Ithaca Excelsior! IPAbbey

Formerly brewed at Ithaca Beer Company
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Ithaca, New York USA

My Bottom Line:
Piney hop resins develop citrusy buds atop the portly honeyed, caramel maltiness of this strong ale hybrid. Do not approach this as an example of any style, and you should enjoy the experience greatly.

Further Personal Perceptions:
-A veil of foam covers the hazy orange.
-Carbonation is soft and does not build an authentically Belgian body.
-The intense hoppiness is balanced out by the loads of caramel maltiness, but the malts do appear a bit fatty in the long run.
-Alcohol warms up the back end, but does not bother the flavor profile.
-As a Tripel, I would not say it is very successful. As a Double IPA, I would not say it is very successful. But as its own beer, I enjoyed it quite a bit.

Bottled in April ’07.

I think jah noth hooked me up with this bottle in one of our trades - these big Ithaca’s have been worth it every time. Sweet orange and grapefruit citrus hop nose. Brown with faint head. Citrus hop body with a strong yeast finish. Plenty of alcohol warmth cutting through.

Bottle 750 ml
Appearance :Cloudy, copper with bubbly ring, low carbonation.3+
Nose :Rich alcohol-hop fuse, nutty vanilla, green bitter end.7-
Flavour/Palate : Medium bodied , chewy malt well paired with green/aromatic hops . Centre of palate was citric with short brownmalt bits. Medium dry alcohol on side. Growing bitterness at finish. Good.

Bottle. Lightly hazy copper body with a good sized beige head. (3+) Pleasant bitterness throughout, moderate resin and citrus. (7+) Very nice hoppy aroma, resin, light citrus. (7+) Average to medium palate. Dry, lightly alcoholic finish. Pretty solid.

Excelsior to Brewfiend for supplying this! Cloudy copper color with no head. Big orange and piney aroma. Massive orange flavor along with a bit of the yeasty profile of a Tripel. I don’t get much of the honey and clove, but still a well done "dual style" beer.

Apr ’07. 718 Bottle. Beer is cloudy medium copper-brown colored. Head is moderate, off-white, frothy. Mostly diminishes but lasts.<P>The nose is overpowered with heavy hop notes of resin/pine, moderate apricot and citrus; Malty with a light note of toasted grain and biscuit; Yeasty with a light note of doughy basement. Not getting much Tripel out of it, all IPA.<P>The flavor is moderately sweet, lightly bitter, lightly acidic with a long, moderately sweet, lightly bitter, lightly acidic finish.<P>The body is medium, the texture is velvety and the carbonation is lively.

This has a great citrus hop aroma. Intense flavor, more citrus, hops and sweet malt. Dark brown appearance. All of the aromas and flavors are powerful, and the quality of the beer is clear. This is in the style of Houblon.

Date: 09/29/2007
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting, Cellar Party

clear dark copper, wispy off white head, specks of lace, sweet caramel malt aroma with strong citrus and earthy hops, sweet malt flavor, touch of fruity character, dark caramel malt sweetness, well balanced by lots of citrus hops, good balancing bitterness leaves a light bitter finish,

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 13/20
Rating: 3.4/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: **+/4