Ithaca Cascazilla

The name CascaZilla is a play on both the name of our local Cascadilla Gorge and the monster amounts of Cascade hops in this beer. This red ale gets its distinctive color from a healthy portion of caramel malt, which also lends some body and sweetness to the beer. The predominant flavor and aromoa of this beer, however, is brought to you by the fresh American hops. If you haven’t done so yet, treat yourself to Ithaca Beer’s new monstrously hoppy Red Ale.

3.5

530 reviews

Ithaca, United States

Community reviews

3.5 A solid brow ale from Ithaca. I like how it wasn't just a sweet weak beer but had some bit to it.

3.6 12 oz bottle poured into a tumbler..amber pour w/fluffy white head..aroma of resin,pine,florals,caramel..tastes like it smells with decent malt backbone..not bad

3.4 Draft at Moriartys. Clear dark honey amber pour with a large off-white head that left a lot of sticky sugary lace. Fair amount of dark blonde caramel malt flavors pretty well balanced with a ton of Cascade hops. The earthy/autumn forest hop notes match well with the complex raw sugary caramel. Hints of rich amber fruit. Peppery spice. ABV feels higher than 7%. Not bad at all.

2.4 12oz bottle from Wegmans, West Seneca, NY. A hazy reddish amber pour with a tight cream head; citrusy pine aroma; the taste starts the same but then develops a peculiar creamy caramel sweetness that doesn’t appeal to me at all. This is definitely a miss from my point of view.

3.3 Pours a deep darker amber with red hues ( and a creamy head. Aromas of rich caramel, floral/citrus hops. Flavors of floral/citrus apricot/slight peach upfront with a light caramel backbone. Medium sweet lightly dry and somewhat complex. If the ingredients were double it would be excellent.

3.7 On tap nyc. Dark copper amber with tan head. Grassy hop aroma. Caramel malt sweetness and pine bitter hop to balance. I like this style (India Amber Ale).

3.6 Transfer from BA review on 4-19-13- Served on tap in a pint glass Appearance – The beer is served a hazy copper color with a one half finger white creamy head. The has a pretty nice level of retention, slowly fading to leave a good level of lace on the sides of the glass. Smell – The aroma is heaviest of a toasted malts and a lighter caramel smell. Mixed with these aromas are notes of some hop being of a citrus and pine nature, but with some lighter aromas of a floral nature as well. Taste – The taste starts out with A toasted malt flavor with a bit of a caramel malt sweetness. Upfront there are some flavors of citrus hop being of a more grapefruit flavor. As the taste advances however, some more hop flavors begin meeting the tongue, overwhelming the little bit of grapefruit hop. Hop flavors of a pine and floral nature then find their way to the tongue. These mix with an almost roasted cocoa like flavor as well as some more sweetness at the end to leave a moderate resinous and malty flavor to linger on the tongue. Mouthfeel- The body of the brew is on the slightly thicker and creamier side with a carbonation level that is rather average. The creamier body is quite nice for accentuating the hoppier pine and floral tastes at the end of the brew as well as the toasted malt flavors mixed with a bit of rye that are in the base of the brew. Overall - A decent American amber. It has a nice hop flavor blend starting with more of a citrus and developing more of a pine later on.

3.7 Nice color with just a hint if red. Nice hop aroma and taste. From a bottle.

2.7 Bottle to a English pub glass. Pours a cloudy amber color with a yellow head that dissipates quickly. Not too much on the nose, just maybe some malt notes. Easy mouthfeel with a lot of hop character. Pretty nice.

3.3 Brownish in color with ruby hilights. Average size foam head with good carbonation. Toffee malt aroma with a fresh herbal hop bouquet. Tastes of caramel and toffee malts, sweet. Hop flavor is fresh citrus and herbs, but is understated. I was expecting more of a hop bite that was suggested according to the website. Medium bodied beer that is balanced nicely. A dry finish with a smooth clean aftertaste. There’s some sediment in the bottle. Personally I think it could be hopped up alittle bit.

3.5 Pours a deep darker amber with red hues ( and a creamy head. Aromas of rich caramel, floral/citrus hops. Flavors of floral/citrus apricot/slight peach upfront with a light caramel backbone. Medium sweet lightly dry and somewhat complex. If the ingredients were double it would be excellent.

3.3 Bottle, thanks to BoostIPA. Pours clear amber with minimal head. Aroma is thick caramel, highlighted by marshmallow. Taste is moderately sweet, lightly bitter finish, lots of thick, earthy caramel. I’m guessing this one has a bit of age on it, since there’s no real discernible hop presence aside from the bitterness. Medium full body, thick texture.

3.7 Bottle pour. Muddy, reddish chocolate brown. Full, off white head. Persistent lacing. Orange sherbet, caramel, light toasted malts on the nose. Taste is malt forward. Dry and bittersweet throughout. Earthy hops on finish. A bit sticky on the palate.

3.5 Pours a murky orange brown with ample cream head. Aroma is dominantly sweet malt but with a mango like hope note punching through. Taste is somewhat biscuity malt with a fine counter of lemony hops. Finish is nicely bitter and lingering.

4.1 Awesome! Pours slightly cloudy amber with limited head covering and lots of lacing. Nose is fruity and grassy. Notes of fruit, flowers, light English breakfast tea and lots of grapefruit bitterness. Taste is medium/light sweet and medium bitter. Somewhat creamy body with lively carbonation.

4.1 Great tasting and good looking ale. Looks good and doesn’t remind you of your typical amber ale. Hints the high rating probably.

3.7 On tap at Blind Tiger NYC. Good deep red colour, thin foam. A good red, solid crisp crunchy malts and a bitterness from a pretty huge dose of hops. Slight citrusy feel. Perilously drinkable.

3.9 Keg at Five Horses. Pours clear red, thin white lasting head, thick lacing. Serious cascade aroma, grapefruit and tropical fruit. Caramel sweetness and tropical fruit bitterness. Lovely carbonation, medium body, lingering fruit aftertaste. Robust and solid beer.

3.5 Poured and shared a bottle it is a clear holden beer with a creamy white head. The aroma is peachy and the taste is citrus that resonated bitter on the palate

3.6 From a 12 oz bottle shared at home. Pours a clear light amber with an off white head. Fruity nose. Flavors of grassy hops with hints of citrus and pine resin Medium bodied, bitter finish.

3.4 Bottle gift from SJ. This was ok. Nice notes of caramel malt, floral hop and bread, The finish was sweet, but not overly, and it was good.

4.1 An ambet color and taste but finishes as a hoppy pale ale with lingering bitterness on palate

3.6 Bottle to pint. Looks good for the style; a translucent mahogany with off-white head that steadily dissipates into lacing. Smells solid too; caramel malt and bitter hops. Tastes like it smells with a solid mouthfeel. Enjoyable.

3.8 12oz bottle thanks to DrSilverworm along with the entrepreneur AndyReynolds - grapefruit nose. An amber? Really? Good hop taste.

3.8 12oz bottle. Best before notch is on "march". Mostly clear amber red color. Thin bubbly off-white head. Ropes and dots of lace. Bigger body. Smooth, crisp, lighter carbonation. Good moderate to bigger bitter taste, little sweet... Finishes dry. Nice tropical fruit aroma, pine, grassiness. Lightly spiciness. Good toasty malt. Impressive stuff! Much better than expected.

3.7 Malty aroma, with a bit if roasted malt and some hops. Flavor is full and pretty balanced. Malty with a dry hop finish. Actually quite enjoyable.

2.7 Pours a copper color with an orange hue. Aroma is upfront with hops hitting the nose. Taste is truly of an IPA with grapefruit bitterness mixed with floral hops. A distinct bite of bitterness of overloaded bitter happiness which dissipates nicely to a clean finish.

3.8 1/6/14. Come on, Noles! You can do this! The last 12oz bottle brought down by JBVatkeens. Sad day! :( Anyway, amber red pour with a small khaki head that fades to a ring. Leafy Cascade aroma, lots of citrus, very fresh hop character, mild caramel and biscuit. Milder, maltier flavor, biscuit, caramel, but a good hop bite to balance it out. Tasty stuff.

3.2 Best B: sept, 2011 Verbatim from notes: 16AUG11 A: Pours brown-red with a single finger of light caramel head. Excellent clarity. spotty lacing. S: Brown sugar, sweet caramel, a little chemical. Spicy simcoe and cascade feeling. T: Bitter and sharp. Spicy with a hint of banana. Hints of metallics. M: medium body with mod carb. Thick slick finish. O: Not bad. not my favorite from the brewery at all. I think maybe this would be better a few weeks younger. Serving type: bottle 08-18-2011

3.8 Bottle at home, from Beer Table Pantry NYC, 20/12/13. Pours a hazed marmalade orange/dark amber with a good sized dirty looking off white head that thins a little but settles down for the evening. Nose is caramel malt, dank hops, biscuit, red grapefruit, pine resin. Taste comprises caramel malt, orange pith, grapefruit, light mango, sticky pine resin. Medium bodied, fine carbonation, semi aggressive grassy hop bitterness in the closure. Solid hopped up amber !