Legend Imperial IPA

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 5

~ 22oz bottle, purchased and sampled in the McLean/Vienna/Tyson's Corner VA area, on a quiet Wednesday evening.

Hmm, I've worked my way about half-way through this one, and I'm still hopping that something about it sticks out to me. Something to pick out with this beer, that really impresses me, or really repulses me, or... something. But to be honest, I'm really having a hard time pinning down what it is with this beer that really doesn't work for me.

Perhaps it's the semi-grassy and cooked vegetable aroma? Yeah, hops in there too, for sure, but with some other, much less desireable aspects too....

Or perhaps it's the rather lacking appearence. Is this the Jessica Simpson of beers? Great body, but nothing on top? (Meaning: the head retention of this one sucked. No head, no foam, nada).

Or perhaps the flavor profile has something to say for itself. Workable, in that, yes, this does have what can only be referred to in a tongue-in-cheek manner as an "Imperial" IPA's worth of hops, for whatever that's worth. But I'm not wholly buying off on the recipe. Too many rough and jagged edges to the flavor profile for my liking. I like the fruity esters in the mix, that's true, but they get tossed around in the mosh-pit/food processor, with only the backend of this beer really revealing them again in any shape or form.

This is a big beer, with 8%ABV, and a whole bunch of IBU's, so I guess that makes it an IIPA by default. But while it has the numbers for the style, and it's not wholly off the mark for me, it really doesn't wow me much at all. Too rough-n'-ready in the mouthfeel and flavor for me, sorry....
//TB

Aroma: 10 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 9

Pours with a golden-orange body topped by a thick head with lots of lacing. It’s sweet, fruity and full of grapefruity hop notes with a slight maltiness. Medium to full bodied, warming and surprisingly smooth.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 9

Poured a copper color with a small, off white head, that left nice lacing on the glass. Aroma of pine, orange citrus, spicy hops, and a caramel maltiness. The hops come off here very spicy, while also allowing some citrus, and a very intense bitterness. Sweet and fruity as well, this one definitely works.