Odell India Pale Ale (IPA)

Brewed by Odell Brewing Company
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Fort Collins, Colorado USA

pours light amber with a thin white head. Strong citrus fruit aroma. Flavor is grapefruit, orange, mango, lemon, caramel, and a bit of floral spice. Finishes lightly bitter. Very nice IPA here, I’d say underrated, but....

Bottle, BB 7/20/08. Poured medium golden with a well-retained, sticky cap of off-white head. The aroma picked up a lovely hop array with floral notes, grapefruit, and orange zest.. toffee and fruity sweetness behind.. this did exactly what it was shooting for. The flavor was on par with heaps and bunches of orange and floral bitterness.. the malt bill was secondary and carried some pale and toffee notes.. very bitter finish that picked up some pine. Medium-bodied and bitter on the palate with a full, aggressive feel. This was very, very good.

12 oz bottle courtesy of Malcolm at the BA speedway release line tasting, he emphasized that this beer was only two weeks old. Poured a cloudy yellow gold with a white head. The aroma was of fresh green hops and something floral. The taste was big and green with lots of chlorophyll, caramel, spices, and lantana blooms. The mouthfeel was full and malty. The finish was long and dry with lingering spices. Overall: one of the best pure hoppy chlorophyll tastes ever in a beer. I loved it--get it fresh if you can.

Disclaimer: I’m not a big IPA fan. Pours a cloudy gold, with a massive white head. Aroma is fairly typical of IPAs, but doesn’t have the super strong aroma of most American IPAs. Flavor is actually pretty good. Although there is plenty of bitterness, its actually fairly balanced for an IPA. The hops don’t overpower this one, and there is a bit of spice (pepper maybe) and citrus tossed in for good measure. This one is certainly different. Palate is medium bodied and smooth, but finishes a bit dry for me. Overall a very drinkable IPA.

12oz bottle. Pours hazy yellow amber, capped with a moderate sized off-white head. Aroma is primarily citric hops and earth. Flavor is initially toffee and caramel, which are soon joined by fairly intense grapefruity hops. Hops linger on the palate.

A bit lighter in color than some IPA’s, this beer is a great blend of citrus, hops, and malt - none being too brazen in either aroma or taste.

Name: India Pale Ale
Date: May 31, 2008
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting, Noog Four-O
Appearance: cloudy dark yellow, wispy off white head, streaks of lace
Aroma: dry crystal malt aroma with a strong blend of earthy and floral hops with a touch of citrus
Flavor: dry crystal malt flavor, lots of earthy bitterness keeps it dry, only a hint of malty sweetness, long bitter finish
Overall: too dry

Name: India Pale Ale
Date: February 15, 2009
Mode: bottle
Score: 2.8 to 3.1
Appearance: hazy light orange, wispy white head, lots of sticky lace
Aroma: picking up a touch more sweetness in the crystal malt aroma, still lots of floral hops, maybe a bit less earthyness that allows for more sweetness
Flavor: flavor is still very dry and bitter, picking of more tasty floral hops that makes it quite nice in spite of the dryness
Overall: still needs a bit more sweetness

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 11/20
Rating: 3.1/5.0
Drinkability: 6/10
Score: *4

Looks like a standard pilsner when poured. Thin head and average lacing. Nose is strong on citrus and pine. Taste recreates the pine, reminiscent of a good retsina. Mouthfeel is smooth and clean with a frothy overtone. Aftertaste brings back the citrus and a small amount of pine. Nicely bitter. A great utility IPA - good for beginners.