Epic Brewing Imperial IPA

Wednesday night, I attending a tasting at the Ale Jail (first visit, at long last, good work, Adam!) of a new brewery from Utah, about to enter our market, due to the tireless efforts of Brad the Beerguy. Never even heard of them, and when Brad sent the email out that day about Epic (Ale Jail certainly helped the hype with some internet teasing earlier.), I confused it with the Epic Brewing in New Zealand.
About 35 people there by my head count, sharing 22 22-ounce bombers. An impressive array of styles, much more than you'd expect any brewery to have on hand at once. Impressions all around were positive, but it's hard to really get a handle on a brew with less than an ounce to gauge. Someone noticed that one of the 22 bottles was missing. "Hey, we never did the Imperial IPA." It was nowhere to be seen. Where did it go? Oh, well, none of my concern...
Until Brad shows up with one of his employees, Tara, and the Epic owner, Dave, at the Blue Nile Thursday afternoon, with bottle in hand. I love unexpected gifts! So wonderful of him. Drank it up last night, here's what I thought:

Epic Brewing Imperial IPA, Exponential Series, Release #2, 10.1% a.b.v.
"You are holding something special--one of only 1800 bottles released and numbered. Intriqued? Visit www.epicbrewing,com to explore this limited brew's precise details. Brewed and bottled by EPIC Brewing Company, Salt Lake City, Utah."


Let's crack the crown and drink it down!

Beautiful peachy color, clouded, opaque…long-lasting ivory head. Looking lovely.

Aroma: ah, there it is, everything you want in an imperial IPA. Grapefruit, mango, orange and lemon confer with some piney permutations to give this wondrous hoppy bouquet. Potent and piquant, loud and looming, big and beautiful. Just is.

Taste: Bam! There is is, again! Everything enjoyed in the aroma comes back in the taste. Fat flavor, blistering bitterness, very lively, alert and alive. I just plain like it.

Bitter fruity flavor lasts and lasts. A constant barrage of juicy, bitter hoppy flavor. Slightly astringent, but sweet fruity flavor keeps it going . Wow, the hoppiness keeps on coming. Wow. Here's an excellent entry in the ranks of imperial IPAs. The flavor doesn't quit. Yum meets yum, and it keeps on coming.

Can't help loving this IPA. Mmmmm.