Thomas Creek Imperial Oak

Date: 01/28/2006
Mode: Firkin
Source: Brewfest, Atlanta Cask

hazy amber, frothy head, huge oaky aroma, lots of oak flavor dominating the profile, not oak tartness, wood wood and wood, light hop bitterness, touch of sweet malt, likeable in a one dimensional sort of way,

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 5/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 12/20
Rating: 3.1/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: **+/4

Cask @ 2006 Atlanta Cask Ale Fest: Hazy deep Copper color with minimal head. Big "oak barrel" aroma that pretty much covers up the fact that it is an IIPA/IPA. Flavor of acidci hop at the start followed by some bourbon and a moderate bitter finish. Dry finish with a medium body. To me a IIPA should be pretty big on the hop aroma so to cover that with barrel aging doesn’t make much sense to me but I wont fault anybody for experimenting.

On cask at the 2006 Atlanta Cask Ale Fest. Pours copper in color. Floral hop aroma with some mild oak. Does taste old, and has somewhat of an identity crisis going on. Doesn’t have neer the malt body or hoppiness to be an Imperial IPA. Maybe this would be better not on cask. As is, definitely downgrade for trueness to style.

On cask @ the Atlanta Cask Ale Tasting 2006. Hard to rate this one. Upon initial tasting, I thought it was horrible because I was expecting a IIPA. Agree with the previous rater, this doesn’t taste like a IIPA. Very comparable to Fish Tail Old Woody. Huge oaky flavor and aroma. After reassessing my expectations, pretty good overall.

This pours a fairly clear copper. The large aroma is really more overripe fruits from overworked yeasts than hops. Tastes a little old and comes across more like an English barleywine than a double IPA. I’m not sure if Thomas Creek will be releasing this beer elsewhere, but it definitely won’t be getting released in their home state anytime soon.