05, 2019
 
Rated: 3.73 by zestd from Idaho

Nov 22, 2018
Photo of Sammy
Rated by Sammy from Canada (ON)

3.45/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.75
on tap at Hopcat-Madison. Lemon and sage bold over hop flavour. could be better integrated.
Aug 09, 2018
 
Rated: 3.81 by ffshore545 from Illinois

Jul 31, 2018
 
Rated: 4.1 by dafla67 from Pennsylvania

Jul 13, 2018
Photo of Mindcrime1000
Reviewed by Mindcrime1000 from South Dakota

3.6/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.75
Pours a copper/amber with a two-finger tan foamy head, with good staying power and lacing for the ABV.

The aromas deliver equal measures of citrus and sage--the namesake is no mere note, it is front and center. The maltiness of the base is there as well.

The sage works very well on the nose--on the palate, it is a little more of a clash. The sage presents a sweetness that balances the bitterness, but doesn't mesh very well with the malt backbone.

The mouthfeel, though is outstanding for a strong IPA. The carbonation is ample, and the ABV is deceptively hidden, as this doesn't ever get sticky.

Overall, I'm glad I tried this for it's unique flavor but, for me personally, the sage was a little out of place in the most important place--on the tongue.
Jun 30, 2018
Photo of Libeertarian
Reviewed by Libeertarian from Montana

4.42/5  rDev +13%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
From notes taken 07/20/17:

Semi-clear, metallic copper amber. Three finger fluffy, chunky head of fine bubbles, a lighter golden tan in color, amazing retention yielding and island volcano of foam and frosty lacing. Sage aromas, of course, and little else. Kind of like Jasmine. Juniper is close enough to but not distinct enough from sage, so it’s lost here. It’s not strong or distracting like it would be if you were surrounded by any kind of sage (I have a very mild allergy to the pollen, a real shame since I don’t actually mind the smell). Palate is sage but also fresh savory, mustard seed, anise, and white peppercorns. Behind these is a more subdued hoppy presence, herbal to earthy, and sweeter caramel from the malt. Booze character is hidden well behind these herbs and spices, but still reveals itself in retro-olfaction whereupon it combines with hops for a long lasting, extra peppery sensation. Full-bodied, soupy, with even level of fine carbonation that stays tingly from start to finish for an average gulp, and, with moderate booze-heat, accentuates the spiciness.
Jun 18, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by DigitGrowler from Kentucky

May 12, 2018
 
Rated: 3.75 by elglueckert from Montana

May 02, 2018
 
Rated: 3.75 by DerwinWentworth from Utah

Apr 26, 2018
Photo of Ruger_44-Redhawk
Reviewed by Ruger_44-Redhawk from Idaho

4.19/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
This was surprising. I didn't know what to expect as I usually skipped over at the store and get the Fresh Squeezed IPA. Pretty good stuff. I was expecting more on the 'fruity' side of the IPA's but that's not the case. It's a smooth high ABV IPA that I will definitely get again. Another nice one Deschutes!
Apr 15, 2018
Photo of leaddog
Reviewed by leaddog from Canada (AB)

4.24/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Appearance - Pours a warm copper with two fingers of white head.

Smell - citrus hops, savoury sage, juniper berries, bready malts, caramel, herbal notes, and earthy yeast.

Taste - Citrus hops quickly followed by the sage. The juniper berries come through next. The bready malts, caramel, herbal notes, and earthy yeast finish the brew off. The brew is definitely dominated by the sage.

Mouthfeel - Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Finishes sticky with the hops and sage lingering.

Overall - Another stellar brew from Deschutes. I like the dominance of the sage alongside the hop bitterness. Worth seeking out for.
Apr 01, 2018
 
Rated: 3.72 by LarrysDeerGut from Illinois

Mar 15, 2018
Photo of kanjobanjo17
Reviewed by kanjobanjo17 from Idaho

3.47/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
Has a floral and hoppy taste with a pleasant body and a good balance between the hops, sage, and juniper. Great beer for sipping after work with a light dinner, would not be the best idea to drink a whole sixer in a night. I'd buy this beer again.
Mar 09, 2018
Photo of michiganmatt
Reviewed by michiganmatt from California

3.73/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25
L: about 13 SRM. quite hazy. an ample amount of light tan head.
S: very interesting and unique smell. I'm honestly not quite sure what sage smells like, but I would guess that's what I'm smelling. Also think I smell the juniper berries. Smell is moderately pleasant.
T: beer tastes essentially like the smell, but with the sage/juniper toned down a bit and the malts playing more prominence. the sage/juniper flavor is a bit too much. takes away from the beer. at the same time, it is quite unique and perhaps for that reason a memorable flavor.
F: medium body, medium-high crispness
O: this strike me as a novelty brew. The sage/juniper flavor is interesting, but before I was halfway through this beer I was already over it and finishing it was a chore, not a delight
Mar 07, 2018
 
Rated: 4.06 by HaoleBoy from California

Mar 03, 2018
 
Rated: 3.75 by schopenhauerale from Arizona

Feb 28, 2018
Sagefight Imperial IPA from Deschutes Brewery
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 268 ratings