Green Flash Imperial India Pale Ale - Green Flash Brewing Co.

mempath

Pennsylvania

4.83/5  rDev +18.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

pours beautiful, massive head and sticky lacing with the usual mind-blowing imperial flaxen-orangey clarity. just looks world class.

the nose reveals the tart sweet citrus herbal camphor that lines the skull of any hophead. great balance here. i get it all in one whiff. something even more pungent and ethereally sweet here...

just simply so full-bodied, luscious, balanced, herbal, tangy-tart not as grapefruity but perfect enough for that. i actually had the first lager glass of this cold with my chile relleno ... now that it warmed up a bit, it's richly exploding with flavors that would be stellar cooled down...

drinkable? is that a koan?

so recommended....

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2010 01:32:32 | More by mempath

Avantyawn

New York

4.83/5  rDev +18.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: murky golden , nice thick healthy head upon hearty pour. beautiful! Just like I like it!

S: Hoppy classic grapefruit IPA scent. Little bread n' butter in the background.

T: A masterful blend of hoppy bitterness, malty sweetness, and bready heartiness. This beer dances on the tongue. Fantastic!

M: As this sloshes around your mouth, the 9.4 % APV is not what you are thinking about. The alcohol is amazingly masked, and the carbonation is subtle, yet present.

D: I am shocked how smooth and drinkable this is at 9.4%. Some of my favorite DIPA's are not nearly this drinkable as the alcohol smacks you in the face, not here. Dangerously drinkable...

Fantastic beer!

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2011 00:23:45 | More by Avantyawn

QualityOverQty

North Carolina

4.83/5  rDev +18.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance - thick golden yellow

Smell - Amazing, smelled like piny nuggets. It's the craziest thing.

Taste - It is perfectly balanced in hops, the bitterness is right on point. Great aftertaste as well.

Mouthfeel - pretty smooth, not too much bite, but some.

Overall - My favorite IIPA. I prefer it over Double Trouble - which is a great beer. Green Flash has great beers

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2012 20:57:55 | More by QualityOverQty

GeckoPunk

Connecticut

4.83/5  rDev +18.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Copied from another reviewer (hagbergl)
Loved the smell and taste on this exquisite IIPA
would certainly drink again...

Appearance (4.5/5): Green Flash Imperial pours a beautiful golden yellow that has a slight haze to it. It's topped by a bone white head of foam that measures about 1.5 fingers (by the time it gets to our table). The head leaves a nice bit of lacing on the sides of the glass as it recedes.

Smell (5/5): Big pine and grapefruit hop notes escape from the glass. Some herbal hop notes and earthier tones from the subdued malts and yeast character also show, but this is a super hoppy beer so the hop aromas are naturally–and pleasingly–dominant. I'm convinced that the smell of this beer is what hop heads dream about.

Taste (5/5): In one word: delicious. The taste follows the nose for the most part. Huge pine and citrus (grapefruit) hop flavors steal the show from the get-go. Fruity, tart, and spicy hops are supported by a a subtle caramel malt backbone that adds just the right amount of sweetness. Finishes bitter and quite dry. The aftertaste is–curiously–similar to weed (the flavor comes out of nowhere, really). Hardly any alcohol presence to this beer, which is great, since alcohol flavors do not usually, in my humble opinion, add much to IPAs (unlike some heavy stouts and Belgian ales whose flavor profiles benefit). The flavor of this beer is just bitter bliss and a total hop fix. This is one classy, finely tuned Imperial IPA.

Mouthfeel (4.5/5): Green Flash Imperial is medium-bodied, though not very viscous or hop oily. Medium carbonation helps accentuate the hoppiness and lets the bitterness 'pop'.

Overall (5/5): This is a perfect example of a Double/Imperial IPA. It retains the dryness and medium-low sweetness of a regular IPA while reaching a beautifully in-your-face amount of bitter, fruity hop character only possible in a DIPA, and without becoming syrupy sweet or overly resinous and cloying. Just an amazing beer I wish I could find more often. Highly, highly recommended to lovers of the hop.

Serving type: on-tap

08-12-2012 13:18:02 | More by GeckoPunk

BradBLR

California

4.8/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

This beer poured a light amber color with a white head that lasted the entire beer with a better than average amount of lacing. The smell was a very floral smell with hints of citrus and a slight hint a malt. The smell was terrific, my only criticism would be that I would want the smell to be stronger. Maybe my bottle was older, not sure but the smell was great.

The taste of this beer was all hops, very intense but not overpowers. A hop heads dream. The hops were still balanced nicely with a slight bitter malt and the after taste was very hop bitter. The mouthfeel was good with the CO2 possibly being a little too strong, but the thickness was great.

Wow, my first beer from Green Flash and I will add this to my favorites list. I always feel when you pour a double IPA and it is light in color, that it will either be a mediocre IPA or a superb hoppy dream and the later is what you will get from this beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2007 19:14:21 | More by BradBLR

Applesauce1

Virginia

4.8/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

ej285701 got this for me in a beer exchange...thanks buddy!

Appearance: orange-gold-copper color with a nice 1" white head

Smell: hops and lots of them....slight citrus flavor

Taste: very hoppy with a nice citrus undertone...unbalanced but no need for it

Mouthfeel: full bodied

Drinkability: good, one bomber is enough for the night

Overall, a spectacular beer....i was not disappointed :)

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2008 01:53:12 | More by Applesauce1

LauraAlberts

South Carolina

4.8/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Mango colored cloudy

Smell: Pine, Grapefruit, Green Apple

Taste: Grapefruit, Wheat, Hint Blueberry and Mint flavor.

Mouthfeel: Full Bodied Smooth Tannins

Drinkability: Session or Sipper Whatever you can handle! I was amazed with the flavors in this Double IPA. A friend had it in his fridge and we tried it - I'm excited to taste more beer from Green Flash.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2009 16:40:01 | More by LauraAlberts

btorsdog

Ohio

4.8/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Man this stuff is good no GREAT! poured a clear see-thru orangish amber with decent head that quickly disapated leaving tons of beautiful lacing.
smelled of hops,cirus hops ,flowery hops and piney hops!
Taste was great with the sweet/sourthing goin onnice and bitter but sweetly smooth!
mouth was spot on for a DIPA full bodied with a touch of alchohol warmth,beauty!
Would love to pound these all night if I could afford - GREAT BREW!!!!

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2010 21:37:34 | More by btorsdog

JoeyBeerBelly

New York

4.78/5  rDev +16.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

22oz bomber, served in a pint glass.

This beer pours a cloudy, orange color with a huge tan head that took quite a while to settle down to a layer, leaving lots of tiny bubble, sticky lace on the glass.

The aroma is of citrus hops, mostly grapefruit.

The taste is terrific, bittersweetness. The flavor of grapefruit is slightly sweetened by the balance of malt. I love this beer!

The mouthfeel is medium/full bodied with clean carbonation feel.

Since I love the taste of this beer so much, how could I give the drinkability less than a 5? Be aware of the abv, so enjoy this brew slowly. I was sad when my glass went empty.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2007 17:34:15 | More by JoeyBeerBelly

Hopheadjnr

4.78/5  rDev +16.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Pouring from a 22oz bottle into a Guiness pint glass.

A...Pours a hazy orange color with a creamy, three finger head. Noticeable med size bubbles comprise head that slowly recedes to, and maintains a perfect 1/2" head with layered lacing. Lacing is like a line mark on glass for each sip.

S...Great bouquet on the nose. Very complex aroma. Picking up earthy notes with pine, citrus and maybe a bit of grass. Smells very nice.

T...Great. Getting hops right up front like I should expect in an Imperial ipa. Hops with a quickly fading bitterness that turns a bit malty sweet with a swallow and finishes with the earthiness that I could smell with the pour. Really a great, full flavor beer.

M...as good as it gets. Full feel with the perfect carbonation. Really works on all levels.

O... This is a spectacular beer. Very robust and complex while maintaining a perfect balance. The taste changes from hitting your lips to the finish. Complex in all the right ways, a lot going on in this one. Nearly a perfect dipa.
I will seek this out over and over again when I want to really enjoy a great beer. I will look forward to pairing this with a cigar in the future. I think it will go nice with something not too strong, maybe a Punch Champion or anything with a corojo or natural shade capa.

Buy this beer, enjoy.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2012 02:39:40 | More by Hopheadjnr

AJacob81

Illinois

4.72/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Tried this on-tap in a snifter at Churchkey in DC. Blindsided by this incredible brew.

A - Beautiful, golden hue with near-perfect head retention and lacing. The only better-looking DIPA is PtE.

S - A bouquet of freshly-cut flowers and grassy hops, but sweet pineapple nectar provides a strong balance in the nose.

T - Unexpectedly sweet and tart, with the expected floral and citrus as welll. A prominent caramel malt backbone provides an overall balance in taste that is exceptional.

M - Liquid silk. Medium body, persistent carbonation, and a sublime hoppy finish make this the best-feeling DIPA this side of Ruination.

D - I couldn't put this down. The alcohol is completely concealed by the overwhelming balance of the flavor and mouthfeel. Goes down ridiculously easy.

Wow. I really hope to have this again someday, and I wonder how the bottled version holds up to this, one of the best tap-drinking experiences of my life.

Serving type: on-tap

05-05-2010 03:31:58 | More by AJacob81

Eriktheipaman

Virginia

4.72/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Maybe my score reflects the 9.4% abv or that I havn't had a good West Coast IPA in awhile but hot damn what a great beer.

It pours clear gold with white head and awesome lacing.

The smell is pineapple and mango with other tropical fruits and a slight grassy note.

The taste is very bitter on the front and grows intensity as you swallow but a very sweet tropical flavor makes an appearance before the bitterness and some alcohol comes in on the back. Very pleasant.

Serving type: growler

10-17-2011 23:23:23 | More by Eriktheipaman

henskejk

California

4.72/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had on tap

A - medium orange color, with a light colored head

S - a lot of sweet malts coupled with a significant hop aroma including citrus notes

T - a lot of hops in the taste, but also a significant amount of malty sweetness to help counter the hop bitterness.

M - medium body, not light, but also not heavy on the tongue

O - very enjoyable brew, I really liked how the maltiness balanced out the bitterness to give a strong but enjoyable beer. would recommend this.

Serving type: on-tap

12-31-2011 08:25:38 | More by henskejk

Mittsies

California

4.71/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Tried the beer several times on both tap and from the bottle.
Reviewing from the tap:

Golden color with a great head. Some of the best lacing I've seen as far as IPAs go.
When I think of a D-IPA, this is exactly how I picture it.
Walling will stay at the top of a pint glass long after finishing the beverage.

Aroma is almost entirely citrus and pine, very strong tangerine and grapefruit notes.
Pretty typical scent overall, but still very exceptional.

Taste is sour, bitter, hoppy, and very pungent. Sharp and musky.
The taste is borderline overbearing in terms of bitterness.
Very strong dank aftertaste, sort of a "stinky" flavor.
The flavor changes dramatically as it warms up, bringing out more than just the intense hops.
Observing the taste more closely, the hops are complimented with a bit of pine and malt.
Goes great with food as well, as the strong, bitter taste lingers well.

For such a bitter IPA, the mouthfeel is surprisingly light.
Very refreshing, smooth and crispy. Carbonated very well.

One of the best D-IPAs I've had in terms of flavor.
Great on tap or from the bottle.

Serving type: on-tap

05-05-2013 11:01:44 | More by Mittsies

Hopdaemon39

Massachusetts

4.7/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had on tap at Lord Hobo- pours a pretty clear copper color with some finger head, minimal retention and a little nice lacing.

Smells pretty open and hoppy- a mix of pine and citrus.

Taste is nice, sweet and malty at the beginning, followed by moderate pine/floral hops with a medium dry finish.

Mouthfeel is excellent- medium light body with moderate carbonation. Great DIPA- great hop flavors; get it if available.

Serving type: on-tap

04-09-2012 00:55:11 | More by Hopdaemon39

dfillius

Michigan

4.68/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Enjoyed in a pint glass at O'Brien's Pub in San Diego.
A: Crystal clear and over-flowing with head. 1 finger of head remained inthe glass when I got the glass from the bartender. This subsided into a perfect coat of foam on top. Color was golden-amber, like the mineral amber
S: Marijuana - fully. Spicy aroma actually tingled my nostril!. Wow - strong hops.
T: Marijuana then garlic then a nice malt backbone. The second sip leaves a biting bitterness.
M: Tingly, a little numbing...Do hops do that?
D: Strong but very tasty.

Serving type: on-tap

12-28-2007 06:41:57 | More by dfillius

MisterClean

California

4.68/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

22 oz from Total Wine

A - Pours an orange-golden color, lots of orangish head, alpha clumps, which dissipates slowly. Nice lacing too. Kids, this is a 5. Has all of the coloring characteristics you want out of a true iPa (P = Pale, which some brewers forget).

S - Pineapple, yellow grapefruit, with a citrus finish. Lots of pineapple ester. Little to no maltiness as expected with an imperial IPA.

T - Pineapple, yellow grapefruit, with a small citrus finish. Again, great, as the nose matches the buds. If you appreciate the taste of yellow grapefruit as much as I do, you'll love it. If not, you'll probably dislike this beer.

M - Light bitterness, syrupy, with a strong citrus finish, which compensates for the light bitterness. A vast improvement from Green Flash's West Coast IPA, which is a bit bitter and too much pink grapefruit.

D - So good. Not a session, but not expected. This is probably the fastest I've downed a bomber. Excellent beer. Maybe, maybe only Hopsickle and Lagunitas' Maximus compare to this imperial...

Somebody should send the Alstroms this bad boy. Hmm, maybe if I label it as a yeast extraction.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2008 04:53:36 | More by MisterClean

phishgator

Florida

4.68/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a pint glass. Beautiful bright orange hue; completely unfiltered. Nice white creamy head, lacing the entire session. Reminds me of an orange cream sicile. The aroma is not overpowering, but the floral hops come through. The taste is fruity sweet, then the bitterness hits the back of your tongue. There is a buttery smoothness that make the body just slide down your throat. The body is full, but not too heavy, this is a sipper. The alcohol is well hidden and this is one I will try any chance I get.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2008 13:19:39 | More by phishgator

bum732

Maryland

4.68/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours beautiful cloudy burnt orange. Big fluffy head that leaves amazing lacing behind. Smells are intense hop aroma consisting of grapefruit, cannabis, tropical fruit sweetness. Tastes up front with the fantastic hop aroma followed by the nicely balanced malt sweetness. Finishes not too dry, not too sweet, just right. Alcohol is very nicely masked, dangerous brew. Tastes similar to how it smells, just a shitload of hops.

I love this beer, one of the best imperial IPAs i've ever had. Balance is near perfect, the aroma is just plain unreal. I must've gotten a very fresh bottle. Alcohol is very well hidden so i must be careful when i drink this. Highly recommend for those hop heads and i can't wait to try this again.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2008 06:00:19 | More by bum732

Wackyfoot

Oregon

4.68/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Extremely hopped beer, prominently featuring the Nugget which might just be my favorite hop. Smells great with the typical pine and citrus aromas, but unlike many IPAs the base fruit taste is orange instead of grapefruit. A very unique and delicious brew.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2009 03:45:26 | More by Wackyfoot

omnigrits

Texas

4.68/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

22oz bomber poured into a straight pint glass.

A pale amber colour with plenty of rising bubbles and a good-looking white head that leaves good lace and subsides to a thin layer that never completely goes away.

Masses of citrus and pine hops in the nose with a hint of sweetness. The flavour is excellent - a touch of malt at the beginning but then the hops wade in with all guns blazing and take your taste buds down. Well, it's not quite that bad. In fact it's not that bad at all. Green Flash have done a superb job of balancing the flavour hops and the bittering hops. Although it says 101 IBUs on their website, and indeed there is an extremely bitter finish to this one, it's nowhere near as unpleasant as some of the high-IBU DIPAs I've tried.

Mouthfeel is good, could maybe be a bit more full given the incredibly intense flavour, but despite that, this beer has just become one of my favourite DIPAs and I'd love to try it on tap.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2010 00:32:33 | More by omnigrits

DeutscheJeff

Colorado

4.68/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Wow! Just what I have been looking for, this beer is like hop-overload! Can it get any better for a hop-head? I think not. Pours a murky golden color, with a lasting head that laces the entire glass. This beer is fantastic, it's just a shame it can't be had in 6 packs! Still a fantastic beer for a bomber especially considering the price!

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2011 07:03:30 | More by DeutscheJeff

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

4.65/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A: Bronze with an off-white head, great retention & lacing.

S: Big hop aroma with plenty of depth (grapefruit, pine, liquid reefer & an underlying herbaceous quality that's quite unique). Toffee & a little cotton-candy/fruity-sweetness round out the nose.

T: Grapefruit, pine, grass & herbs; bready with a little toffee sweetness; crisp bitterness is not at all harsh (low cohumulone); alcohol is really well-hidden. The quality malts & herbal hops are somewhat Maibock-like, but then the westcoast hops really hit you. It's not a stereotypical DIPA, but I really like it.

M: Well-attenuated, moderate body is smooth and creamy with a little hop acidity.

D: Incredibly drinkable for its weight.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2008 20:40:22 | More by Derek

Newmerator

California

4.65/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

wow. hop heaven here.

popped the top off and hops screamed out. pours a beautiful pale golden, pearl white head and sticky lace

smell bursts of hops, citurs, pine etc.

taste is just delicious. grapefruit at the end. but the smell is almost identical.

mouthfell is silky, not too heavy. a very drinkable IIPA.

cheers

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2009 03:12:37 | More by Newmerator

VaterRoss

North Carolina

4.65/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

22oz bottle into tumbler, no BB date.

Appearance is a clear red/amber color, also has some orange coloration. A strong pour creates a powerful frothy head that takes at least 5 minutes to subside to a manageable level. My god is this frothy! Leaves an intense lacing over the course of the drink as the head goes down to a skum. Smell is of pine, resin, and sweetness. Wow! this beer smells like weed: a sweet, skunky, grassy, earthiness that tickles to sinuses. Awesome smell. Taste is sweet and resiny. Like a punch of hops to the tastebuds. Finishes quite bitter. Even as it warms it hides the alcohol quite well. Mouthfeel is a bit creamy with hop oils that cling to the teeth and palate.

One of the most interesting smelling beers I have ever encountered, a lot going on in this one. One of my favorite DIPAs even if it isn't exactly the most representative of the style. If it was a tad less bitter in the finish then it would be about perfect. Known as "weed beer" amongst my friends.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2012 03:14:42 | More by VaterRoss