SKA Decadent Imperial IPA

Brewed by SKA Brewing
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Durango, Colorado USA

5/01/2007: SKA Decadent Imperial IPA pours a murky golden-amber color with a diminishing off-white frothy head. There is also some lacing present. The aroma is carmel and toffee malts and a moderate level of citrus hops. The flavor has a mild bittereness. It just isn’t bery bitter overall, so the "imperial" designation must apply to the alcohol content and not the bitterness level. This is just a well balanced, malty and citrusy IPA with lots of alcohol. The alcohol is very well hidden for 10% ABV. The body of the beer is medium. There is a moderate level of carbonation and the mouthfeel is creamy. The Decadent Imperial IPA is much better than the other SKA brews that I have had. I was just about ready to give up on this brewery, but this one was pretty decent... 22 oz bottle (red wax-sealed) shared with Rob.

Makes an immediate impression with it’s wafting alcohol fumes. Amber, medium off-white head, ok lacing. After some of the booze aroma goes away, you get some lemony grapefruit citrus. Taste is hoppy upfront - kind of harsh, a little while later there’s some sweet maltiness and then more citrus peel bitterness at the end. Not bad, maybe try a slightly aged bottle.

Shared with my good friend, Ando! Appearance: Pours a reddish-copped body with a thinnish, white head. Smell: Hinting at its impending sweetness, the aroma smells strongly of caramel and orange-flavored candy, with some hints of pine, cinnamon, and fruit in the background. Taste: Relying heavily on malts, the beer primarily features a heft of sweet, sweet caramel. The piney, citrusy hop flavor tries with all its might, but eventually ends with a rather weak finish. Ando professes it to be "well-balanced" but its a bit too sweet for me. However, we both agree that it lacks complexity. Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Low carbonation. Neither silky nor syrupy, its unquestionably marshmallowy. "Like those duckies you get, well, I don’t get them personally, but those duckies you get during Easter. Poofs?" Peeps. Drinkability: Decadent is never luxurious, majestic, or an awe-inspiring display of the brewing arts, but its still decent. I’ll give it that. "Second to many!" bellows Ando.

Hazy orange amber, almond coloured rocky head with excellent retention. Fresh resinous piney hop aroma, undertones of fruit and malt. sweet malt with generous hop character, moderately heavy mouthfeel, more fruit hoppiness than pine, lending a softer mouthfeel, a little earthy/salty as well. Delicious. Shared with Tyler Durden (thanks buddy!).

Pours rich amber with copper highlights. Sweet/sour hops on the nose. Slightly musty. Hints of spice (clove?). Thin with subdued hops on the palate. Unimpressive.

WBF-Raleigh. Clear amber body with a small white head. Sweet caramel and floral hops aroma. Sweet floral hops flavor with a caramel background.

nice aroma of tart apples, oranges and grain. flavor is not complex, or hoppy enough. but the alcohol is subdued

The aroma of this beer is amazing. Apple, citrus, and berry notes are all there. These hide a suprising mellow bitterness that is only slightly above average.