Deschutes Double Bale Quail Imperial IPA

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 7

Pours nice amber that leans more toward brown since it''s lacks the yellowish/orangish tints that make a true amber. The head was really hard to find no matter how hard I poured but doesn''t really taste flat. The aroma is fairly sweet and lacks the hop presence you''d expect from a beer with this much hops in it. I occassionally catch slight whiffs of alcohol, but it''s really wel covered. In the flavor the hops come out. The create a nice tongue tingle, don''t have much of a citric character. More pine sap, but not overwhelmingly so. It''s more just a big bitter that''s a bit harsh. There is a nice malt under there, really good cookie dough stuff that struggles to hold it''s own under the hop assault but only barely keeps its head above water. This is well brewed but unbalanced and would perhaps benefit from aging like the barley wine it claims to be on the back of its label.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 8

Same as the other two. San Diego Strong Ale Fest 2002.Very nice floral citrus nose. Very hoppy as you would expect. Somehow the brewers were able to keep a delicate body and profile on this one. Still a hop monster.

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

Oh my. Can mere words express how nice this beer is? Of course, before I get too carried away, please keep in mind that my taste buds may not be as calibrated as I would like them to be for something like this. I was in the beer desert that is the Gulf Coast of Mississippi for a 10 day business trip, and was forced to have to resort to such swill as Michelob and Killian's to quench a thirst. But I suspect that even with my taste buds still adjusting to the appropriate hop level, that I would be highly impressed with this Imperial IPA.

About the only thing I could complain about this is the fact that it only comes in a 12-oz bottle, and that the carbonation is a little too understated. Other than that, this is a very, very nice Double IPA. Huge hop nose, and a palatably semi-viscious and smooth feel in the mouth. More of a barleywine with big-ass hops, than a Pale Ale with tons more bitterness, in that the malt body is solid and rugged enough to get your attention (rather than the malt just playing second fiddle to all those big-ass hops). In other words, this is much more balanced than many of the as-yet unofficial style.

I have to stay loyal to my top co-favorite Double IPA's (Stone Ruination and Dogfish Head 90 Minute), but this is definately in the running, too. Difficult to find (thanks to Todd for the trade), but well worth the effort!
//TB

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 7

Orange brown color. Medium head. Aroma is sweet and fruity with a touch oak. A full bodied Imperial IPA/barley wine /American Strong Ale. Malts are nutty and somewhat sweet. Hops are grapefruity, piney and spicy. A big very hoppy beer. Touch of oak and fruit. This beer is hop dominate, there is no attempt to even try to balance the malts. The hops balance each other out, but there is no attempt to meet the malts. Hides the 10% alcohol very well. Finish is nicely oaky. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean, crisp and oaky. Aftertaste is bitter, with a touch of alcohol bite.