Green Flash Palate Wrecker - Green Flash Brewing Co.

Phelps

Arizona

3.8/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Enjoyed in a shaker pint.

Shiny copper, perfectly clear. One finger of very dense, sticky, sand-colored head becomes a fleece-like top layer and deposits thick, grippy walls of lace.

Funky and dank nose. Onions first, then grapefruit, grass, a touch of pineapple, a little baked bread, some caramel.

Big bitterness in the flavor. Grapefruit pith, a touch of dank weed, burnt sugar. It’s a little funky. Saltine crackers and a touch of biscuit come out as it warms. Maybe some floral character as well.

Thick, syrupy medium body with moderate, pinching carbonation and just a hint of fizz. Alcohol is a mild warming in the throat.

Decent. A nice big hop flavor here, and way bitter. It could actually use a little more malt to back it up. Palate not quite wrecked, but definitely bent.

Serving type: on-tap

05-31-2012 05:02:25 | More by Phelps

Jayschool

Kansas

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%

05-22-2013 03:46:43 | More by Jayschool

BtownIrish20

Indiana

4/5  rDev -4.5%

05-21-2013 23:05:04 | More by BtownIrish20

jakecattleco

California

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%

05-21-2013 18:04:10 | More by jakecattleco

Pellinore1

Illinois

4/5  rDev -4.5%

05-21-2013 14:04:17 | More by Pellinore1

PhilDaBrewer

Indiana

4/5  rDev -4.5%

05-21-2013 01:45:36 | More by PhilDaBrewer

JLapadura

New York

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%

05-21-2013 00:28:01 | More by JLapadura

jnardone235

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

05-20-2013 23:42:42 | More by jnardone235

johntfox

Florida

4/5  rDev -4.5%

05-20-2013 22:20:14 | More by johntfox

thampel09

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

05-20-2013 20:12:09 | More by thampel09

jbeervt

Vermont

4/5  rDev -4.5%

05-20-2013 19:18:37 | More by jbeervt

Daniellobo

District of Columbia

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%

05-20-2013 15:29:05 | More by Daniellobo

touchmeimsac

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

05-20-2013 13:45:29 | More by touchmeimsac

discharmingly

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -4.5%

05-20-2013 13:40:08 | More by discharmingly

SpruceMoose

Australia

4.44/5  rDev +6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

It's bollocks-freezing weather down here in Oz, and thus it was inevitable that I'd make the trek to one of my favourite locals, Acland Cellars, to acquire some super-strong crafts for the evening that awaited me. Something dense, I said, like a barley wine or an imperial stout. The clerk grimaces as he hands me the bottle; the title "Palate Wrecker" staring menacingly into me. At first I'm perplexed as to whether I should fear or admire this creation by notorious San Diego brewers Green Flash, but curiosity meant that I knew this beer would certainly need to be reviewed.

Good luck, the clerk tells me as I walk out into the frostbitten streets. Keep calm. Relax. Deep breaths. Here we go.

Serving Type: 12 oz bottle poured slowly into a 500ml Hobgoblin tall pint glass.

Appearance: The pour generates a modest head with a cloudy golden body, similar in shade to Sierra Nevada Pale Ale with the intriguing density of a Belgian ale. Bubbles race frantically up the glass and contribute to the head, which laces evenly as it lowers itself deeper into the glass.

Smell: A hophead's paradise; intense aromas of citra and cascade (and perhaps even Goldings?) hops are immediately noticeable, and serve as a signal of what is to come.

Taste: The first swallow produces an intense bitterness that lingers not only on the tongue but all around the mouth. It sits there right after your first sip and stays around until the second. As a hophead, I'm naturally in heaven. Some booziness is noticeable after the first few sips.

Mouthfeel: Denser than your average IPA. Carbonation is moderate and the body is gentle despite the intense flavour. Overall very pleasant.

Overall: Hopheads would love it, maltists would scoff at it and lagerboys will run hysterically from it. Green Flash Palate Wrecker is a unique beer with plenty of character and much to offer the hop connoisseur. This is indeed an intense double IPA, and chances are you'd either fall head over heels for it or dismiss it as another overhopped generic American IPA. Regardless, my palate has been wrecked.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 10:31:52 | More by SpruceMoose

Geno206

Washington

4.75/5  rDev +13.4%

05-20-2013 02:08:33 | More by Geno206

Glibber

Idaho

4/5  rDev -4.5%

05-19-2013 21:58:10 | More by Glibber

nick_asian

Nevada

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%

05-19-2013 07:14:39 | More by nick_asian

pengs68

New York

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%

05-19-2013 00:57:57 | More by pengs68

AOShabaz

Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +13.4%

05-18-2013 20:18:37 | More by AOShabaz

jbarletto

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%

05-18-2013 14:34:41 | More by jbarletto

Moose90

Colorado

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

Bottled on 12/17/12
Tasted on 05/17/13
Shit, this is old...Hope for the best.

A – Dark copper orange color. Head is tall initially, but fades to the anticipated thin layer. Lacing is rocky and sticky. Carbonation is adequate, not too high, nor too low.

S – Holy cow, big, sweet, dank, piney, resinous, malty, caramel, bright. Lots going on here. Citrus fruits, orange, lemon juice. Cannot wait to take a gulp of this.

T – Quite sweet, and the hops have faded for sure. The hop notes are here somewhat, they are peppery, white onion, and fresh pine. Interesting. Sweet overall, quite viscous, some more notes of orange and lemon come through, like a lemon curd, or orange marmalade. Balance here is what makes this great, with all the complexities, it is very smooth, drinkable and great.

M – A big beer, for sure, though it remains crisp. It is undoubtedly sweet, but not so much so that it kills you. Just short of a BW. For a IIPA, wow, just wow.

O – I grabbed this at the first chance I could. Too bad it wasn't very fresh, but hey, this is still a great beer. Will seek it out again to try it fresh. With some age it develops a big caramel sweetness, but the peppery, piney hops are still there to cut through it all.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 04:22:35 | More by Moose90

AGoodStout

Kansas

4/5  rDev -4.5%

05-18-2013 01:41:49 | More by AGoodStout

Boosnell

Louisiana

4/5  rDev -4.5%

05-17-2013 04:38:24 | More by Boosnell

Sparty55

Michigan

4.75/5  rDev +13.4%

05-17-2013 04:35:01 | More by Sparty55