Beer Tasting: Pantius Droppus

That's right, this review is of Ellicotville Brewing Company offering Pantius Droppus.  Quite the clever name for this Imperial IPA.  I actually ventured to Ellicottville Brewing Company today with my family.  I was not there to do a beer place review, but merely to get the family out of the house on a rainy afternoon.  I am planning a return visit sometime over the summer to devote a full afternoon for a beer place review.  But at least I had the opportunity to see where Pantius Droppus was made - as the brewing operation is intimately exposed on the pub side of the brewery - and I enjoyed a delicious brisket sandwich.

Ellicottville Brewing Company resides in Ellicottville, NY, and is about an hour south of Buffalo.  Ellicottville is a very popular destination during ski season and certainly during the fall festival that takes place every October, when the entirety of Western New York descends upon this tiny village.  Here is a copy of Ellicottville Brewing Company's beer release schedule.

Here is a picture of my Pantius Droppus:

Ellicottville Brewing Company: Pantius Droppus

ABV: 10.6%

Style: American Double / Imperial IPA

Rating: 88/100 with 64 ratings on Beeradvocate.com

Pantius Droppus poured a clear amber with a cream-colored light tan head that showed retention.  The smell of Pantius Droppus was sweet malt and citrus.  Citrus notes such as grapefruit and orange can be detected.  The taste was even more malty and bitter than expected from the smell.  Pantius Droppus possesses a very strong malt presence.  And Pantius Droppus is not lacking in the bitterness department either; a strong cascade hop presence is evidence once your palate gets past the malt wall.  There are also orange zest tones that attempt to balance off the malt and hops, but I'm not sure the citrus flavors complete their task.  The mouthfeel of Pantius Droppus is medium and maybe a bit sticky and carbonation is average.

Overall, Pantius Droppus would accomplish the task of making pants drop in about 2-3 beers, as this beer is very convincing at 10.6% ABV.  Pantius Droppus is a powerful sweet and bitter beer with slight citrus tones.  I look forward to returning to the Ellicottville Brewing Company sometime in the near future and trying Pantius Droppus on tap instead of in a bottle.