Life Sentence
Amsterdam Brewery

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From:
Amsterdam Brewery
 
Ontario, Canada
Style:
Imperial IPA
ABV:
10.5%
Score:
92
Avg:
4.29 | pDev: 6.06%
Ratings:
12 | reviews: 3
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jul 15, 2022
Added:
Sep 18, 2014
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  1
Collaboration with Great Lakes Brewery

That’s right, you read it correctly… a triple IPA! With this collaboration brew between Iain McOustra and Mike Lackey, the pair tried to make an extremely hoppy beer that was also clean and focused. To make this Triple IPA, we used several different hop varieties like Nelson, Simcoe, Citra, and Amarillo to build a rich hop profile, before double-dry hopping the beer during its fermentation. An extremely limited beer, this was McOustra and Lackey’s first attempt at doing a Triple IPA together, and it’s something they hope to continue brewing and fine-tuning over the years. The first batch of Life Sentence IIIPA has a concentrated citrus and resiny hop aroma, with flavours of resiny orange and peach, concentrated citrus, essence of grapefruit and a huge pine background that plays off the more aggressive Nelson Hops, with a note of Amarillo that quenches the bitterness of all the other rich and almost overloaded citrus flavours. Get your taste of this high ABV brew early, it won’t last long!
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of colts9016
Reviewed by colts9016 from Idaho

4.25/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
1787
Life Sentence
Amsterdam Brewing
Triple IPA
ABV: 11%
Date: A code exists; unsure if it is a date code

I received this beer from Peter; thank you for this offering. Served in a tulip glass at around 48 degrees. The pour created a frothy and airy two-fingered bright white head. The retention is average, leaving some lacing on the glass; after a quick dissipation. The color is medium gold with hues of amber, charting the beer around SRM 6. The clarity is clear with a few carbonation bubbles dancing. Overall the appearance is average. I was not surprised to see the head fall as quickly as it did. After all, this is a higher ABV beer.
The dominant aroma I smell is doughy bread. The hops are orange, pine, resin, grapefruit, pineapple, pears, and floral esters. Nosing the beer several times, I detect bread crust, a hint of phenols, and a slight dankness.
Wow, the hops are on display here. Massive orange, pine, grapefruit, mangos, melons, floral esters, resin, pear, floral esters, and orange peel for the hops flavor. Other flavors are doughy bread crust, slightly phenolic, dankness, and malty sweetness.
The mouthfeel is tannic and sharp with a lower carbonation footprint. The body is medium-full, and the finish is dry and astringent.
I personally struggle with TIPA, the malt backbone is loaded, heavy and sweet. The hops are hidden within that mess. It is a good beer, but just messy. I want the hops to shine. Not sure if a triple will ever showcase the massive hops.
Jul 15, 2022
 
Rated: 4.13 by Simon212 from Canada (ON)

Sep 28, 2017
 
Rated: 4.04 by ChuckieT from Illinois

Dec 29, 2015
 
Rated: 4.58 by Bugs318 from Canada (QC)

Dec 27, 2015
Photo of DaveBar
Reviewed by DaveBar from Canada (ON)

4.53/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Purchased at the Great Lake Brewery (NOT Amsterdam Brewery) 473ml can for $5.00. A touch steep but let's see how the review goes.

A- Opens well and pours a 1" high white head that films out within a minute or two. Dark gold colour filtered clear

S- Amazing amounts of hops here. Oodles of grapefruit hits you then the malt.

T- HOPS! Plain and simple. So many the bitterness factor is through the roof on this one. Tons of the "C" hops among others. A lot of malt too. Lots of sweetness but it's not what you find in say a SN Hoptimum so I like this one a lot more. Piney good and just a wonderful mix. The only thing keeping this brew from a perfect 5 is the heat that is abundant when chilled and becomes more overpowering as it warms.

M- Nice and dry. Has a bit of heat to it.

O- Excellent brew. Would imagine that they will work on hiding the heat on their next batch. Fantastic brew. Too bad it won't be around long. Hope they get more on the go as it will sell and the price point is ok but at least they can turn profit and earn an income off it that is very acceptable.

Food Pairing

This wonderful big IIPA went well with....... Moose casserole! Ground moose fried (do not clean the pot) remove and dice some onion, green pepper and celery and throw in (get the celery in 5mins ahead of the onions then give the onions 3-4mins then the green peppers or the aforementioned ingredients stay too hard) and after cooked remove. Add water, cook 1 bad of extra broad egg noodles, drain, combine, add a can of sliced mushrooms and 2 cans of tomato soup, stir, top with parm cheese, bake at 325deg C for 20mins covered. Remove lid, bake 10mins more to crisp up the cheese and.......

Enjoy!!
Dec 19, 2015
Photo of MasterSki
Reviewed by MasterSki from Canada (ON)

4.49/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Multiple glasses consumed on-tap at Thirsty & Miserable in a flared pint glass.

A - White foam settles to a collar, a few wisps, and minimal lace. Hazy golden peach body.

S - Massive tropical fruit, pineapple, mango, citrus, sweet doughy malts and slightly browned sugar. Some mild dank herb and pine keep things from getting cloying, but this is a monster in the sugared fruit department.

T - The taste is quite similar, with a massive amount of tropical fruit and citrus hops mingled with sugary malts and some mild, balancing, hop bitterness. Alcohol is really well hidden here. Love the balance actually; everything seems in the right proportion.

M - Medium-full body, lower carbonation, and a soft slightly creamy texture. Juicy, oily, resinous finish, with well-hidden booze.

D - It's the Canadian Pliny the Younger. I had two glasses, and strongly considered ordering a third before realizing that I would be Thirsty & Miserable the next morning. Great beer; really hope that these guys get together and make another batch.
Nov 09, 2014
 
Rated: 4.52 by peensteen from Canada (ON)

Oct 30, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by valianes from Canada (ON)

Sep 28, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by Hypersomnia from New Jersey

Sep 24, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Sammy from Canada (ON)

Sep 21, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by liamt07 from Canada (ON)

Sep 20, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by jrenihan from Canada (ON)

Sep 19, 2014