Sam Adams Rebel Rouser Double IPA Review

Name: Sam Adams Rebel Rouser Double IPA
Style: Imperial IPA
ABV: 8.4%
IBUs: 85

Last month, I reviewed Sam Adams' Rebel IPA, the first IPA that I would consider to be mainstream...relatively speaking, of course. Right after reviewing Rebel IPA, I discovered that there were two offshoots of the original beer and I have been trying to get around to having them. Today's beer is Rebel Rouser, which is their Imperial IPA. The other variation is a session IPA called Rebel Rider, which I hope to get around to reviewing in the future.

While it is heartening to see these offerings based on Rebel's success, I feel it will be a while before Rebel Rouser has a TV commercial of it's own. After all, Imperial IPAs have a ways to go before being considered as mainstream as Budweiser is.

Appearance - Hazy orange color with some very mild visible carbonation. The head is rather thin in appearance but the head (and lacing retention for that matter) are both quite good.

Aroma - Strong grapefruit notes paired with some equally strong citrus hops upfront. Some moderate piney hops and caramel maltiness make up the middle of the nose while there's a slight toffee sweetness on the back end.

Taste - Once again, the grapefruit notes and citrus hoppiness are loud and clear with some very noticeable bitter hoppiness and caramel maltiness in the second half of the flavor. However the biggest difference here is that the piney hops are also a lot stronger here and encompasses the flavor as a whole.

Rebel Rouser is a great beer and it shows that Sam Adams is really putting their best foot forward when it comes to the quality of their beer. Does it do anything to totally revolutionize the West Coast IPA style? No, but it doesn't necessarily need to as far as I'm concerned .

Sam Adams Rebel Rouser Double IPA - 9/10