Union Jack India Pale Ale - Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

metter98

New York

4.22/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: The beer is crystal clear deep amber in color with no visible carbonation. There is a thin layer of bubbles on the surface.
S: There is a moderate, pleasant aroma of piney hops in the nose.
T: There is a good amount of bitterness from the hops, but this is not overpowering due to a good balance with the underlying malts. There are some notes of caramel malts.
M: It feels medium-bodied and very crisp on the palate; there is some dryness in the finish.
D: The beer is very easy to drink and the alcohol is well hidden. I would definitely have another of these.

Serving type: on-tap

06-17-2010 23:33:14 | More by metter98

StJamesGate

New York

4.28/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at the East v West Coast IPA Challenge, Rattle N Hum, NYC.

Pours a pale lively tangerine with a rocky white head that leaves fine-tooled lace. Fresh orange juice and fuchsia blossom nose - big and bright. Light Seville orange malts struggle to appear past juicy orange whip and birch hops. Long aspirin finish. Medium and fizzy.

Opens and mellows as it warms - toasted granola malts step up and the bitterness fades.

This IPA does a couple of things I've never seen before: it gets a tightrope balance between sweet citrus and astringent bitterness. Then it totally morphs from a Cali IPA to almost an English one. If I had to find fault, it's a little too prickly.

Mercurial and well-constructed; I see why it keeps winning medals.

Serving type: on-tap

06-09-2010 22:13:13 | More by StJamesGate

msubulldog25

Oregon

4.08/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pint glass (too frosty) poured at Rocco's Bar, Portland. Allowed to sit/warm for about ten minutes.

A: Clear pour with plenty of streaming carbonation cutting through a field of butterscotch/copper orange. Head is short, but epitomizes creamy whiteness; a million flecks of lace speckle the glass.

S: Powerful citrus, a blend of grapefruit and orange, marries with hearty evergreen - maybe a tad on the soapy/perfumed side. Takes some time to develop, but plenty strong once it does.

T: Like the nose, this flexes its muscles right away: pithy, almostly tingly, citrus zest; resinous and juicy needles; and under-coating of thick caramel and candied fruits.

M: A bit on the zesty side, yet not over-carbonated. Body carries some weight, medium-to-heavy feel, with a coating finish of bitter pith and pine.

D: Though categorized as a 'regular' American IPA, this toes a fine line toward being 'Imperial'. It's easy enough to drink one of, but midway through the second you may start to regret it. Or you'll feel so good you just don't care. Til tomorrow... Very worthy...

Serving type: on-tap

05-27-2010 00:46:08 | More by msubulldog25

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

3.9/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

One of 24 taps at the Greenroom, Flagstaff. My second beer, the name pulled me towards it, would it be like a UK IPA, being called Union Jack?

This is an all American IPA, hops to the fore!

The deep golden orange almost headless beer stared back at me, daring me to sniff and drink it. We locked horns and the battle began.

Hops attacked my nose, with hints of citrus fruits attempting to sneek through without a safety net, I laughed and took the hits without flinching.

Do your worst American hops, I'm ready for you. The taste was a hop blend which didn't have the bitterness some US IPA's have a habit of giving you, this was easy drinking compared to many. My delicate English palate wasn't offended in the slightest. I also noticed some caramel notes trying to get out of the glass, but the hops didn't allow anything else to have a say in the flavours and wouldn't let it become truely noticable.

Not a bad experience at all, I must be getting used to all these hops I keep coming up against on my US road trip.

Serving type: on-tap

05-25-2010 09:47:55 | More by BlackHaddock

DanOLeary

Washington

4.15/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Simmzy's Manhattan Beach.

Aroma: Citrus notes contain a grainy characteristic that is almost earthy, but more closely represent ground orange peel mashed together with melanoidin malts. Lemon. Ginger? Not entirely hop focused on the nose but it offers a complex array if you're looking.

Appearance: Pale gold. Light brushed copper. Deep amber. Take your pick. Brilliant filtered clarity that I don't look for in an IPA but it's acceptable. Head holds well as pure white with good lacing along the glass.

Flavor: Huge hop bitterness upfront that briefly gives way to sweet caramel before the hops come back strongly in the middle with an earthy bite, and it's a big bite. Barely enough malt to support the hops here, but for the hop lover it's not unbalanced. Finish is burnt toast, caramel and would you believe more hops? Yes. Alcohol spice comes out in stages but is generally hidden by hop aroma and flavor.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with medium carbonation. The intensity of the hop flavor and bitterness will fill the palate with a sting and slightly tannic effect, adding to the mouthfeel but bringing a distinct drying effect in the finish.

Overall:  Since I've been on a bit of a hop kick lately this beer hits the mark square in the face. Huge hop bitterness and gorilla hop flavor. While the malt is only supportive enough to hold the IBU's on your palate, for the hop seeker this will satisfy. For others, it will be unbalanced. Carbonation adds a tingling effect that only slightly lifts the hop oils off your tongue. The barley presence comes off as an afterthought to the Humulus Lupulus.

Serving type: on-tap

05-20-2010 04:41:51 | More by DanOLeary

timholio

California

4.5/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I thought this was a British beer I had not heard of yet when I ordered it...its a CA brew. Anyway I was completely fooled and it compares well to a Fullers ESB but is milder and no 'fruity' undertone. Lots of citrus,piney, lovely hops not overpowering.

The 7.5% is surprising I would have thought it was lower. I would drink this again, even as a session beer.

Serving type: on-tap

03-25-2010 01:21:25 | More by timholio

jerlleutz

California

5/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

To top it all off, I got a great pour, in a clean glass, and in a kick ass restaurant.

The color and consistency were perfect, golden and attractive. Nothing about it looked weak. It owned the glass.

Same story with smell and taste, which are more or less the same thing in my book. Hoppy and wonderfully bitter, the tastes were complex, pronounced and left nothing to be desired. Every tastebud and nosebud were hit, slain, in fact.

MF: fully present, ideal carbonation, perfect.

Granted, IPAs with a profile like this one aren't for everyone. Correction, they ARE for everyone that visit this site or even gives a hoot. In light of that, I could drink this one all week.

All in all, nothing was wrong with this one, and I loved it. Delicious.

Serving type: on-tap

02-19-2010 00:08:55 | More by jerlleutz

pugpresley

California

4.9/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I love this beer. It's brewed a 1/2 hour from my home.
If I ever win the lottery, I'm going to pay to bathe in it. It's become from favorite IPA. My reviews aren't scientific, I just know what I like. And I like this stuff. Good job Firestone, excellent.

Serving type: on-tap

01-29-2010 22:40:23 | More by pugpresley

BigBigPickle

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The only full pint of the day at Rattle n' Hum.

A: Golden copper - almost a clear, deep amber. Moderate head with no staying power. Good lacing.

S: Grapefruit and orange. Very nice floral hop bouquet.

T: Smooth - good hop balance with malt backbone. Brown sugar sweet.

M: Good bruise from hops with a nice malty, brown sugar sweetness on the lips.

D: Very drinkable sweetness with a bruising hop component make for a wonderful combination! I really like this beer.

Serving type: on-tap

01-24-2010 20:29:12 | More by BigBigPickle

plaid75

New York

4.33/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On draft at Henry's 12th Street Tavern, Portland, Oregon.

Poured a medium copper hue with a one finger foamy white head. There was good retention and lacing.

The smell featured a full blown citrus hop.

The taste consisted of leafy and citrus hops, a grainy malt and a touch of caramel.

The mouthfeel was at the full side of the style.

Overall a very tasty, hop driven west coast IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

12-23-2009 15:59:57 | More by plaid75

beertunes

Washington

3.35/5  rDev -21.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Served in straight pint glass. Poured a clean and clear golden amber with about an inch of slightly off white head that dissipated very quickly and left more than moderate lacing.

A floral hop aroma, backed with some pine, hits the nose upfront. The malt that , by definition, must be in beer has no presence. Yup, you guessed it, the flavors are dominantly pine and flowers.

Body and drinkability are average for the style. Overall, while this is a very enjoyable beer, I've now had a couple and look forward to more, it's just your basic California IPA. Very tasty, worth having several of, but does not stand away from the pack.

Serving type: on-tap

12-17-2009 12:45:24 | More by beertunes

jdense

Oregon

4.28/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Firestone Walker Taproom, 12/10. poured into the big FW 24 oz. mug.

Golden amber with a bit of chill haze, finger and a half of white head, slow dissipation, big lacing. A bit of spicy hops in the nose balanced with bready malts. The taste is pretty hop bomb but not overly spicy, with sweet and bready malts providing a nice balance for IPAs of this ABV. Nicely carbonated and very smooth. One big mug is good. Nice interpretation of the style.

Serving type: on-tap

12-13-2009 14:18:03 | More by jdense

cbarrett4

Oregon

4.2/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours with a decent head fading into a light lace. Zero carbonation apparent. Displays aromas of fresh pine, citrus, and green herbs. Rich flavors of pine, fresh hops, ginger, and grapefruit. Nice texture, good balance with the alcohol in check. Overall a very good beer and one that does down nice and easily. Very fresh and bitter.

Serving type: on-tap

11-26-2009 04:03:31 | More by cbarrett4

augustgarage

California

3.9/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Hand-pump cask at Blue Palms Brewhouse. Served in a nonic.

Tawny/sienna body with orange-tinged pale gold highlights. Some haze, which is a surprise for a filtered ale on cask. This is offset by the stiff sizable finger of shock white foam, thick lacing, and excellent retention.

Pleasant aromatics with challah, bitter orange zest, pine nettles, earth, and berries.

The malt, while mild, is up-front on the palate entry. The bitterness builds slowly and while citrus, pine, sage, earth, and some vague tropical notes (or maybe apricot?) reveal the hops - the malty sweetness never dissipates. In some ways, this reminds me of a weak barleywine.

The mouthfeel is rich, creamy, chewy, medium-bodied, yet somewhat delicate. The ABV seems to add body more than heat.

Overall, a little sweet for the style, and lacking the intensity or clarity of superior versions. Not sure this improved on cask vs. the bottle...

Serving type: cask

11-04-2009 04:33:53 | More by augustgarage

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

4.13/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Amber with a white head, some retention, amazing lacing.

S: Great hop nose, pine, citrus rind, candied fruit, pineapple.

T: Very assertive bitterness, rind, candied pineapple, pine, warming alcohol.

M: Moderate body has some hop acidity with an off-dry finish.

D: Like hops?

Serving type: on-tap

10-14-2009 02:55:17 | More by Derek

barleywinefiend

Washington

4/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a deep orange colr with a white head and good carbonation. Nose is big grapefruit, orange peel. Taste is chewy, acidic, caramel malt perhaps, orange peel, pine, sweet and a big hop bite on the end. Mouthfeel is acidic, tasty and sweet. Drinkability is good as usual.

Serving type: growler

10-06-2009 03:29:58 | More by barleywinefiend

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.43/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a bright, slightly darkened orange with a nice white head.

S: Lots of grapefruit, orange, and other citrus notes. Some malt sweetness far into the background.

T: Very similar to the smell. Lots of refreshing hop bitterness with a little bit of the sweet aroma working its way into the taste.

M: Medium-bodied with a little bit of chewiness.

D: Quite drinkable. A very nice IPA to quaff back all day.

Serving type: on-tap

10-01-2009 15:27:35 | More by Thorpe429

callmemickey

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Clear pale-amber body with golden hues. Moderate white cap, decent retention and sporadic lacing.

S: Grapefruit, fresh pine cones, light fresh flowers. Some light toasted malt and grains.

T: More of the characteristics from the nose. Vibrant hop character. Good citric-pine balance. Light malt body is a good palate for the bitterness of the hops.

M: Moderate body. Could use a little more carbonation. Somewhat rounded, resinous finish. I like it with a little more bite.

D: Overall the taste carries the day. A nice lively IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

09-24-2009 04:18:07 | More by callmemickey

nomomentwasted

Oregon

4.38/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Had this on-tap in downtown Santa Barbara, on State Street, poured into a 12oz mug.

Appearance: Traditional IPA look of golden-orange hue with decent head and lacing. Looks very appetizing, but not to say it's head-and-shoulders better than the competition.

Smell: Whew, what a hop bill! Smells very fresh and piny, with definite Cascade notes and potentially Simcoe as well. Slight, slight citrus undertones, but the top of the bill is certainly more pine and grass. Really full nose, with just a hint of malt sweetness of the back end.

Taste: Refreshingly bitter on the front end, and then hit with a wave of pine and citrus hops, that is blunted thereafter by a nice malt presence for a hoppy IPA. Taste finishes with more of a dank, wet hoppy taste that lingers nicely. Really, really sold.

Mouthfeel: Another winner in the terms of intensity. Wet, resinous, and much like Big Eye IPA from Ballast Point in the wetter, more-lingering dankness. Very solid bitterness as well, and just ultimately refreshing.

Drinkability: The only thing about that intense mouthfeel and taste is that it does drag down the drinkability just slightly, as I wouldn't want much more than a bomber of this, at the most. But still, a very, very tasty IPA that I'm a little surprised doesn't get a bit more buzz amongst hop lovers.

Serving type: on-tap

09-14-2009 15:38:01 | More by nomomentwasted

jeffjeff1

California

4/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This was a pretty good IPA. It was certainly refreshing because I hadnt had any beer in a while.

Appearance- dark gold, good lacing

Smell- hoppy

Taste- hops, bitter aftertaste

Mouthfeel- medium bodied

Drinkability- pretty drinkable, had it at Firestone Grill in San Luis Obispo

Serving type: on-tap

08-06-2009 03:59:16 | More by jeffjeff1

bargerking

California

3.9/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

I have had this both on tap and bottle plenty of times but this review was a tap pint at the brewery taproom.

Appearance is a deep copper almost brown. Smell is a major burst of pine and hops. You dont even have to put the glass up to your face for this one. Smell suggests that this beer means business. Taste is a pretty tough with hops and definatly gets the taste buds jumping. Mouthful is almost harsh and begs to be swallowed. To me, the hops are way over powering and dominate from start to finish. I know alot of people suggest citrus and other hints but the piney/resiny malt seemed to overpower everything for me. Aftertaste lingers and almost leaves your throat dry. I am not much of a Hophead but if I were, this would be a daily drinker. Its still a awesone FW beer but not my favorite... too strong of a taste for me.

Serving type: on-tap

07-30-2009 05:21:35 | More by bargerking

chicagobeerriot

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

On tap at the Oregon Brewers Festival. Pours light copper with a faint wispy head. You get a whiff of floral hops, peach and some light caramel. The taste displays an underrated characteristic in the IPA universe: balance. Some citrus tang on the tip of the tongue along with a bit of pine blends seemlessly with the vanilla and peach sweetness from the malt. A second round of hop bitterness brings things to a satisfying conclusion. This is not a hop symphony, but it doesn't need to be. This is simply a very well executed IPA where more subtle flavors are allowed to create a coherent drinking experience. If this was available in Illinois it would join the ranks of my go-to IPAs.

Serving type: on-tap

07-29-2009 01:04:40 | More by chicagobeerriot

washburnkid

New York

4.13/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the Davis Graduate.

A: one finger frothy white head dissipated to a nice cap over a good looking dark amber. Tons of cascading lace.
S: grapefruit and pine hops to boot. These aromas are very loud! There's a hint of spice and sweet caramel.
T: similar to aroma but really pine heavy. These hops are fresh and quite nice. There's a bit of caramel malt sweetness to balance.
M: lighter body with medium carbonation and a good amount of residuals despite being a bit thin.
D: not the most complicated hop profile ever, but still good and terribly drinkable and refreshing!

Serving type: on-tap

07-27-2009 05:10:35 | More by washburnkid

oxnard111

California

4.35/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-Light coppery clear color. Small white-light tan head that settles to a thin but consistent layer. Medium carbonation level. Medium lacing that followed the liquid level down the glass.

S-First smell is a smoky malty smell that is balanced with a citrus/honey piney hops aroma.

T-Well balanced between the piney/citrusy hops and the caramel malts. Smoky caramel/coffee undertones. Peppery after taste that lingers but is not overpowering.

M-Medium to thick mouth feel. Medium-medium high carbonation level. Perfect in my opinion.

D-Drinkability was great. Could imagine myself wrenching while drinking this brew or making it a whole evening session. Solid beer without being too heavy.

Great overall beer. Proud to be so close to this brewery. I haven't drunken a Firestone brew yet that I have been uterly disappointed with so far.

Served in a pint glass

Serving type: on-tap

07-21-2009 15:49:55 | More by oxnard111

ThreeWiseMen

California

3.85/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked up a growler of this from the brewery in Paso Robles a few days ago. Unfortunately, a good six or seven ounces of Union Jack leaked from the growler on the drive from San Luis Obispo to Fresno. Long story short, don't store growlers on their side, AND this beer seemed to be lacking in carbonation because of the incident.

Poured into a standard pint glass. Split the remaining Union Jack with a couple of high school buddies.

Appearance: No head on the first pour, and just a tiny white film on the second pour. (I was able to have about a 1.3333 pints.) Clear copper body shows faint signs of carbonation - a few stray bubbles here and there. The tiny head still drags wispy lacing down the walls of the glass. Doesn't look nearly as appetizing as normal.

Smell: Herbal hops, pine, and caramel. Quite weak, but still good.

Taste: Oily herbal hops, moist pine bark, caramel, grapefruit, and toasted grains. Bitterness seems a bit lower than normal (for Union Jack), but that may just be me. Taste is nearly unaffected by the aforementioned mishap.

Mouthfeel: Resinous, oily, sticky, and kinda flat. Very hop-forward. I would almost call the body "heavy" just because of the robust hop oils; however, "just past medium" is probably a more accurate description of the body.

Drinkability: Still damn good. I'm sure I'll get this in a growler again and just be more careful of it. This Union Jack was tainted, yet it reminded me how beautiful that beer really is.

Serving type: growler

06-21-2009 16:42:43 | More by ThreeWiseMen