Leinenkugel Big Eddy Imperial IPA

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

This poured an orange color with almost no head on it. The aroma contains some citrus mainly orange with some perfume, pine, and alcohol notes. The flavor is bitter with more citrus showing and a decent dose of alcohol showing up. There is a nice malt balance to this. Leine’s who knew? Overall good stuff.

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

Within its best by date but lacking in fresh hop aroma and flavor. Lots and lots of spice, biscuit and caramel. I've really liked the big eddy stout and scotch ale, but this is just bittersweet and under aerate for the style. 1 timer.

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

Another winner from the Big Eddy series. Although this is a pretty pedestrian DIPA, it is miles better than their standard offerings. Lots of citrus, pine, and earthy hops in the aroma. Taste is similarly hoppy but with a huge caramel malt presence that softens the bitterness.

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

Copper orange in color with a slight haze. Poured with a brief off-white foam that quickly disappeared. Fairly balanced, but intense aromas of caramel malt and ripe citrus hops with earthy, musty pine notes in the background. Slick, oily feel on the tongue as the carbonation pushes upward. Intense caramel malt flavor up front with a spicy hop tanginess. Floral and herbal hop flavors ride the malt wave through the middle with a hint of ripe orange. Hop flavors turn to bitter pine at the finish that lingers for a bit.

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

The big eddy beers are right on for style points even if they are a bit lacking in the wow factor. This is a very clear, orange iipa. Smell is fragrant but not mind blowing, the taste is similarly pleasant without being groundbreaking. A good intro to the style for those looking to take off the training wheels.

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

What a surprise! Had a pint last night at Romans' Pub in Milwaukee, and very favorably impressed. Served up a deep copper-red hue with a generous and lasting tan head. Aroma is top of the pops (hops)! HUGE floral, citrus, multi-faceted hop fragrance. Full mouthfeel and complex flavor of well-balanced hops and malts. Only problem with this one is, it's so dang strong, it should only be taken in the safety of your own home! Get it in the bottle and on the shelves, Leinie... I want to drink more, and not have to worry about falling down in public!

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

My first taste of beer was a Leinie's ("made with Chippewa Water from the Big Eddy Springs"), over forty years ago while musky fishing with my dad on the Chippewa Flowage near Hayward, WI. Since then, I've seen a dozen or so Leinenkugel varieties come and go; unfortunately, many of them were/are timid impressions of beer styles (Weiss, Bock, Doppelbock, Oktoberfest, Witbier, etc) disguised, perhaps, so as not to offend loyal customers like my dad. This new Imperial IPA is definitely NOT my father's Leinenkugel. It pours a crystal clear copper/orange color with a dense white head. The pronounced flowery aroma transports you directly to the hop fields at harvest time. The taste is anything but timid; it's complex and very bitter, as it should be, not exactly overpowering but perhaps a little harsh. There's not much noticeable malt for balance, howerver. Tasted alongside a Great Divide Double IPA for comparison, this Leinies lacked the richness and smoothness that comes from a seamless blending of hops and malt; although not many big IPAs can match Great Divide in that regard. This latest Leinie's is not readily available yet; it was just unveiled at the Leinenkugel 10th Street Brewery in Milwaukee, and is currently on tap for a limited time at Roman's Pub. I only hope that the suits at SABMiller reward their brewmasters (and their new generation of loyal customers) with production and distribution of this Big Eddy 'hop monster' in all its unadulterated Imperial glory, because it's the best Leinie's ever!