Clipper City Heavy Seas Winter Storm (2003-2004 -- IIPA)

Formerly brewed at Clipper City Brewing Co.
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Baltimore, Maryland USA

Delicious for a strong IPA. Fruity hops flavor. Rich and easy to take. Not too out of orbit on the experimental flavor though. Says that its a "Category 5"... maybe more like a 3.

Bottle: Decent double IPA. Nice hops aroma, though less aggressive than I expected. Some pine, cascade, citrus, dough. Less hops than I expected for taste, decent malt to back it up, though not to much in the way of thickness and body.

12 oz. brown, longneck bottle. Freshness date is of end of Mar, 2005. Poured out a golden orangish color, with a minimal white head. The head quickly faded back to a thin ring of foam around the edges of the glass. Aromas are of fresh malts, subdued hops, and that’s about it. Flavors are of malts, some caramels, hops, and yeast. Alcohol is very subdued, as are the hops brightness. A little dull in the hops aromas deptartment. Medium mouthfeel, finishes clean and crisp. An easily drinkable beer, but not a double IPA by any means.

Excellent double IPA, amber in color with a generous off-white head, great lacing around the glass, huge hoppy nose with a little pine in the aroma, lots of great hop flavor in the body of the beer, good malt profile to balance it out, lots of citrus & pine notes in the flavors as well, mouthfeel was a bit sticky with resin from the hops, very smooth & drinkable

2004 version: Pours a beautiful clear amber with a rocky cream-colored head. Aroma is of cascade and pine tied in with a nice bready quality, like freshly baked pretzels. The taste has more of the same along with strong notes of grapefruit and pine with some caramel. Taste is moderately sweet with a bitter resiny finish and a hint of salt. Mouthfeel is medium and creamy. Body doesn’t achieve imperial status though. GREAT head retention and lacework. My only criticism of Clipper City Brewing Co is that like their Peg Leg "Imperial" Stout, this is not an Imperial IPA. This is an excellent IPA but definitely not of the Imperial variety. I discussed this with a Clipper City sales guy and they said they wanted to have a more easy-drinking imperial line. But Imperial Stouts and I2PAs are not meant to be knocked back, easy drinking session beers but more complex brews that you savor for an hour or so. I guess we agreed to disagree. Nice guy though...

Medium copper, with a thick long lasting creamy head. Aroma of citrus and other hops. Stong presence of hops throught the medium thick body. Really really good.

Herbal and citrus hop nose with malt showing up as it warms. Decently malty with a herbal hop presence. Touches of carmel, pine, and alcohol throughout the brew. Not much of a DIPA but perfectly servicable as an IPA. Finishes a little medicinal fadeing into toasted grains.

deep copper, light tan head, aroma of citrus, hops, some pine, flavor is nice balance of malt and some potent hop in the finish. pretty good