Super French IPA - French Oak Aged Super Friends IPA
Ithaca Beer Company

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From:
Ithaca Beer Company
 
New York, United States
Style:
American IPA
ABV:
Not listed
Score:
87
Avg:
3.9 | pDev: 15.64%
Reviews:
9
Ratings:
15
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Dec 12, 2011
Added:
Oct 30, 2010
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by bros:

  None found.

 
Rated: 5 by BrianTheBrewer30 from Massachusetts

Dec 12, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 5 by jwelsh from Pennsylvania

Dec 01, 2011
 
Rated: 2.5 by deapokid from Pennsylvania

Nov 20, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by nh2032 from New York

Nov 17, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by sideshowe from Pennsylvania

Nov 16, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by HopStoopid120 from Connecticut

Nov 16, 2011
Photo of fmccormi
Reviewed by fmccormi from California

3.62/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
On tap at the Blue Tusk in Syracuse, NY, poured from a pitcher (yep, a pitcher) to a 10oz mug. I was told by the Ithaca rep at the Blue Tusk that this was literally the last keg of Super Friends kicking around the brewery—they only found it THAT DAY, supposedly. Who knows, but later I noticed that the Blue Tusk’s twitter feed mentioned an oak-aged Super Friends, so I’m assuming this is it.

Appearance (2.5): Dark, slightly hazy orange body with basically no head and little or no lace.

Smell (3.0): Citrusy, a little sweet but not in a malty way, and some funk happening here (no surprise there). Less in the nose than I was expecting, but what’s there is interesting, no question there.

Taste (4.0): Pineapple juice. Seriously. All pineapple juice, with a slightly sour (sourness is mild at best, really), drawn-out finish with some funk kind of permeating the whole experience. Very interesting process happening on the palate, it seems like the citrusy Citra hops must have devolved into a totally un-bitter component of hop oils. As for the malt base, who knows what’s going on, because the combination of year (plus)-old funk the hop isotopes all aged in some oak make for a strange, very interesting, but definitely enjoyable palate.

Mouthfeel (3.5): Medium body, kind of oily and a little syrupy—very interesting, not what you’d expect for a “wild ale” certainly but it is what it is.

Overall (4.0): Very interesting, I’m sure this is a completely different beast compared to what it was when it was brewed, but it’s not bad—very interesting beer that tastes like pineapple juice with some funky, funky jazz happening throughout. Glad to have tried!
Nov 12, 2011
Photo of hotmanflab666
Reviewed by hotmanflab666 from New York

4.09/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
very good ipa, this beer had very powerful citrusy flavors with enough malt body to back it up, definitely not just bitter to be an ipa but a very good beer, my favorite thing ever made by ithaca, had it on tap out of what i'm convinced was a dirty pint glass, but it didnt matter, still delicious
Jun 03, 2011
Photo of Thorpe429
Reviewed by Thorpe429 from Illinois

4.17/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Reviewed from notes. I seem to be in the minority on this one, but I thoroughly enjoyed this beer. The pour yields a light copper brew with a bit of haze and a nice white head. The nose is really nice with the alcohol and oakiness really coming in strong. A bit of spice there as well as quite a bit of funk and some hops in the background. Light citrus and tropical notes. The flavor keeps rolling with the punches and the Citra hops from the underlying brew pair nicely with what was apparently brandy. Good funk in there as well. Overall, not as good as the base beer--which was one of the better beers I've ever had--but still a very solid effort.
Mar 14, 2011
Photo of aerozeppl
Reviewed by aerozeppl from New York

3.45/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Let it be know that I love Super Friends.

A: A bit darker and clodier than the regular version of super friends. More of a copper color. Arrived with a quarter finger of white head.

S: Tons of wood. The mix of the citra hops and the bret that made super friends such an outstanding beer simply is not here. It has a decent enough nose. The bret is still there and there is a mustiness to it as well.

T: Just like the nose. All the hops are gone for the most part and it was replaced by the barrel. It also did not have enough time in the barrel to get interesting yet either. The bret is there but the oak and bret combines with the dryness make it difficult to get through.

M: Super dry. Not as carbonated as the regular verison.

D: This is a great example of taking an awesome beer and making it ok with barrel aging. It was a nice experiment and cool to try but this is not nearly as good as the regular version. If they let some sit for a year or two that might be interesting.
Nov 28, 2010
Photo of ToAzwethinkweizm
Reviewed by ToAzwethinkweizm from Maryland

4.29/5  rDev +10%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Reviewed on 12 November 2010 at the "Ithaca Beer Happy Hour" @ Tap and Mallet.

According to representative Mark Schultz, this beer is technically called "Super-French IPA" as it is the Super Friends IPA that has been aged in apple-brandy French oak barrels. Poured into special tall-stemmed Ithaca tulip snifter, 12oz, color is cloudy brown-orange with one-finger head that goes away, lacing is moderate. ENORMOUS brandy and oak on the nose. Time to let this sit for 10 minutes.

Now for the aroma. Wait a second... there is funk taking over. No doubt that some brett yeast in this one, probably from the French-oak barrels? Mildly bitter, yet fresh hops, and a little strawberry. Taste is funky-sour, then fruity citra hops on the back end of the palate, biiiig time brandy on the mouth. This beer has a slight sting on the palate. Medium- to full-bodied beer. The only way you will taste this legend is if you go to Ithaca when this is possibly tapped again, or do like I did -- follow BeerAdvocate.
Nov 15, 2010
Photo of drabmuh
Reviewed by drabmuh from Maryland

3.55/5  rDev -9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Also known as "Super French" -- this beer was not as good as the Super Friends. Had this on tap.

Beer is yellow to orange and hazy, with a thin head that disappears really quickly, low carbonation, no lacing.

Lots of oak and funk but the hops have faded out of this, bummer. I wanted citra hops.

Beer has quite a bit of funk to it, moderate to low hop character, thin in body and a silky mouthfeel. This was a little bit of a disappointment. The hops were so forward in superfriends IPA, they were an afterthought in this beer. I guess it goes to show you, don't barrel age and IPA and expect to get an IPA back.
Nov 12, 2010
Photo of BARFLYB
Reviewed by BARFLYB from Pennsylvania

3.7/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
On Tap at Swift.

A- Dead on arrival, no head or bubbles anywhere. The liquid is hazy orange with some brighter spots here and there. No stick.

S- The citrus from the original is lost not entirely but alot, French oak, ruby grapefruit, brett in the back, very oaky.

T- Taste turns around and manages to be pretty well balanced. A nice mix of tropic fruit, brett and oak in no particular order.

M- Feels medium and dead, it goes down easy like but with no pizazz like the regular. A less dry finish as well.

D- Glad I tried it but did not order another one. This was kinda a slow sipper, could not get through it quick enough.
Oct 31, 2010
Photo of callmemickey
Reviewed by callmemickey from Pennsylvania

3.25/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
French oak / chardonnay barrel aged version on tap at Swift Half

A: Slightly darker orange than the regular super friends. more hazy. no head. looks like it came from a firkin rather than on tap.

S: Muddled chardonnay vinous note. Tropical fruits are muted. Light spice and brett funk.

D: Like the nose, this is a rather mild and bland beer. Hints of hoppy fruit. But mostly just chardonnay notes... which doesn't quite work.

M: Rather still. Makes the beer sluggish on the palate. Medium body. Dry but muted finish.

D: Eh. I just don't see the point in aging a bright, lively IPA in a flavor killing white wine barrel. Other than creating buzz and interest in trying the beer.
Oct 30, 2010
Photo of oglmcdgl
Reviewed by oglmcdgl from Pennsylvania

3.92/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
On tap at swift half pub. Side by side with the regular super friends.

A- comes to me with no head at all and a cloudy orange brown in color. Almost looks like fresh pressed unfilterd apple cider.

S- spicy and vinous up front with some white grapes. Spices come off with some cinnamon and nutmeg and a bit of apple pie. Hints of citrus zest.

T- fruity up front with grapes and oranges, then rolling into some cloves and nutmeg. Brett hit here and there then the oak hits you with a big time punch. Sweet at times but never cloying. Oaky finish.

M- just about medium in body with almost no carb at all just a touch of tickle on the palatean this is a barrel aged ipa so I won't knock it too much. Dry finish.

D- this is a very interesting beer. So different from its base beer but you can absolutely tell where its roots come from. The Chardonnay barrel has done some wild shit to this already interesting brew. Ok ithaca keep up the good work.
Oct 30, 2010
Super French IPA - French Oak Aged Super Friends IPA from Ithaca Beer Company
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 15 ratings