Moylans Hopsickle Imperial India Pale Ale

Brewed by Moylans Brewery & Restaurant
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Novato, California USA

100% blind rating. Head is mostly diminishing. Body is dark amber. Aroma is lightly malty (toasted grain), moderately to heavily hoppy (resin, grapefruit), moderately yeasty (dough). Flavor is moderately sweet, moderately to heavily acidic, moderately bitter. Finish is lightly sweet, moderately acidic, heavily bitter. Medium to full body, watery texture, lively carbonation, lightly alcoholic. Eecchhhhhh...undrinkable.

Live/real ale. Most vendors just stick it on the shelf, but with this level of hops and alcohol, it is a survivor. Strong citrus influence, but it’s hops all the way. If anyone has aged this, I’d like to hear how it turned out. Too tempting for me.

Thanks for sharing, Duane. Man, this was a one dimensional hop bomb. Not to my liking at all. The body was cloudy medium orange with a white colored head. The aroma was in your face massive grapefruit. As much as I have ever smelled. There was also toast and some peanuts. The taste was very bitter with some grapefruit riunds. There was also almond shells and some plastic. Not for my taste buds, but hop head freaks will appreciate this one.

Grapefruit, grassy, green, leafy, somewhat vegetal hop nose. Clear copper coloured body is topped by a low, fine bubbled, white head that recedes to cover with some nice lacing. Grassy, vegetal, grapefruit hops in the flavour with assertive hop bitterness and sweet, toasty supporting malt base. Medium light body is quite dry with very lively carbonation that prickles the tongue. Bottle sampled at DenverLogan’s pre-GABF party 2005. Resampled May-09 and score adjusted upwards though comments are largely similar. Still find it a bit vegetal and initial bitterness is quite harsh. Original score 7-4-7-3-14=3.5.

RERATE: Bottle and served in IPA tulip: Appearance the same as is the aroma. I liked the flavor profile much more this time, while still intensely bitter there is at least some biscuity malt attempting to gain balance. My overall impression is much better but this is hardly among the better of the style. F:+2, O: +2

Original review (3.2): Bottle opened at Dr. Bill’s party at the Falling Rock:

Light coppery hue with a small but lasting head and very good lace. The aroma has big hop character out the arse of pineapple, pine, clove and pepper notes. Additional bready, toffee, and phenolic esters. Biting heavy resin taste to knock you down with a minimal amount of balance, a bit too much bitterness and citric qualities and too little of anything else. Sticky feel but still quite aggressive and sharp on the edges. Could of should of beer, I do wish to do a rerate on a fresher palate.

Bottle at home ... thanks to Agent steve ... hazy amber ... big resiny pine hops ... quite sweet juicy ... again pine hops ... over bitter for me ...little orange peel ... oily mough feel ... in the end its just much too bitter for me ...

Bottle. High fluffy and lasting white head leaving nice curtains. Clear and beautiful amber body. Spicy and dry hoppy aroma and unfortunately also a hint of the alcohol. Dry, dusty and hoppy nutty flavor with clear indications of the alcohol. Long hops bitter aftertaste. Low carbonation.

Sampled from 22-oz bomber that was originally picked up at Bottleworks in Seattle, Washington. Pours a semi-clear coppery amber brew with a thick off-white head that has some good retention. Aroma of orange and grapefruit zest, some caramel malt, pine, and a touch of heavy alcohol. Taste is medium bodied, light carbonation, with flavors of light caramel malt and over the top grapefruit juice, orange zest, and bitterness to curl your tongue. Finish is sweet at first and then a long lingering piney bitterness. A real West Coast Imperial IPA.