They might have had to give Almighty Day a miss at the brewpub this year but Bad Shepherd's imperial IPA is back for another springtime run. The fifth iteration of the beer weighs in a little lighter on the booze front than some of its forebears, but the brewers have still looked to cram in enough hops to register 100 International Bitterness Units.
That said, it doesn't present with the palate-shredding impact like the 100 IBU double IPAs that would land on these shares from the US a decade or so ago; a sweetness composed of light caramel malts and that 8.5 percent ABV alcohol prevents that. The malts play as much of a role aroma and flavour wise too, matching the stone fruit from the hops and conjuring thoughts not so much of the West Coast IPAs of yore but an English IPA with the boosters on – less showy but still letting you know you've got a big beer in your hands.
James Smith
- Style
- Imperial IPA
- ABV
- 8.5%
- Bitterness
- 100 IBU
