Half Cycle IPA - Flat 12 Bierwerks

TheSSG

Illinois

3.31/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a huge, dense, white head that has a bit of lacing. Huge, bright grapefruit aroma with a faint sweet malt in the background. Radiant gold color. Starts with a very bitter (and surprisingly) intense pine flavor that almost reminds me of gasoline. It subsides briefly to have a medium-high pine citrus, with mostly bitterness in the finish. If you let it sit a bit, the malt does come through, and the pine sap bitterness subsides into a really pleasant hoppiness.

Holy hell was this unexpected. 104.1 IBU's at 6% ABV. This is an absolute kick in the tongue, which isn't my thing, but maybe it's your thing. I like my hops floral and intensely aromatic, but without such bitterness. Maybe a little bit of pine, and citrus is always nice, but I just don't dig such an aggressive pine profile. If you like to lick sticky pine sap, and you crave bitterness, head over to this one.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2013 02:17:39 | More by TheSSG

bkonk10

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%

05-22-2013 01:57:37 | More by bkonk10

nesarebad

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

05-22-2013 01:28:17 | More by nesarebad

Mcvs1507

Indiana

4/5  rDev +2.3%

05-20-2013 05:53:51 | More by Mcvs1507

rhoadsrage

Illinois

2.85/5  rDev -27.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

(Served in a bowtie glass)
A- This beer pours a touch of haze to a orange body with a thin ring of white foam supported by a few big bubbles working to the surface.

S- The notes of light toasted malt have a mineral quality to them with some caramel sweetness growing in the finish. A faint hint of green hops come through as it warms.

T- The dandelion greens hop flavor is all bitterness from start to finish for the first few sips. The dandelion milk bitterness stains the tongue as it lingers after each sip. There are some British hop qualities that come through as it opens and some watery malt notes try to fight its way in but the bitterness just dominates.

M- This beer has a medium mouthfeel with a gentle carbonation in the finish.

O- The full bitterness dominates and stains the tongue with really no other hop character standing a chance. There are faint malt hints but they remain buried. This beer was all one sided with no other character and it was tough to get through the glass.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 21:23:51 | More by rhoadsrage

Bierguy5

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%

05-13-2013 00:40:33 | More by Bierguy5

TheSevenDuffs

Ontario (Canada)

3.34/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

On tap @ Flying Saucer in Nashville

A - Light orange/yellow with a ring of white head.

S - Grapefruit, orange and some caramel malt sweetness.

T - Moderate bitterness with a huge caramel malt sweetness. Some pine and floral flavours with a touch of citrus. Low bitterness for the style.

M - Light to medium body. Light carbonation.

Serving type: on-tap

04-29-2013 12:08:13 | More by TheSevenDuffs

DGSchmitt

New York

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%

04-24-2013 01:53:49 | More by DGSchmitt

ColtsPig

Indiana

5/5  rDev +27.9%

04-21-2013 22:50:58 | More by ColtsPig

4Socialanxiety

Tennessee

4/5  rDev +2.3%

04-21-2013 01:19:11 | More by 4Socialanxiety

skinnycox

Indiana

4/5  rDev +2.3%

04-18-2013 13:03:03 | More by skinnycox

Roman5150

Michigan

4.26/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

bottle purchased from Beer Depot in Murfreesboro, TN, poured into tulip glass

appearance: light orange amber, small one finger white head that doesn't last

smell: grapefruit, earthy piney hops, citrus, applejuice, popcorn, and a slight hint of some cannabis sativa (seriously, this beer smells like bag of some dank buds, I can't explain it. other reviews have noted this as well)

taste: whoa, what did i just drink. quite possibly the most unique IPA i've had, its sort of like someone took a fist full of simcoe (not sure if used, but sure smells like it) hops and a small amount of english malt and punched you in the face. Very upfront, intense flavor. The malt is blended so well with the hoppiness that it tastes almost like one, i'm not sure if that made sense but that's the only way I can describe this beer. This is the definition of a hop bomb, yet it is so well crafted and balanced that the intensity is second to it's drinkability. The finish is very hoppy and bitter, and leaves a refreshing taste in your mouth.

mouthfeel: average amount of carbonation, very smooth and refreshing; not too heavy

overall: I will be buying this upon seeing it. It's a very good underrated hop bomb of an IPA, I was pleasantly surprised. This beer reeks and tastes like earthy piney hops, if that's your thing, you will love it. While it's no Stone or Two-Hearted, this beer can hold it's one with the great IPAs of this country. This is a well crafted beer that I had no idea what I was buying when I found a single bottle at my local store, and I'm fucking glad I did.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2013 04:43:25 | More by Roman5150

ZombiesAteMyDog

Indiana

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

04-16-2013 19:32:54 | More by ZombiesAteMyDog

John1985

Tennessee

4/5  rDev +2.3%

04-15-2013 17:11:05 | More by John1985

Jsmitty1967

Kentucky

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%

04-07-2013 03:15:25 | More by Jsmitty1967

Tucquan

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Had this on 2013-04-06 in Warsaw, IN

A - Mostly clear gold with a 3-finger pillowy white head with good lacing.

S - Naval orange flesh, white bread, hop floral.

T - Sharp simultaneous bites of tart citrus and bitter pine, dank, mild citrus flesh, little caramel malt. Taste is quite different than the subtler and sweeter aroma. Finishes very bitter; clearly unbalanced toward the bitter side.

M - Light-medium body and medium carbonation. Extremely prickly, resinous, tongue-numbing.

O - This is one of the bitterest ~6% ABV brew I've had. A bit too out of balance for me go give it a top rating but it sure gets your attention.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 20:49:42 | More by Tucquan

Highstplz

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%

04-04-2013 03:23:02 | More by Highstplz

rlee1390

Indiana

3.95/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A-cloudy orange two finger head with lacing some carbonation

S-hops grass dirt, not much malt but lots of hops

T-very hoppy, grass dirt and pine, mild citrus. Ends with a sharp hop bite and slight bitterness

M-medium bodied, slight carbonation mild hop resins

O- A nice all round IPA, but with so many good ones out there it is difficult to revisit it.

Serving type: on-tap

04-02-2013 21:29:36 | More by rlee1390

fredmugs

Indiana

4/5  rDev +2.3%

04-02-2013 12:08:17 | More by fredmugs

Jamison85

Indiana

3.5/5  rDev -10.5%

03-27-2013 16:43:19 | More by Jamison85

mychalg9

Illinois

4/5  rDev +2.3%

03-27-2013 15:37:54 | More by mychalg9

kjkinsey

Texas

4/5  rDev +2.3%

03-24-2013 19:52:05 | More by kjkinsey

pheelingIt

Tennessee

3.75/5  rDev -4.1%

03-24-2013 02:57:07 | More by pheelingIt

--Dom--

Missouri

4.25/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

I believe this beer deserves a full review as it is rated terribly low in my opinion. Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass. Pours a golden-amber with 1 1/2 finger head, decent lacing. Smells of danky delicious piney goodness.

This beer is prettty darn good. Opens with danky resiny hops, not terribly complex but it works very well. Just straight up piney, doesn't mess around. Definitely more bitter than malty. Mouthfeel is crisp with medium body.

Overall, pretty outstanding IPA. In my opinion it's a great representation of a single IPA. Stays bitter throughout and still well balanced. Good work Flat 12.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 02:16:15 | More by --Dom--

sommersb

Tennessee

3.43/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Tasted On: 03-20-2013
Freshness: Not indicated
Packaging: 12 oz. brown bottle, pry-cap
Glassware: Shaker pint
Purchased: Single from Frugal MacDoogal, Nashville

A: A big whoosh when I pop the cap and a huge glass of foam tell me right away we have an over-carbonated beer. The massive white head, while annoying, does leave a super amount of lacing and head retention. The beer's color is a hazy yellow.

S: Aromas are mostly of hops, both piney and citrus, with a bit of yeast spiciness as well.

T: Big hoppy, West-coast style IPA bitterness, with the tartness of grapefruit. Not really any hint of malt.

M: Crisp mouthfeel and very much over-carbonated, the body is medium. Finishes with the same big hoppy bitterness as noted in the taste.

O: Overall a highly bitter IPA; not very balanced so not a very interesting take on the style in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 20:54:25 | More by sommersb