Wild Rose Brewing announced today that their widely acclaimed Imperial IPA will make its 2011 return on January 13. As usual it will come in the 500-ml swing-top bottles they reserve for their seasonals.

These days there are a number of double IPAs floating around, but Wild Rose was one of the first in Canada to attempt this ambitious style, brewing it first in 2009. For those not familiar, Imperial India Pale Ales (IIPA – hence the term Double IPA) are bigger, hoppier versions of the hoppy IPA made famous in England in the 1800s. U.S. brewers were the first to push the IPA envelope (and many other such envelopes to boot), and the trend has slowly worked its way north into Canada. Some love the big hop bomb nature of these beer, while others wonder if you can push things too far. I will leave you to decide for yourself.

If/when I get my hands on a bottle I will offer my take on this year’s edition. For now, I can report that the brewery indicates that they used 6 different hops in the beer – Apollo, Cascade, Centennial, Glacier, Simcoe & Zeu. In short, it will have lots of American character – citrus, grapefruit and grassiness – over 130 IBU worth. It clocks in at 9.4% alcohol, so be careful kids.

Otherwise things are quiet on the new beer front. After a flurry of new beer late in 2010, early 2011 looks quiet for now. It gives us time to catch up.