New Belgium as been on the market in Alberta for the most part of 2014 and we have been able to try several of the Colorado brewery’s Double IPA’s. The newest of these to hit the shelves is the Rampant Imperial IPA touting 8.5% ABV and 85 IBU’s thanks to the use of Calypso, Mosaic and Centennial hops.
Pouring out a bright golden copper hue with a thick pillowy head a shade off white with tons of sticky lacing that coats the glass. The nose is emphatically hopped with notes of citrus and tropical stonefruit standing out with grassy and hay floral notes. A nice toasted caramel and honey sweet malt in the mid palate that should balance nicely with the mounds of fruity hops and bitter notes on the finish. Beautiful hop and fruity flavours abound with peach, stonefruit, pineapple, grapefruit and pine resin all making appearances. The finish is bitter and crisp with a sticky resinous mouthfeel that adds to the astringency. A bit of warm booziness finishes the flavour profile as moderate hop notes linger into an aftertaste with dry stoenfruit notes. Overall, a nice heavily hopped Imperial IPA with light malt notes and a good balance. The only drawback I find is that Rampant lacks a bit in originality and acts alot like a hyped up version of New Belgium’s Ranger IPA.
Grade: 88/100
The Alberta BeerSmith 
I am a big fan of New Belgium Brewing and their beer. This is a great beer for sure but I usually tend to gravitate to their Lips of Faith series.