Pelican India Pelican Ale

Brewed by Pelican Pub & Brewery
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Pacific City, Oregon USA

13-Dec-04 (22 oz bottle: $3.70 at Liquid Solutions in Tigard, OR) Oh yeah, now this is my kind of IPA, very flavorful and balanced with a strong malt presence to keep the hops in check, but not under foot. This beer has that brewery-fresh raw maltiness in the flavor and nose, and I’m such a sucker for that characteristic. Fairly sweet and moderately hoppy, with a bitter grapefruit and barleywine-like fruitiness coming out in the finish. The nose is actually quite malty and sweet, with less hoppiness than the flavor. Better than medium bodied, with a fairly substantial palate. Deep golden, amber color with a slight haziness. Off-white head pours an average size and the retention of a thin layer is also about average. Irregular patches of lace are scattered about the glass. I think this beer would be incredible if aged in oak. (8, 4, 8, 4, 17, total: 4.1)

14-Aug-05 (Draft: Horse Brass Pub in Portland, OR) So, fresh on tap rather than out of the bottle, the strong maltiness isn’t nearly as strong in either the nose or flavor, and in fact, this is a hops dominated IPA, bitter and grapefruit citrusy, in the west coast tradition. So not as good to me this time around, but that style of IPA, it’s exceptionally flavorful and freshly hoppy.

A bemused deep amber color, the head is planetary in size, spumescent in texture, a winsome light beige in color and after desiccation, a thick glutinous sheet is left behind to hide the glass. Sweet floral aroma dominates the nose, citrus crisp and fresh, quite a treat to the olfactory senses with a thickly malt sweet start, the top a bit thin for my liking. Finish has a delectable hop spiciness, the acidity tolerable, quite dry and the hop bitterness stays to the very end, a middle of the road IPA, and quite drinkable.

Sampled from bottle at Stockholm Beer & Whisky Festival 2005.
Pours slightly hazy dark golden and a foamy off-white head. Grassy hoppy aroma, like a newly mowed lawn. Sweet malty, fruity and sugary notes, fresh and typical American. Grassy and very bitter hoppy flavor with nutty notes. Fresh, full and tasty and well balanced despite the heavy hoppyness. Yummi!!

2005 Vintage bottle shared with Hogtown Harry, his bottle via Blankboy. Deep orange, big fluffy orange tinted head. Strong aroma of malt, resiny hops. Very rich, but not too in your face. Strong hops in taste, very very spicy and peppery. Lots of citrus along with substantial malt body and a touch of alcohol. Very spicy alcohol burn in the finish - very long finish. Quite balanced really, and as it heats up, you’d almost think it was a IIPA, as it is quite assertive. Just a little too much burn as it sits, otherwise, extremely good.

Bottle: Courtesy of wolhfs. Huge citrus hop aroma with lots of grapefruit. Pours a bright transparent orange with an off-white head. Very citrusy throughout. Sweet citrus up front with a hint of apricot and caramel. Big grapefruit hop finish. Well balanced. One of the better IPA’s I’ve had in a while.

Bottle pours a slightly hazy golden, large foamy white head, extremely light carbonation, with attractive lacing.   Fresh, sweet hop aroma on this one.   Subtle pine/spruce notes as well.   Sweet & spicy hop flavor up front, but followed by some tartness and semi-sweet citrus like bitterness thats fairly reminiscent of a barleywine.   Fairly round body, good mouthfeel.   Finishes with lots of hop bitterness.   This one was somewhat malty, but not enough for my tastes.   If you like straight foward hop bitterness, this one is for you!

Bottle. The beer pours to a glowing caramel/light orange body with a creamy off-white head. The aroma is sweet with tons of bitter grapefruit hops. Flaked malts/grains. Some oranges. The flavor is grassy with some light citrus oils. Pretty malty. Bitter creamy palate.

Rating 1000; 22oz Bottle: Had an aroma of dry citrus peels. Dark golden body with off white head. Flavor had a good citrus hop bite with some spicy flavor in the background. Cool and crisp on the palate. Good brew