Brewery: Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Chico, California
Beer: Torpedo Extra IPA
Serving: 16 oz can
Glassware: Sierra Nevada imperial pint
Information: 7.2 % ABV
Style: American IPA
Price: $8.99 4-pack cans / 6-pack bottles
Availability: Year-round
Cellaring: Not recommended for extended aging.
Pairings: Spicy Thai or curried cuisine, sharp, peppery, or pungent cheese, grilled meat.
Appearance
Brilliant clarity allows the gorgeous bronzy amber color to shine vibrantly. It also shows tiny floating particles throughout the beer, gently rotated by the streaming carbonation. Rocky and tall, the ivory head lowers slowly, caking the pine in mounds of gooey lace!
Smell
Full-on hop-forward, Torpedo blasts an earthy combination of aromas into the air; from sticky pine resin to dry leaf and mulch pile, the aromatic nose is aggressive. Smooth Vienna-like malt imparts notes of caramel cube and toffee shard in the background for nice, albeit lopsided, balance.
Taste
Sticky caramel malt coats the tongue with it’s base characteristics, slowly adding in toast notes before the hops totally take over. Earthy, almost musty like the aroma, the hops impart dry leaf, woody notes, and resiny pine that lingers through the finish. You won’t find those bright citrusy characteristics here!
Mouthfeel
Medium-full bodied, Torpedo’s sticky sweetness balances out the bold hop additions which fill the finish with a “I-need-another-sip” dryness and resiny, lip-smacking bitterness.
Overall
Total hop domination from Sierra Nevada, experts at balancing their bold hop creations, Torpedo meticulously combines smooth, caramelized malts with strong earthy hops and a faint warming alcohol finish for an awesomely bitter, delicious IPA!
Score: 91 / 100 - Exceptional
Cheers,
-Andy
