Otter Creek Imperial India Pale Ale

I believe this was originally released back in May of ’09, but the hops were still very much in tact and this ended up being a very tasty drink. Citrus hop aroma with an emphasis on oranges and grapefruit. Clean evergreen scent coupled by a good biscuit malt effect. Golden copper pour, big white head and heavy lacing. Full bodied, dry with a great bitterness. At this stage the flavor was crossed between a pale/dry American Barleywine and a big hoppy monster. Hops are still involved after 6 months in the bottle with plenty of spruce and pine and citrus. Pale malt flavor biscuits, toast and caramel. I bet this was amazing fresh, and I also bet this would age very well and transform into a killer barleywine.

750ml bottle? Obtained in trade. Orangish amber pour with a light white head. Spicy hop aroma on top of grainish malt. Spicy/grassy hop flavors with a caramelized malt and plenty of crystal toping up the grain bill. Semi-dry mouth feel. Not bad.

Bottle acquired via Sparky27...ERIC ROCKS!!! Deep, dark copper pour with orange at the core and 10 karat edges. Thick, frothy ivory head that leaves delicate lacing splattered on the inside of the glass. Nose is non-descript citrus and caramel but inviting. Excited to take a drink. Flavor is fairly balanced, but tilts a bit toward the sweet. Thick for the style but was shocked by the ABV in this one. A good brew.

Pours to a three finger head. Good ring lace on the glass. Orange amber in color and respectably cloudy. Definitive hop presence, but not as much as most IIPAs. Smells fresh (as opposed to pellets), but it doesn’t have the distinctive smells of grapefruit or pine. Well balanced. Lots of darker bitter hop flavors up front that last through the swallow and aftertaste. The malt is strictly a delivery vehicle for the bitterness. Good body with a relatively low level of carbonation. Very little alcohol presence, which is remarkable given the 11% ABV.

2009-10-24. Hazy orange amber body with a foamy off-white head. 3+ Resiny hop aroma, brief pine/spruce needles. 7+ Flavour is pretty bitter, lots of resiny hops, modest citrus notes, dry alcohol in the finish amplifies the bitterness and illuminates a light astringent notes. Smooth average plus to medium bodied palate. Alcohol is relatively restrained but gets a touch rough as it warms up. Pretty decent still. Bottle shared by blankboy

Pours a clear orange amber color with a medium amount of bubbly white head. Aroma a bit toasty with earthy citric hops and a bit of booziness. Flavor is very up front hoppy bitterness - extremely bitter and resiny. Dry dry dry bitter hop finish. Overall, abrasive but good.

bottle thanks to cavie. amber with a cream head. great citrusy hops and esters on the nose. decent on the palate with a flavor of big, wet, citrusy hops.

Nice orange coloured body with a large white head. Aroma of potent hops, alcohol, malt and even more strong hops. Medium to Full-bodied; Strong hoppy flavours up front with a good malt backbone and some yeast coming through as well, all finished off by an apricot sweetness. Aftertaste shows more hops, bittering the palate, but with a refreshing finish along with the warming alcohol sensation. A good Imperial IPA, but not my favourite style. I sampled this 65 cL bottle purchased from Norm’s in Vienna, Virginia on 02-October-2009 sampled in Washington on 17-October-2009.