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

dar482

New York

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

It comes in a deep amber red color.

The aroma is big of grapefruit, tropical fruit, though the biggest is this resinous pine note..

The flavor has big simcoe and pine. If you're looking for pine hops, then this is your IPA. There is huge grapefruit flavor with a dry finish. It's very West Coast in its characteristics. This really stands out for its wonderful deep earthy and pine flavor.

I'm re-reviewing this because having this a third time on tap, the pine really stood out. Not sure why it was meek on tap before, but this was quite a big change from my previous review.

Serving type: on-tap

05-19-2013 08:08:22 | More by dar482

BeerRefugee

Oklahoma

4.24/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Pours a medium orange-amber color. Medium white head with good retention and lacing. Huge aroma of citrus, floral and piney hops and a mild dose of yeast. Flavor has just enough malt backbone to balance the big hops. Lots of grapefruit and floral with a hint of pine. Medium mouthfeel and slightly dry finish. The glass I had was very good and it was past its prime. This stuff must be phenomenal when it's fresh.

Serving type: on-tap

05-17-2013 20:27:59 | More by BeerRefugee

estlinska

Arkansas

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

Served on tap into a tulip at Big Orange on 4/20/13. Poured a dark blend or pure red and dense orange-copper, creating a nice color similar to a ruby red grapefruit. It was very dense and allowed little to no light penetration. On top there was voluminous head the color and apparent look of crushed limestone. Looked great in the glass. The smell up front was lots of dark resin and very dank. There was a good amount of caramel sweetness to balance. As the beer opened up, there was good grassy smells and some citrus: mainly grapefruit and lemon oils. The taste very much like the nose. There was a good sweet caramel malt, but it was definitely a big, bitter hop bomb. There was lots of big citrus fruit like oranges and limes, but also some big pine and mint flavor as well. It did get a tad astringent, but only ever so slightly. The beer had great body overall with a dry and bitter finish. No ethanol burn to it at all. Overall, this is an excellent and big IPA. They almost went too far, but kept it overall in check. Very tasty brew..

Serving type: on-tap

04-20-2013 22:36:17 | More by estlinska

Badger72

Louisiana

4.96/5  rDev +17%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

A: It is a very dark amber with a minimal amount of head

S: The smell is fantastic with the right blend of hops, citrus, and pine

T: Love the taste as it tastes exactly like it smells.

M: Very crisp beer with a little carbonation.

O: I love this beer and it is one of my favorite IPA's. To me it is that beer that if a place has it, I get it.

Serving type: on-tap

04-03-2013 14:32:30 | More by Badger72

Smoke

Massachusetts

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

HAd this one on Tap in Denver. I'd only had it in bottles, so it was nice to get it on tap. As you'd expect, the light colored beer had a big citrusy and piney hop aroma. The first sip backed up the aroma with lots of hop and not much malt (but hey, that's the way it is supposed to be). Definitely a great beer. Nice to have it on tap.

Serving type: on-tap

04-02-2013 13:45:21 | More by Smoke

Samuel906

California

3.84/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Ultra hop bomb. Looks amazing... The thickest heaviest head i have ever seen. It clings in clumps on the side of the glass. This is one of the hoppiest beers i have had. Sticky, resenous, chewy. Super dry. Not much citrus. True to form ipa; less "drinkable" than pliny, dryer than 90 minute, but still great.

Serving type: on-tap

03-23-2013 22:45:26 | More by Samuel906

NiceTaps

New Jersey

4.34/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap in a pint glass.

A- A true amber color, 1- plus finger head with staying power that leaves super-sticky lacing.

S- Citrus, pine, a bit of caramel and tropical sweetness.

T- Citrus, grapefruit, lemon rind. There are herbal notes and pine.

M-Good body and carbonation, oily, sharp hops, dry finish.

O- Another big time IPA that hits all the right buttons for me.

Serving type: on-tap

03-22-2013 00:32:35 | More by NiceTaps

KTCamm

New Jersey

4.03/5  rDev -5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served on tap at Ginger Man, South Norwalk CT. Served in a tasting glass, but enough to get a feel for the beer.

Pours dark amber, almost bronze. Heavy foamer, creamy looking. Lots to lace. Deep resin nose. Firm bitter taste, but oddly light hearted about it. Holds and resides on the tongue. Subtle sweetness contrasts. Smooth all around. A very efficient IPA. Never notice the 7% register.

Serving type: on-tap

03-16-2013 23:33:44 | More by KTCamm

donkeyrunner

Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

@ Oude Magoon's Saloon, Somerville MA

Attractive looking beer: orange with a tight white head. Consistent retention and splashy lace from first sip to last. Came in a Green Flash pint glass and I'm a sucker for appropriate glassware.

Smells mighty fine. Grapefruit, pineapple and tropical hops with a sugary base.

Candied grapefruit and pine with a pleasant, lightly toasted backbone.
Not as flavorful as the aroma would indicate. There's plenty of cutting bitterness in there but the flavors fall short of expectation.

Long lasting flavor. I'm a slow sipper and I appreciate IPAs that taste the same from start to finish. Few do but GFWCIPA is one of them.

It is what is says it is: West Coast IPA. One of the standards of that subgenre IMO.

Serving type: on-tap

02-23-2013 12:39:09 | More by donkeyrunner

BeastLU

Virginia

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

Drank on tap, and then in growler.

A - About a 1 inch head which dissipates and leave nice lacing. Clear dark orange copper color.

S - Quite hop forward on the nose which mellows after the beer is palated.

T - Huge hop flavor with no one hop standing out. Great harmony of citrusy, piney and a little floral hops. Enough malts to provide some balance, but mostly a beer showcasing its hop flavor.

M - Good Carbonation with a lighter mouthfeel for the flavor and abv of the beer. There is only a slight overly sweet after taste which I find common in this style.

O - Great beer. Typically my choice if it can be found on tap around town. Better than a good stand by.

Serving type: on-tap

01-20-2013 19:44:47 | More by BeastLU

hagbergl

Massachusetts

4.54/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

I've had Green Flash West Coast IPA a million times–it's crazy that I have yet to review it. It's finally time. I had a pint of this last weekend at The Pub at the University of Chicago (yes, we have a beer bar on campus...). Served in a regular old pint glass.

Appearance (4.25/5): Deep copper, almost amber hue, translucent, hazy, one-finger white bubbly head, lots of sticky, resinous white residue clings to the sides of the glass.

Smell (4.5/5): Oh, glorious hops! Green Flash has one of the finest noses on an IPA. It features wonderfully dank grapefruit and pine notes, with some herbal and floral overtones. A hint of sweet malt in the background. Very green and lush. This is one pungent ale. Hats off to Green Flash for crafting such a good nose.

Taste (4.5/5): From the get-go, I get straight grapefruit pith–very bitter and dry. The complexity here is something to behold, though. Resinous piney notes surface, along with some herbal and floral notes hinted at in the aroma. I'm getting a bit of orange peel in there, too. Green Flash didn't skimp on the malt–it's of good quality and really plays the supporting role well, not getting in the way of the luxurious hoppiness of the beer.

Mouthfeel (5/5): Prickly, moderately puckering, very dry, and an exceptionally long and bitter finish. Medium carbonation and body round out the pristine mouthfeel. Perhaps the perfect example of what a West Coast style IPA's mouthfeel should be.

Overall (4.5/5): Green Flash West Coast IPA is a classic of the style and a must for any hop head.

Serving type: on-tap

01-19-2013 17:37:25 | More by hagbergl

Siriusfisherman

Montana

4.33/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Aroma: Citrus and pine with some subtle grassy herb notes.

Taste/Mouthfeel: More of that nice Citrus, grapefruit and orange rind, as well as pine. The bitterness is firm but smooth and the malt makes a prevalent appearance in the flavor, adding some bisciut and bread notes, as well as a touch of sweetness. Drying, long-lasting finish.

Overall, certainly a great example of what a West-Coast IPA is, although much more balanced than many newer examples. A treat, will definitely have to get this again.

Serving type: on-tap

01-05-2013 07:19:06 | More by Siriusfisherman

Mewster

Virginia

3.65/5  rDev -13.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Bitter but not a lot of complexity. Would be great with steak. Smells smoky. Appearance is dark amber but a little cloudy. Is a beer I could enjoy watching football or on date night with my wife. Enjoyed this beer at a bar but have never seen it at the grocery store. Great entry level beer.

Serving type: on-tap

12-26-2012 23:13:13 | More by Mewster

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

HoppyPeteSkolnik31

4.63/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at PJ's Bethlehem

A: Rich orange color, almost amber. Inch thick head when delivered. Delicious lacing throughout the sips.

S: Deep, dank hoppy goodness. Citrus, mild pine, slight metallic twinge.

M: Full in the mouth, you can definitely feel that you are drinking plenty of hops from the syrupy consistency.

T: A beautiful mirror of the smell. Citrus, pine, juicy hops, with slight malt flavor in an attempt to keep some balance.

O: So glad to taste this beer. Near perfect example of the style; employing that delicious hop resin hopheads like me can't resist. Definitely find this beer if you are a fan of West Coast IPAs, this one is no joke.

Serving type: on-tap

11-20-2012 04:14:25 | More by HoppyPeteSkolnik31

TheBrewo

Michigan

4.15/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This was served on draft at The Ginger Man in Greenwich, CT. It arrived in a generic pint glass glowing a deep golden honey coloring. It held a two finger head of tight, yet creamy, tan bubbles. This showed great retention, leaving a single, thick sheet of lacing all around the glass. There was moderate haze, no sediment, and active carbonation. The aroma was wrought with steely grain, pale toasty malts, additional metallic bite of yeast, light caramel malt sweetness, bright citric hops, and orange and lemon flesh sweetness. Our first impression was that the flavoring was robust, and very characteristic of something out of the west coast. As we sipped, the flavoring opened with honey sweetness, raw citric hop cones, buttery toasted bread, with pale and light metallics. The middle moved to peak with full on bitterness of pine resin and lemon rind. This was met with a cooling metallic twang, and surprisingly sweet plastic phenols. The finished showed more of that piney resin, with herbal bitterness, black pepper spice of booze, cutting smoothness of pale malts, and a muddy, metallic mix of coin and mineral. The aftertaste breathed of sweet orange and grapefruit, those same pale malts, mud, black pepper, and grassy dryness. The body was medium to thicker, while the carbonation was medium. There was thick slurp, glug, cream, froth, and smack, with an oily slickness running the length of the tongue. After an initial heavy, creamy coat, a fine astringency dried the mouth effectively. The abv was appropriate, and the drinking was easy.

Overall, what we enjoyed most about this brew was the flavoring. Despite the characteristic bitterness of the hops, they maintained a great freshness and cleanliness, with robustness to the end. At no point were any of the bittering elements overwhelming, which is easy with such a strongly flavored beverage. We found the nose to be a bit subdued, but this did improve in depth with some warmth. This beer is excellent for the style, and surprisingly balanced for its geographical origin. This, my friends, is the definition of “West Coast IPA”, and the standard to be compared against.

Serving type: on-tap

11-12-2012 22:04:15 | More by TheBrewo

TheRealBigC

Nevada

4.4/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This IPA is kick ass. Superior lacing, pleasant hop aroma and a wonderfully balanced flavor profile. It's a smooth drinker - the sweetness is there but it isn't cloying or sticky; the hops are there but they aren't overly pungent. I really can't complain about this one.

Serving type: on-tap

11-02-2012 23:50:48 | More by TheRealBigC

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

Ryan011235

Ohio

3.98/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap in a pint glass at Ye Olde Trail Tavern, Yellow Springs on 6/24/12

Deep honey color with touches of browned amber. Half inch head drops slowly. Thin retention with periodic rings of lace and speckled dots and drips in between.

Piney aroma with working of grapefruit, lemon zest and orange peel. Malty bread and a touch of sugar cookie and caramel.

The taste offers a juicier hop flavor - orange, lemon and grapefruit. Trailing pine bitterness. The malt isn't quite as strong as the nose; it's mostly cracker and dry, toasted grain.Slightly herbal finish.

Medium feel with resinous prickliness. Carbonation is appropriately nippy. Quite dry.

Overall, easily drinkable. This is much better than the bottle I had last year.

Serving type: on-tap

10-22-2012 05:00:18 | More by Ryan011235

Bowdoinbeerboy

Maine

4.38/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Very little leaving, beer is a slightly opaque amber.

Taste up front is lots of piney hops up front which transitions to a more malty middle before a Strong finish of hoppy bitterness.

A delicious beer, not a trace of the butteryness found in some other ipa's. An excellent example of the style.

Serving type: on-tap

10-21-2012 01:31:16 | More by Bowdoinbeerboy

Deingeist

Massachusetts

2.95/5  rDev -30.4%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

NOTE: I BELIEVE I HAD A BAD POUR BASED ON OTHER REVIEWS. Read the following to hear why.

I don't understand how this beer got anything more than average if it is supposed to taste like the beer I was given last night. I feel like I've had this beer before, and really enjoyed it, which is why I ordered it last night, but something must have happened to the keg or my glass at the restaurant I was at.

A: It came in a short fluted snifter, sorta like a belgian ale glass and the appearance was a cloudy amber, a nice rich color for an IPA. Average off-white head.

S: This is where the biggest issue was: It smelled like caramelized onions. Other scents barely noticeable. It was like someone had rimmed the glass with sweet cooked onions. Sort of buttery too, which is weird. Not much of that fresh hoppy aroma that I was expecting.

T: Nice and hoppy, crisp citrus, but with a good balance of the sweet malts to balance the beer out, but, as a large part of flavor is smell, i couldn't help but feel like I was also eating buttered onion crackers. It was pretty awful. The smell really ruined the beer.

M: A nice combination of a heavy mouth feel, but with the crispness of an IPA. Went down smooth.

O: The smell really ruined this one. I hope it was just a bad glass and not the beer because I remember liking this one. Maybe I'll complain to the restaurant that either someone with onions on their hands handled my beer, or the dishwasher isn't working as well as it should (it's a new restaurant so who knows). Very very strange...

Serving type: on-tap

09-29-2012 14:30:31 | More by Deingeist

lovindahops

New York

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

Giving green flash west coast ipa a go tonight

A- hazy amber with fluffy head of foam that slowly recides leaving traces of lacing on the edges of the glass. A thin layer of foam lingers leaving a hazy impression at the top of the glass

S- good tropical aromas are channeled to the front of the glass. Pineapple and mango are the most lingering fruit themes while a bitter scent shows up partly through. It's pungent, but not to the extreme

T- very piney and bitter flavors spike the tongue as it combines with the tropical flavors. Very driven towards the obvious west coast theme of hop forward tropical citric themes. Topping it off with bitterness makes for a delicious brew

M- prickly hop flavors tacking the tongue and palate

O- A good west coast ipa that is certainly worth grabbing from time to time

Serving type: on-tap

08-10-2012 21:34:57 | More by lovindahops

dmatsui

3.8/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a pint glass on tap. Hazy orange, light head and little retention.

Copper citrus grapefruit hops in the nose, biscuity malts, dank and some hope spice. Very nice, aromatic IPA.

Good bittering and aromatic hop selection. Nice dry bitterness and a good hop/malt ratio. Touch of minerality. Not very citrusy although there is a nice dank hop presence. Booze is pretty persistent throughout.

Oily dry mouthfeel, good carbonation.

Zestier than a lot of other Socal Ipas. Very well balanced, but the aromatics are not represented as well in the flavor.

Serving type: on-tap

07-11-2012 01:04:09 | More by dmatsui

Tone

Missouri

3.53/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a hazy, copper color. 1/4 inch head of a white color. Good retention and good lacing. Smells of floral hops, hops, hint of pine, slight sweet malt, and hint of wheat. Fits the style of an American IPA. Mouth feel is sharp and crisp, with an average carbonation level. Tastes of citrus hops, slight sweet malt, hint of roasted malt, hops, and a hint of pine. Overall, decent IPA, nothing outstanding.

Serving type: on-tap

06-26-2012 13:07:22 | More by Tone

elNopalero

Texas

5/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I don’t know how this one escaped my review attention as it’s on regular rotation for me but this is my first time trying it for the boards. Had it after going to the gym and it was the perfect post-workout drink. Although it might have negated the actual workout.

This beauty pours a amber-gold color with tight foam. There’s a fantastically fresh and bountiful bouquet of fresh grapefruit with some piney resin rounding it out. Incredibly vivid flavor with all sorts of citrusy and piney tastes dancing across my tastebuds. Great bitter finish makes me want another sip. Fresh, crisp, hoppy—it’s everything I wanted and so much more. Splendid.

Serving type: on-tap

06-18-2012 18:23:06 | More by elNopalero