SKA Decadent Imperial IPA

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

Bottle as shown. Pours a clear copper with a small frothy white head that diminishes quickly to nothing with decent lacing along the glass. The aroma is a piney hops with grapefruit and floral. Medium mouthfeel with a sweet hops with pine, grapefruit and nice bitter finish. Hides the alcohol well making it easy to drink. A very good IIPA from SKA.

Bottle: Copper pour with good clarity and a white film of head. Sweet sticky resiny aroma- thick caramel and sugary crystal malt with some candied citrus as well. Slick body with a sugary flavor. A bit hot. Some honey soaked candied citruses. The texture is not sticky but it’s very sugary with a peppery ethanol punch at the back. Not nearly dry enough.

Bottle courtesty of jbye4334 that I took to Peter’s tasting. Pours a clear ruby orange with a light thin white head. Large citrus, light pine, earthy malt. Medium to thick body, malty and with some big grapefruit tones. Finishes up with a big grapefruit bitterness. Thanks Josh.

Bottle bought at Sams in Chicago. Hazy amber coloured pour with a medium head. Sweet, malty aroma. Sweet, hoppy, pineapple, malty taste. No bitterness at all. Not complex or balanced enough but not bad. Reminded me of a sweet version of Brewdog Hardcore Imperial IPA.

Bomber --> goblet. Pours a good 1/2 inch consistent cream colored head with some effort. Body is cloudy copper. Head retention lasts only a minute but laces well. Looks like an IIPA should. Smells like hard candy and musk at first, then faint peach. Mouth feel is syrupy up front and a bit acrid at the back. Malt overpowers hops too much in this brew. After drinking Modus Hoperandi, I expected more bitter and flower power. Too much intense sweetness, but I do like the hint of hawaiian bread in there. I would back off the candi if this were my recipe. Overall, I’m still happy with this ale because it got my attention. It is, after all "self-indulgent" as the label says. I’d like to taste this same recipe fermented with Wyeast 1388 Belgian Strong ale yeast.

What an unbalanced mess. I can’t even finish this. Just way to harsh and hot. Sometimes big for the sake of big doesn’t work.

Bottle. Hmm I really wanted to like this beer but it is just way too sweet. There is some decent amount of hops in there, nice floral and piney hops to boot. However, it gets overwhelmed by this cloying sweetness. Way too much added candied sugar. Also a noticeable alcohol hotness detracts.

Very hazy/cloudy orange beer with a thin white head. It looks quite muddy and crappy. The nose is sweet with a lot of orange peel and a bit of tropical mango as well. The flavour is very sweet as well with a light orangey sweetness. It’s not bad, but it’s distinctly underhopped which gives it a very sweet flavour. The nose is plently appealing but it kind of underwhelms on the palate.