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

ckollias

Maryland

4.74/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Enjoyed this 12oz bottle out of a Beligan Tulip glass.

A: Pours a copper hue with a white, 2-finger, frothy head that quickly slowly dissipates leaving a good trail and solid lace.

S: Hoppy, hoppy, hoppy aroma. Did I mention it smelled hoppy?

T: Extremely bitter and tart flavor with a good pine and citrus background. Finishes long, dry, and bitter.

M: Medium body and medium carbonation.

O: Wow – probably the most bitter hoppy beer I’ve ever had. Phenomenal.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2013 04:13:30 | More by ckollias

DenverHopHead

Colorado

4.31/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Another solid Cali IPA! A gold, slightly orange tinted brew, with subtle head. Not overly impressed with the look, but this is really the only knock on an otherwise strong beer. The smell is par for the course; not that toe curling thrill that other Cali IPA's deliver. Easy drinking 7.3 ABV IPA, I like it! I love the mouthfeel with this hop grenade! My mouth is awake now!

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 19:07:34 | More by DenverHopHead

bmwats

Louisiana

3.85/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a footed tulip.

A: Dark amber hue. Pours a 1 finger, foamy, white head. Settles slowly. Slight lacing.

S: Pine is prevalent, not much else.

T: Hoppy with a slight indistinct sweet tone.

M: Syrupy and bitter, with a dry finish.

D: Sip and savor.

Atmosphere is pretty good. Decent hue, with a nice, head and some fair lacing. Nose is hoppy and sweet. Syrupy sweet pine resin with a slightly bitter finish. Overall, this is a good quaff.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 08:50:21 | More by bmwats

ElSid

California

4.31/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

The Beers of California

#85

Bottled Date: 4/16/13

A: Amber brown with a gorgeous off white head which clings to the glass after giving wa

S: Dank, pine, and citrus paired with a strong malt sweetness. Flowers with moments of tropical esters.

T: Pine, grapefruit zest, and dank give way to an invigorating bitterness of earth and garlic. Bread and sugar malt notes with a hint of caramel comes large in middle. The finish is spicy and warm

M: Solid feel with an everlasting linger. Moderate carbonation.

O: A great California IPA which easily holds it own with the more distributed Stone IPA and Racer 5. One of my Green Flash favorites and amazing when fresh.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2013 03:24:47 | More by ElSid

bambam2517

Arizona

4.1/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into a pint glass and paired with sushi.

A - Nice clear copper body, strong head maintained thanks to a well-crafted amount of carbonation.

S - Extremely hoppy. Which is to say piney and grapefruity in this case.

T - Like it more than I thought, expected to be hop-wearied by this one. It maintains a nice zesty grapefruit flavor throughout, can taste the hops but they mingle well and dont overpower.

M - Feels a bit hot from the alcohol presence, but it finishes dry and is smooth on the aftertaste. I can see why this is one of the most iconic West Coast IPAs...

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2013 18:26:55 | More by bambam2517

lordofstarside

Nevada

4.56/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

12oz to snifter, bottled 2/19/13

Pours dark cloudy gold with some orange hues, a little bit of brown, kind of like tea. Some small sediment floats around below a finger of foam. Retention isn't bad, a few minutes now and still a half finger. Really good lacing, this probably looked a lot better fresh

Hops hops hops for the smell, strong floral and citrus notes- grapefruit, pineapple, pine, and some lemony/limey citrus. Sweet caramel malt mixes well with the alcohol, everything coming together well. Large floral and fruit bouquet, lots of complexity, sweet and fruity being the most definitive

Taste is just as consistent, fruity floral hop bomb. Heavy grapefruit, tropical fruits, pine, and citrus, followed by a sweet subtle malt. Not as much complexity as the aroma, but the relative simplicity is part of what makes it so beautiful. Things are hard to pick out because of how well they meld. Almost perfect

Feel is sharp and crisp, with a chewy medium body. Alcohol is well concealed, goes down very well. Quite bitter, nice bite

Overall the beer is aptly named, this is there paradigm of a west coast ipa. Over hopped, floral and fruity, with enough ibus and alcohol to be classified as an imperial ipa by those who aren't used to having their ipas strong. This gives Stone a run for it's money for my favorite ipa

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 00:41:36 | More by lordofstarside

trxxpaxxs

New York

4.3/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A: Pours a completely translucent amber with about a half finger of slightly off-white head. The foam takes a bit to settle as a frothy ring along the edges of the glass start to appear. Good lacing as it drinks.

S: The nose is light malt and mild citrus. It's also a bit dank. Lots of skunky bitters, but nothing too overwhelming.

T: The first sip is a wonderful marriage of sweet and spicy. I get mild malt and a good helping of spicy hops. However, they are in such great balance that neither flavor dominates. This beer remains constant in flavor from start to finish. No big changes in it's profile. The finish smooth and clean.

M: Medium bodied beer. Sweet, but not too sweet. Hoppy but not too hoppy. It envelops that palate but moves of nicely. Not too sticky, but not exactly light either. Hoppy bitters remain in the mouth for quite a time after the beer is gone.

O: This is a wonderful IPA. The hops are there and it's bitter, but it's not too much to to stinging. The balance on this beer is perfect. Solid. Really solid. This would be a great beer for new beer drinkers that are starting to get into the IPA category. A beer that won't destroy the palate but will showcase that bitter/spicy quality that hop heads grow to know and love.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2013 20:01:04 | More by trxxpaxxs

TempeBeerMan

Arizona

4.4/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a bottle into a nonic pint.

A - Pours a nice clear light copper with a two-finger eggshell colored head. Leaves ringlets of sticky lacing.

S - Well not exactly a shocker here, lots of grassy hop alpha acids. But wait! Also getting some nice malt sweetness. Inviting.

T - Obviously hop forward, with hops leaning toward the grassy/sprucy side of the spectrum. Heavy grapefruit citrus bite. Very "juicy". But no mere grass bomb, this one's got backbone. A nice buttery Ritz cracker malt underbelly holds the whole thing together. Really well presented.

M - Full bodied chewiness+ prickly carbonation to make it gulpable = excellence.

O - Really surprised by this one, and another solid offering from Green Flash. Right up there with SN Torpedo as far as "Big IPA with malt" style. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2013 05:19:30 | More by TempeBeerMan

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

Jparker37

Wisconsin

3.9/5  rDev -8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into an oversized tulip. Bottled on 1/21/13.

S - Citrus, tangerine. Resiny/catty fresh aroma. Malts have a little bit of sweetness, honey-like.

A - Towering, rocky light tan head. Little bit of haziness to the deep amber colored beer. Tons of sticky lacing.

T - Right away there is a glimpse of toasty malt, it hangs on for nearly the entirety of the taste but early on is overcast with hops. Piney/minty hops are there early and often lending good flavor with a wallop of bitterness. Little bit of sweetness midway but dried up nice in the finish. Hop bitterness was a little clingy and a little unpleasant well into the aftertaste.

M - Medium body, dry, medium carbonation.

O - Good meld of hop aroma with underlying malts. Taste is great again from malt striking a stylistic balance. Hops lent a unique flavor profile also drying the beer up well. Bitterness was a little on the sharp side for my preference and a little over carbonation contributing to that sensation. All in all I am happy to have tried this beer and will look to seek out more from this brewery as I have heard great things.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2013 01:12:58 | More by Jparker37

JordanPhraczek

Massachusetts

4.68/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Served from a 24oz bottle 1/22/13 into a Lagunitas glass.

A - Reddish amber color, good clarity, one of the most appetizing colors you will find in an IPA. 2 finger head with medium retention, the bubbles seem to come up from the most perfect spots in the glass when you pour a West Coast IPA.

S - Deep hop profile, resin and grapefruit give way to a hop-flower sweetness that screams west coast hops. Smell gives a certain bite of it's own.

T - I have had bottles of West Coast IPA six months old that still taste like fresh hops. This one was almost 3 months old and still tastes fresh and potent. Almost any hop taste that comes from west of the Mississippi can be detected, and this beer is really in the elite class of what a true American IPA is. The malt in this beer is just enough to balance out the hops but doesn't have any sort of English cracker taste.

M - Smooth, with a nice hop bite that reminds you that you're drinking an IPA. Has a nice amber/red ale consistency that gets better as the glass gets emptier.

O - Overall one of my favorite beers. In an elite class of IPAs and sets a standard for depth in hop flavor. The hops in this beer will stay longer than almost any IPA and the bitterness is addicting.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 19:35:31 | More by JordanPhraczek

yamar68

Minnesota

4.26/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Lovely amber gold body, lively beading. A massive off-white rocky head fills the pint before I can finish pouring. Great lace.

An excellent blend of pine and citrus dominates the schnoz. West coast... fully.

Prickly pine flavors accented with mango and pineapple. Really straight forward and intentional. A bit of vanilla sweetness manages to keep things interesting. Finish is bitter but tame.

Dear Green Flash, come to MN.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 05:13:58 | More by yamar68

jlindros

Massachusetts

4.29/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

For some reason never reviewed this beer, just escaped through the cracks. This one was an extra thanks to HaveUSeenMyCellar.

Pours a decent looking fluffy but bubbly 1 finger head that fades semi slowly with nice soapy lacing, over a semi hazy ruby red grapefruit orange color.

Nose brings plenty of hops, floral and citrusy with some spiciness, a light citrus tangerine effect but not a big juicy pungent kick or rind bitterness, light pine spicy hop aromas, with a touch of a grassy floral effect as well. Touch of grapefruit as well, and a very faint malty sweetness with slightest touch of reddish amber malts. It does bring a touch of fruity candy hops, like a little candied orange peel and tangerine the more I nose it.

Taste starts with a nice big hoppy bite, quite bitter right off the bat like 70IBUs bitter almost immediately, but doesn't get astringent. Hops come in with pine and spicy flavors first, not really a chewy spicy hop, but a piney spicy not overbearing like hop. Then citrus, a bit of tangerine and faint grapefruit pith, touch of that candied fruit hop character again. That's followed with a mild malty sweetness, a bit of a caramel toasty reddish copper malt flavor, but all pretty light, just enough to balance the big bitterness and keep it from getting astringent. It brings a little citrus rind as I let it sit on my tongue for a while, a bitter rind flavor. Finish is fairly dry, still very bitter but doesn't really ramp, more plateaus almost right off the bat and stays at a quite bitter but not overly taste. Finish also brings more citrus rind bitterness, a little spicy hop and a very long bitter grapefruit pith taste, and a faint touch of a booze flavor.

Mouth is med bodied, it feels a bit fluffy and airy thanks to a good amount of carbonation, and a very light warming booze.

Overall a nice IPA, not quite what I expect for a "West Coast" IPA, but those terms are a bit out of date now. A nice big hoppy beer, quite bitter that plateaus right away, nice hop characters with a little spicy (but not chewy), a bit of citrus but more like rind and pith bitter citrus, and just enough malty sweetness to give it a base so it doesn't get astringent. Nice IPA.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2013 00:43:55 | More by jlindros

FinerThings

Pennsylvania

4.61/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

This is my first legit tasting of a West Coast designated IPA. It poured beautifully with a picture perfect head. Slightly murky amber orange that tells me we are packing natural flavor here. Smells like hoppy bread dough. Wonderful hop flavor follows which takes me to a new place with every mouthful. Grass, dandelion, grapefruit, resin, mineral- a ubiquitous profusion of hop flavors continue to evolve. The label says "Extravagantly Hopped". Well, that about says it all. This beer is so well crafted it is wasted on a neophyte so save this for your well versed IPA connoisseurs. Overall it is a magnificent beer that is sure to impress any IPA fan.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2013 00:14:53 | More by FinerThings

Roman5150

Michigan

4.41/5  rDev +4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle purchased from Total Bevarage in Murfreesboro, TN, into a Duvel glass...Paired with Dutch Gouda Cheese and Jimmy John's (#12)

Appearance: LIght Amber/Copper color, Huge creamy head, and beautiful lacing as well. Looks like an amazing IPA.

Aroma: Grapefruit, strong pine, and citrus. A lot of hops, it smells amazing.

Tastes: This is a flavor packed beer. What a solid IPA should taste like, really nails the West Coast Style well. There are a lot of hops in this beer, but it is so well balanced that the bitterness is almost sweet. I would definitely classify this as a bitter IPA, but a very drinkable one.

Mouthfeel: Bitter, good amount of carbonation. A little on the dry side.

Overall: If you're a fan of West Coast IPA's, you will enjoy this beer. Plenty of hops, will satisfy most hopheads.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 02:19:51 | More by Roman5150

vette2006c5r

Wisconsin

4.61/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Green Flash West Coast IPA pours a clear dark golden color, with a long lasting, and lacing head. There is a nice dry floral, hoppy aroma. The taste has a nice subtle hoppy flavor, nice and dry. Easy to drink, flavors are full, but the floral flavors are not overwhelming. Overall a very nice good flavored and enjoyable IPA.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 04:01:18 | More by vette2006c5r

JaredM

New York

4.14/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Deep amber in color and VERY murky/hazey. Can't see through it at all. Very little carbonation and a solid 1 finger of fluffy off white head.

S: Wow, what a blend of pine and citrus. Hops, hops, hops! This has a fantastic aroma, very complex and inviting.

T: Good flavor. Heavy on the grapefruit and bitterness with a dry finish. There is a touch of malt sweetness in the beginning but it quickly dissipates. Did I mention the bitterness??

M: Smooth finish. Not to heavy but not light either. Well balanced and feels "right".

O: Real bitter. A true hop bomb for sure and may turn some people off because of its intensity. Nice beer but certainly not as sessionable as others.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 23:40:46 | More by JaredM

gillagorilla

Maryland

3.54/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

12 oz. into Chimay Goblet/Chalice (bottled on 01/21/13)

A: It is a very dark amber, almost the color of a nicely stained wood. Also, it is very cloudy with no head even on the pour.

S: The smell is sublime and it is that perfect combination of pine and citrus. It is a great smell but not overly powerful.

T: I'm not a big fan of the taste, but that might be because it isn't super fresh (A little over 2 months old). It is all pines and no real complexity. The aftertaste just really sits in the back of the throat and it is not a good one.

M: It has a nice mouthfeel that is not too strong. Not very crisp, it almost goes unnoticed until the end.

O: Well, I did not like this IPA at all and it is supposed to be top notch. I enjoyed Palate Wrecker a lot more. I will have to revisit this one, but I will not be getting it again for a while. Not even sure if I will finish it.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2013 23:29:41 | More by gillagorilla

LCB_Hostage

Pennsylvania

4.74/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

poured frome a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass

A: Rich redish orange with a sturdy, dense 3 finger head. Retains a small head for the life of the beer with considerable lacing

S: Hops! A touch of malt and alcohol, but an invigorating blend of citrus and piney hops pervades

T: Glorious! Bitter grapefruit and piney hops burst on the tongue with a smooth malty finish. This is balance I can love.

M: Works every part of the mouth. A smooth glide across the tongue that leaves a considerable tingle behind.

O: A fabulous exemplar of the WC IPA style that earns it's name and then some. If not for the 7.2% ABV, I could sit and drink these all day.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2013 22:32:38 | More by LCB_Hostage

deeznuts420

Pennsylvania

4.71/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

one of the best ipas out there especially on tap wich i used to drink at a place called coney island until they kicked me out for something my brother did. not a very friendly place with the bartenders wanting outrageous tips. plus the women bartenders think they know everything. telling me stuffs brand new when i bought cases of it 4 months earlier. get a fresh bottle and you won't be dissapointed. stay away from c. island in slippery rock unless you wanna be talk to like you don't know ne thing

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2013 10:57:43 | More by deeznuts420

andrenaline

Ontario (Canada)

4.26/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Super stoked to receive this from joemcgrath27 and even more stoked to find out that I can grab a few more locally after a recent release that hit the LCBO.

A - Pours a nice golden colour with a copper hue, finger of head with decent retention and some sporadic lacing.

S - Nose is dominated by sweet citrus, pineapple, and a hint of caramel.

T - The pineapple and citrus hop notes dominate alondside a heavy doe of bitter leafy greens that linger alongside the caramel malts. There's a touch of Thrills gum flavour with a hint of citrus rind of the finish.

M - Medium bodied, smooth, and a touch of dryness.

O - Delicious hop bomb that loads up the palette with fresh citrus and pineapple hop flavours. This stuff is fantastic and is by no means underrated. I'm hopeful that this brew becomes a regular locally, because its certainly one of my favourites among the style.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2013 03:01:35 | More by andrenaline

jibbyvonjibb

California

4/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Copper color. Clear. Fluffy head.
S: Bright fresh citrus, especially grapefruit.
T: Some malt sweetness. Sight tartness. Fairly clean finish.
M: Medium body, on the lighter side for IPAs. Creamy texture without oiliness. Medium carbonation.
O: Well balanced IPA. Would be interesting to do a side-by-side comparison with my other favorites, like Alesmith and Russian River.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2013 22:02:12 | More by jibbyvonjibb

Rast

Maryland

3.86/5  rDev -9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Bottle as Butler falls to Marquette off a wacky last second three point hook shot heave.

Pours a beautiful light amber with a massive head. On my second pour into the glass, I took as aggressive a pour as possible, and for a brief moment, there was literally ALL head in the glass. Woah. The nose has more going on than I can properly parse apart, but the bottle text hits me in the lane with an assist: pine, florals, grapefruit (rind!). Having been properly educated, I can detect these widely varying smells. The taste is equally complex: strong hop bitterness with the individual flavors rotating on a wonderful beer merry-go-round. The ride doesn't stop with the swallow, and really keeps going for quite a bit. Impressive. Not as sessionable with all the intensity of the bitterness, but certainly an important IPA experience. Keep this one spinning.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 03:33:09 | More by Rast

mnphish

Minnesota

4.15/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

12oz, bottled on 2/4/13 and served into a pint glass. It pours clear light amber with a massive head.The nose is dominated by sticky resinous hops and pine. There is a subtle aroma of caramel malt, citrus, and other tropical fruit in there as well. The taste is of bitter pine and light notes of citrus and grapefruit. It is followed by a balanced caramel malt backbone. The mouthfeel is light to medium with perfect carbonation. This is exactly what i'm looking for in a West Coast IPA. Very bittersweet, not overly fruity, nicely balanced, and very smooth.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 21:23:27 | More by mnphish

jrenihan

Ontario (Canada)

4.16/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Bottled Feb 12, 2013

Beer is copper coloured with a moderately-sized white head.

Smell is hoppy, with pine and citrus notes. Orange and grapefruit are present, but the pine is strongest for me.

Like the nose, the taste is hop focused, with a strong pine presence, as well as a bunch of grapefruit. There is a toasted flavour, not quite sure whether it is from the hops or the malt. A bit of sweetness from the malt, and a hint of caramel, but quite a bitter beer. Good.

Medium bodied, moderate to high carbonation. Oily.

Overall, a very good IPA. Glad that the LCBO brought in a fresh batch and hope it continues to do so!

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 17:17:25 | More by jrenihan