Ithaca Excelsior! Ten

Brewed by Ithaca Beer Company
Style: American Strong Ale
Ithaca, New York USA

I thought Ithaca Beer Company and didn’t expect this level of craftmanship with the initial sticky banana-esque yeasty character along with a heavy malt bomb supplanted with a citrus grapefruity hop explosion. The only thing keeping this from perfect in my taste buds is the lingering caramel malt, murky appearance, and the unhidden alcohol burn which slides in with the malt character. If drinkability was a factor, I’d score a bit lower but who cares, I want the aggressive character!

In short: Some kind of super-malted rich IIPA. Very good and very drinkable
How: Bottle 750ml, fresh, drank a few days after purchase
The look: Cloudy redish-brown body topped y a small beige head
In long: Had it a few times, this bottle I’m rating was noticeably different from previous experiences. Nose is fruity caramel with plenty of sweet red fruits (even strawberries!). I particularly liked the rich maltiness in this one. Big fat rich and sweet round juicy fruity caramel, that baby’s got malt. Leafy resinous hops. 10% is nowhere to be found. This is a big nourishing heavy and very hoppy beer that is never aggressive and surprisingly easy to drink. Splendid body, and you know, you need a great body when you want people to say you’re a ten.

bottle: pours with a big off white head above a good dark amber body. aroma is very hoppy with slight bitterness good malt behind the hops slight citrus also. flavour is full of hops that are citrus bitter decent malt hides behind all the hops easy to drink.

Pours hazy dark amber with off white head. Aromas of pine and bready malts. Flvaors of caramel, malts, brown sugar, spices and pine hops. Medium to full body with average carbonation. Good stuff.

750 ml bottle. Batch E!009. Pours a hazy brown with a massive off-white head that lasted through three-quarters of the glass and left patchy lace. Very pleasant aroma of malt, molasses, and orange. The flavor is equally nice with rich malt up front, follwed by some roasted orange (almost like BBQing some orange slices), brown sugar, and some pine towards the finish. Moderate bitterness towards the end that lingers for a couple of seconds beyond the swallow. Mouthfeel is a bit chewy, which I liked. Good stuff.

Draft at brewery. Reddish-brown body, small tan head, hoppy nose. Rich mouthfeel, moderately sweet and malty, soft hoppiness dominates.

Bottle: Pours a hazy deep bronze/amber with a thick, extremely dense tan head that laces and never fades. Has a rich & pungent aroma. Thick spruce/pine needles, along with wintery spice notes of cinnamon, clove, chewy & sweet rye bread character, a touch of toffee and even more piny hop notes. Quite nice. The body is thick and creamy without being cloying. Has a big flavor which is nicely balanced. Thick and chewy malt character with rye bread-like malt, cinnamon spiciness and chai notes that help even out the massive malty body. Even more spice character comes through to balance, with copious amounts of wintery pine and hop dryness. This is a big beer that is beautifully balanced and easily drinkable for it’s size. Would be a perfect warming Ale on a cold winter night.

Date: 06/21/2008
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting, Cellar Party

Appearance: cloudy dark red, fine beige head,
Aroma: huge sweet crystal and dark caramel aroma with a fruity sweetness and lots of earthyness, touch of pine,
Flavor: sweet hot crystal malt flavor, tons of earthy and floral hops, long bitter finish,

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 8/10; Overall: 15/20
Rating: 3.7/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: **4