Green Flash West Coast I.P.A. - Green Flash Brewing Co.

Dukeofearl

California

3.25/5  rDev -23.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Bought a sixer at La Bodega in Riverside for $6.99 in Nov. 05. [Note: I suspect this one may have sat on the shelves a few months before I got it- don't know if that affects this review.]

I have heard some about this brewery as one of the new up and coming breweries in the San Diego area- saw them at a beer fest or two, and have seen a few bottles, but I've never tried them. This is from my first bottle (subject to modification after one or two more)....

Pours a surprisingly dark copper/red with a very large fluffy white head. Quite nice to behold, but darker than many (but not all) west coast IPAs.

Aroma is all about the hops, and this hop profile is different than others I've smelled. Huge bitterness- much moreso than the Alesmith Yulesmith that I recently enjoyed. Oily and piney, for sure, but what else is that? Crushed juniper berries. I recall that from the mountains of Nevada. Notes of creosote bush. Definitely reminds me of camping in the California/Nevada desert. And good or bad, this is very different from other IPAs.

Flavor is all hop bitterness. Oil. Furniture polish oil. If you like hops, if you love hops, don't stop, pass Go, collect $200, and go here now. We are talking seriously bitter, almost sour hops that drown everything else out. Some like that. For me, I like balance better, and so I have to give this one a pass.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2005 05:39:05 | More by Dukeofearl

BeerManDan

California

3.25/5  rDev -23.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

When poured in the glass, the color was a hazy amber with an orange hue. The smell of hops was not overpowering. But, hops was all I could smell on this IPA. The flavor was weak for me. I picked up a weak flavor of hops and that was it. The finish was bitter, dry, but again, not much of a flavor, just hops.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2008 23:44:05 | More by BeerManDan

smakawhat

Maryland

3.25/5  rDev -23.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from the bottle into a pint glass.

Pours a nice eighteen karat gold out of the bottle leaving a giant white sticky head. Head is very tight in appearance, leaves some decent lace. Body is a nice burnt orange, clear, but with cloudy specks and an almost suspended animation state with "flecks" hanging. Some carbonation from the bottom but not much.

Dry pine, arid grass is an over dominating bouquet on this beer at first. Small citrus fruit is hardly noticeable in the back with some nice toast grain in the back, but small to detect. Kind of musty also. Definitely unique for an American IPA I would say.

Taste is incredibly bitter at first giving to an overpowering dried grapefruit rind sensation that doesn't feel pleasant. Wet moutfeel with a very dissipating taste and body. Sharp and too bitter I would say of hop and excessive grapefruit oil sensation. I'd hate to say it but this needs some sweetness (not a lot) to round it out a bit. Excessively bitter and missing grain and some sweetness and some body I would say.

I think there's better IPAs out there than this that I would have instead.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2011 00:48:11 | More by smakawhat

dnarx

Texas

3.25/5  rDev -23.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

A- a nice deep amber/red ish tone
S- I didn't get much from the smell...wondering if my nose if off???
T- the bitter is a bit overwhelming even though I am a hop whore, self proclaimed....again, questioning my palate
M- goood solid mouthfeel not too thin, not tooo thick.
D- mediocre simply due to the bitter bite I am perceiving...

I should check the hop schedule and choices just to be sure there isn't a "litmus test" effect.

Serving type: on-tap

02-25-2011 23:52:57 | More by dnarx

TheDeuce

New York

3.25/5  rDev -23.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Green Flash West Coast IPA……. on tap at Pacific Standard in Brooklyn, NY

Appearance-bright vibrant orange cold, gray colored head slowly rises but falls quickly, lots of bubbles, a thick looking brew with lots of body.

Smell-Rush of fruit and pine which shows the hops are here in force. This smell is so pungent that it was really all I could get. Alcohol is there in the background but the hops are the show here.

Taste/Mouthfeel-and so it is. A rushing pine-flavored burn of the tongue that lingers throughout, smoky and bitter in the strictest sense, the burn lingers through and the alcohol doesn’t hit until the very end as it goes down with a large warming sensation.

Drinkability-depends on how much you like hops.

Overall-I’m normally a hop fan, but maybe I’m getting old. This is a crushing blow of hops and while the force is impressive I didn’t enjoy this beer nearly as much as I hoped too. Will give it another try, but disappointed for now.

Serving type: on-tap

05-07-2011 22:24:03 | More by TheDeuce

kawilliams81

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -23.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Served in a pint glass.

A- Light golden in color, with huge thick head with a lot of lacing and retention.

S- Caramel malts, some citrus, but predominately pine, grass, weedy aroma from the hops.

T- Do not pick up hardly any citrus, but a lot of grassy/ weedy pine hop bitterness.

M- Thin bodied, but fits the style.

O- Not a huge fan of this IPA. Seems to be bitter just to be bitter. Would like a more citrus forward style IPA like a lot of the "West Coast" IPA's.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2011 03:15:59 | More by kawilliams81

Brew33

Ohio

3.23/5  rDev -23.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I was very excited to try this beer. I had heard great things about it. The appearance was good. Nice color, white puffy head. The aroma was very nice. A nice hop aroma, promising. The taste was amazingly average. This is as boring an IPA as I've ever had. They seem to be following the West Coast IPA generic recipe. No complexity, biting, resinous, hops, little distinguishable malt character. Boring. The mouthfeel and drinkability were average as well. Nothing stands out with this beer.

I'd certainly drink it again but this beer is nothing special Skip it.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2009 15:35:35 | More by Brew33

mithrascruor

California

3.23/5  rDev -23.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

12 oz. bottle poured into a mug.

Appearance: Pours a hazy dull copper color. Lots of floating sediment. Slightly off-white head with a bit of lacing.

Smell: Hoppy aroma of citrus and a bit of pine.

Taste: Has a somewhat astringent hoppy flavor throughout. Close to citrus, but not quite. And not pine either. The aftertaste is the same, and lingers. The more I drink, the more bitter it gets too.

Mouthfeel: Light- to medium-bodied and a bit grainy, yet oily in a way. Moderate but light carbonation.

Drinkability: See my flavor notes - wouldn't want more than one pint of this. ABV is on the stronger side, but not noticeable.

Had this before on tap - it was alright, but I wasn't too impressed. And, I'm still not impressed (and maybe less impressed). Something is just "off" with the taste, and the excessive sediment is just a bit... unsettling. Other excellent beers have similar flavors, but here it just goes a bit too astringent and misses the other flavors, and falls down.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2011 03:15:59 | More by mithrascruor

Boilermaker88

California

3.2/5  rDev -24.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Presented in a stubby 12oz bottle and poured into my Stone IPA glass. Heresy? Maybe...
Well, it started out looking good; all coppery with lots of carbonation and a tall off-white head that left nice sheets of lace behind.
The nose had a pretty robust hops punch to it as well as a decent caramel malt note. But there was a tinder-dry woody aroma that seemed out of place.
Odd, that woodiness came across in the taste, too. It left a flat "dead spot" mid-palate as the sweet malts and light vanilla flavor transitioned to the hops flavor. Hops were plentiful and quite citric but that yawning gulf of wooden deadness just took away the overall character, leaving things to seem disjointed and thrown together. The feel was medium-bodied and crisp.
I dunno, this West Coast IPA just didn't hit the spot for me. The two elements were too far apart and that dead zone was a turn-off for me, pure and simple. I'll stick to putting Stone's IPA in my Stone IPA glass from now on and pass on this brew.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2006 18:52:33 | More by Boilermaker88

BDLbrewster

Minnesota

3.2/5  rDev -24.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Pours a ruby hue of amber, very hazy with a small head that leaves clumpy lacing.

This smells like a west coast IPA. Gobs of slightly sweet smelling citric hops. Smells fresh and green with noticeable fruity esters. Toffee marks the back end of the nose along with a tiny bit of alcohol.

Orange pith, grapefruit and a moderate dose of pine dominate here. The malt backbone struggles to stand up to the hop assault, what I do pick up are chunks of toffee and some toast. The finish is quite bitter and marked by a dose of alcohol that doesn't hide.

The mouthfeel is smooth and somewhat dry, a tad syrupy for a single IPA and a little short on carbonation.

Overall this brew is good, but in the grand scale of amped up west coast IPAs I'm sorry to say that this one comes up a little short for me. I can't lie though, damn tasty.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2010 23:49:10 | More by BDLbrewster

sarahspat

Illinois

3.18/5  rDev -25%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Another treat I got from my trade with raoulduke37.

Quotation on the neck label: "A menagerie of hops are layered throughout the brewing process. Simcoe for unique fruitiness and grapefruit zest, Columbus for strong hop pungency, Centennial for pine and citrus notes, Cascade for floral aroma. A multi-dimensional hop experience." I like their style. Providing a little education along with the beer. Nicey!

An inch and a half of frothy tan head. A nice little cap sticks around for the duration. But only a tiny amount of lacing hangs on to the sides of the glass. The liquid is cloudy and a dark orange, almost iced tea brown color.

I literally could smell the hoppy goodness the second I popped the cap off. You gotta love when that happens. In the pint glass, I detect a little bit of burnt roastiness, grapefruit, pine, very faint bit of candied pineapple... however, the nose as a whole is more subdued than I was expecting, especially based on the first whiff from the bottle. Strange.

The taste is very strongly influenced by pine, with extreme bitterness. Unfortunately, I have to say I'm having trouble picking out the fruit flavors here. Where they at? It's very hoppy. There's no denying that. I just wish it were a more well-rounded kind of hoppy. Okay, as it warms, it improves a little. There are now a few hints of grapefruit, pineapple and flowers, but these are very difficult to pick out of the sea of... well, just bitterness. I love bitter beers, but I think 95 IBUs might be going a little overboard, and actually working against the beer in this case. Even as it approaches room temperature, the bitterness still almost completely overpowers all other flavors, but it's definitely better warmer. I would recommend starting it out at room temp. for maximum hops flavors, but even then, you need to be prepared to have your taste buds destroyed by bitterness. Now, at the end of the glass, I can hardly taste it anymore.

Mouthfeel is medium, and I like the amount of carbonation. West Coast IPA is drinkable if you can stand the bitterness, but I imagine this beer would be practically undrinkable for someone not used to bitter beers.

This IPA is insane! I would be terrified to try a DIPA from Green Flash, based on this little number. I'm glad I got an opportunity to try this, but it's not really working for me.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2009 01:41:33 | More by sarahspat

Northsider

Illinois

3.18/5  rDev -25%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Again, I tried this from a taster last night. Not my style, but I wanted to try and branch out. Much better than I thought from an IPA, but a bit too much for me.

A - Yellowish-copper body and head that dissipated rather quickly

S - Smelled very citrusy!

T - almost a spicy, citrusy taste on this one. Again, not my style, but I can see IPA folks loving this one.

O - Overall for me a bit too hoppy. Had I been into IPAs I think I would have loved this beer.

Serving type: on-tap

05-08-2011 13:28:18 | More by Northsider

adamette

Ohio

3.18/5  rDev -25%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Enjoyed by me on tap two days ago at Winking Lizard in Peninsula, Ohio at a cost of about $4 (sorry I do not recall the actual price, it was reasonable). It was poured into a clean, clear pint glass.

A Translucent deep copper body under a brief light brown creamy head. Good look. 4.0

S Distant bitterness and minimal malt. I am surprised that there is not more of a hops bitterness presence to the nose as I had expected. 4.0

T Bitterness returns to center stage in a big way here as there is a very strong grapefruit bitterness and little malt sweetness to balance it out. The hops are earthy, harsh and, of course, bitter. This beer is too unbalanced for me. I have to conceded that it delvers on its promise of bitterness, however. 2.5

M The high bitterness makes for a "big" feeling beer. That is certainly appropriate to the style. 3.5

D/O Not that good drinkability. Overall this is a slightly above average IPA. I do not know why the ratings here on BA are so high. I wonder if most of the high reviews are from reviewers from the West Coast? 3.5

Serving type: on-tap

10-23-2012 14:05:56 | More by adamette

Kulyboy

Maryland

3.15/5  rDev -25.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours to a carmel orange color with good lacing, cloudy and hazy.

Smell of hops with a citrus finish.

Very hoppy with dry bitter alcohol after taste. Toasted hops.

Mouthfeel started light and finished with the bitter hoppy after taste.

It's a decent IPA, the 7.3% alcohol is apparent but not overpowering. Would not purchase again however, if I'm in a bar and it's on tap I might try it if one of my favorites are not available.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2010 21:57:44 | More by Kulyboy

belgbeerdrinker

Colorado

3.13/5  rDev -26.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

a: clear orange color, steady carbonated stream in the middel, huge foamy head settles to two fingers thickness
s: piny hops aroma overpower anything else going on
t: piny hops form the backbone here with citrus fruits appearing near the finish, subtle hoppy bitter finish
m: medium body that finishes crisply with plenty of carbonation
d: not a bad ipa, not the best but worth a try

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2007 04:26:59 | More by belgbeerdrinker

BRANDY818

California

3.13/5  rDev -26.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

This beer was available at a hotel lobby bar in New York City and I was dying for some hops.

Overall, not that impressed with how it traveled. At home it's typically a solid choice. Seems like the strong bitterness and a round maltiness took over from what is normally a range of hoppy flavors.

Can't wait to get home and drink the real deal.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2013 20:23:36 | More by BRANDY818

bishopdc0

Maine

3.1/5  rDev -26.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

The beer is an amber and cloudy. The head on the beer is amazing. Fluffy clouds float on top and cling to the edge nice.

The nose is punget citrus, slight pine and plent of hoppyness not really any malt

The taste reminds me of furious but bitter. Full of hops citrus floral flavors but the taste dramatically turns to a full on bitter. Hrm. This beer is confusing the flavors don't mix well each ok on their own but fruity hops the earth bitterness don't meld for me not to say its bad just not for me

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2011 02:18:27 | More by bishopdc0

suspect

New York

3.1/5  rDev -26.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a Dogfish Head Signature glass.

A: Pours a hazy reddish orange color. Normal pour leads to a 1 finger light tan head that disappears to a small ring in a few moments. Lacing is thick and plentiful.

S: Definitely pulling some hops but the malt is shining through this one more than anything. This probably means its past its prime but who knows seeing as there is no freshness date.

T: Follows the nose although the malt base is really wonderful it's really the foremost flavor in this beer. Normally that wouldn't be bad but this beer is called "West Coast IPA" and I'm sure while fresh it's hop forward but this one, not so much.

M: Nice feel, creamy, bitter finish. Bitterness is actually pretty prevalent.

O: Well, I'm kinda pissed that I dropped $11 on a 4-pack. I've been waiting and waiting to try this beer because it gets good reviews. Well, Green Flash. You burned me. I won't be going back to this IPA until you start putting freshness dates on the bottle.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2012 01:50:14 | More by suspect

RaulMondesi

California

3.1/5  rDev -26.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

On tap, at the joint: The playground in Downtown Santa Ana, CA

If the Bro's gave this thang a 100, then Twilight needs an Oscar. No way. No how. Uh uh. It aint like it crazy bad, but like the opposite says: it aint crazy good. Just like IPA n like. Nothing special. No extra boom boom when I swallow the goodies.

Drank it, but don't trip.

Serving type: on-tap

11-30-2012 07:10:20 | More by RaulMondesi

ReebShorts

Washington

3.08/5  rDev -27.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

wow, this thing has a huge head for an IPA. Thick and foamy 2 finger job, and sticks around. Color is they typical IPA, cloudy brown-orange.

Holy crap, is there a bottle of perfume in this thing?!?!? this baby has some kind of floral presence... behind that i get hops and maybe some brown sugar.

This baby is hoppy alright, but it's a real floral hop, not really feeling it. My mouth feels like I just took a sip of perfume. the beer seems to be constructed well, just not my style of hop i guess.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2006 07:16:28 | More by ReebShorts

sleazo

New York

3.08/5  rDev -27.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A_Medium cloudy amber with a one finger creamy head. Nice sized bubbles dot the crown

S_mild aroma. Mid level pine notes

T_mostly pine soaked hops. Not too strong though. As a whole it is mostly dry and bitter. Faint biscuity malt comes out a bit. Some spice on the finish. There is a slight acidity which detracts a bit

M_Med body and carbonation

D_A middle of the road IPA. Nothing offensive here but nothing that really stands out and grabs you.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2008 02:59:16 | More by sleazo

crnipeter

Slovenia

3.08/5  rDev -27.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

355 ml bottle, into tulip. Pours cloudy (indicating dry-hopping) orangeish body with thick, stable off-white head that sticks to the walls. Aroma is clean malty sweetness with spicy, earthy, floral, citrusy hops and fruitiness that might be ester or hop-derived. The flavor is spicy, earthy and grapefruity hops with some pungency, supported by solid backbone of clean malty sweetness. Dry finish with resinous bitterness that lingers into the aftertaste with a presence of oaken flavor which is inappropriate. Medium-light bodied with moderate yet still soft carbonation. The West Coast IPA, well, the brewer might not be a Master of his profession but he certainly knows the Geography well.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2011 23:15:04 | More by crnipeter

stcules

Italy

3.08/5  rDev -27.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Amber orange color, with a lot of floating corpuscles.
Egg shell colored foam, creamy, right.
Piney, resiny at the smell, with citrus fruit notes.
In the taste again piney and resiny, even more intense. Malt and caramel support all.
A good long bitterness in the aftertaste, with sharp grassynotes, root, rhubarb.
Maybe in the long run it will be a bit boring, but it is clean and balanced.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2011 20:24:14 | More by stcules

jcdiflorio

West Virginia

3.05/5  rDev -28.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours with a white creamy head doesn't last a long time. Light coppery color sightly cloudy apperance. Sweet malty aroma slight hint of pine. Nice malty taste piney slight citrus hop taste. Good balance not as hoppy as I would like it to be.Medium bodied good clean taste.not a great beer but not a bad one either. I could drink another.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2006 04:09:47 | More by jcdiflorio

tigg924

Massachusetts

3.03/5  rDev -28.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance: apricot/amber..clear, medium head

Smell: grapefruit and pine

Taste: grapefruit, pine, with a honey finish

Mouthfeel: smooth and bitter

Drinkability: To me this is a strong hop bomb. If you love hops, you will love this beer. I find this one very one dimensional and will be passing for more interesting IPAs.

Serving type: on-tap

03-01-2009 02:58:17 | More by tigg924