Clipper City Heavy Seas Winter Storm (2005+ -- Imperial ESB)

Brewed by Clipper City Brewing Co.
Style: American Strong Ale
Baltimore, Maryland USA

My first offering from Clipper City, I’ve been eyeing them for awhile now and never took the plunge until now. This winter offering pours a dark brown leaving a thick tan frothy head. the aroma is hoppy, caramel, sweet dark fruit. The taste is very hoppy, but balanced by a nice malt backbone that is highlight by a toffee sweetness that is followed by a definitive alcohal presence. I think this needs a bit more balance overall and the alcohal presence is far to great for only a 7.5% beer which can be overwhelming.

12oz bottle...2006...so the visual is over-concentrated iced tea...smells of strange spices(maybe too many)..delicate lacing...very mild creaminess with just to much imbalance, I notice this with all the cliper city brews that ive tried so far

Bottled... 2006 Release.. Pours a deep red with alot of lacing and a fluffy head.. Nose is lots of hops and hints of malt.. Flavor is dominated by bitter hops that lingers around.. very nice but not a fav..

Fruity, mostly western hop aroma over caramel. Orangey, with a big bone head, kinda fun label. Strong and metallic, brothy grapefruit acidity and some other off flavors. Thickish mouthfeel, long finish where the English hops come through finally. I didn’t like this.

12 Oz Bottle. Poured a reddish/copper color w/a moderate head & some good lacing. Nice roasted aroma, taste didn’t deliver. Had a lot of hops for this style, seemed more like a Pale Ale than an ESB-as they are calling it. Didn’t really get any of the malted bitterness you expect from an ESB. Thought it was a little one dementionial/out of balance. Somewhat long finish

Pours reddish-orange with a bitter orange zest aroma, serious hops are apparent. Wow, wet, refreshing hops. a mouthful of bitterness. ESB in this bottle means Extremely Severe Bitter! Nice warming burn all the way down. Slight sweet malt taste with notes of caramel and a wee bit heavy. Clipper City hits the mark again.

Clipper City seems to know how to make a sweet product which packs enough hoppy bitterness to swoo over those who’ve done the micros over and over again. To be distinct, the grapefruit tones are present in flavor and aftertaste, there is a pine-like lacing present, the texture is somewhat heavy and pleasantly dry, and the alcohol is present. At the same time this is pretty drinkable which I attribute to the malt portion. I have to say the balance is there on the sip but not as much as it goes down my throat where a certain smokiness comes out. rerate 6-2-07: There is a biscuit malt here that I didn’t notice before. My score stays the same.

Bottle. Sweet orange-filled aroma, rather like a Holiday scratch-n-sniff book from my childhood. Delicious hoppy scent, orange, grapefruit, pine, flowers. Amber-red pour with a sticky, foamy tan head. Hoppy and piney and grapefruity and resinous and bitter taste, not overpowering or offensive, but really packs a wallop. Finish and aftertaste are the same and the latter lasts. Light toast and caramel (and even a pinch of dark chocolate shavings) hidden under the delicious hoppy indulgence. Medium body, light terminal warming - alcohol is a smidgen too prominent here. Left a deep impression!