Inappropriately Placed Ale
Against The Grain Brewery

 

If Inappropriately Placed Ale can also be called IPAs then this beer fits right in. Not quite the classic example of an IPA, it's both stronger and much more balanced, allowing more of the effect of Imperial Red Ale to play on its flavor profile, appearance, and body.

The deep golden to medium amber, slightly hazed ale is brought to the bar topped with a creamy off white head that lasts most the session and with mild evidence of lace. Where a more withstanding head character is desired, it's obvious that the beer's weight and powder impeeds such.

Aromas of caramel, citrus, and pine swirl about the nose with a lush and balanced scent. Sweet breads or bread crust, pecans, butterscotch, and estery fruits allow the beer to seem very British-like.

And the British theme continues in taste with a hearty bready, biscuity, and caramel rich taste and sweetness that speaks toward more moderate attenuation. The backgound of nutty malts, butterscotch and esters remind me of orange marmelade with the rind and pulp in tact. Quite delicious even as the more zesty pine, grapefruit, and herbal hop components turn to a mildly resiny bitterness in finish. Complex without becomming complicated.

Medium bodied as well, as the carbonation helps to achieve a creamy malt mouthfeel early, but a semi-dry and warm finish late. An extended malty-dry texture is aided by hop dryness.

The beer certainly gains influence from several classic styles but in the end, it is both hoppy, malty, citrusy, earthy, bready, and caramelly all at once for a well balanced and pleasurable enough session.

Pours a fairly clear copper orange color with a hint of haze and a minimal amount of fairly dense beige head that dissipates quickly into a skimming layer of foam.

Aroma is citrus and caramel malt, bready with herbal hop notes.

Grapefruit, lemon, tangerine, and pineapple hit initially, with a fairly strong toasted caramel malt comprising the body, decidedly sweet, ending with a heavily bitter finish. I can't decide if the bitterness is more hop related or charred or too dark of malt. It almost tastes burnt. Flavor becomes peppery as it warms.

Body is moderately heavy with moderate carbonation, slightly slick with a hint of alcohol warmth. There's a touch of astringency.

The bitterness seems a bit overpowering. While the citrus hop flavor is delicious and balances well with the sweetness, I would've preferred a bit more complexity.

A: Pours a clear copper with a clinging white head.

S: Aromas of caramel, cream, woody spice, biscuits, black currant, and orange are present on the nose. I was expecting something much more resinous, but this is actually very subdued.

T: Notes of cream, biscuits, caramel, and nougat dominate the entry, but are quickly chased by notes of lemon zest, herbs, white pepper, tangerine, apricot, peach, black currant, oranges in syrup, mango, papaya, and alcohol. The finish is peppery and intense with notes of lemon zest, papaya, apricot, and mango washed in alcohol.

M: Medium-bodied and somewhat sticky. Carbonation is a bit weak and sluggish for the style.

O: As far as American DIPAs go, this one is a bit atypical. The piney, citrusy flavors and firm carbonation that many likely associate with the style are simply not present in this beer. Also, the alcohol is a bit heavy and overbearing; if the hop character were more pronounced and the malt presence a bit heftier, this wouldn't be as big of a problem for me. So, as is, this IPA is quite drinkable and very interesting, but it's also a bit out of whack. I can appreciate the attempt to experiment with the style (the brewers specifically attempted to showcase hop varietals not normally used in American IPAs), and I'm certainly willing to give them some points for trying something brave and different, but I was expecting something a bit more balanced.