Green Flash Palate Wrecker - Green Flash Brewing Co.

JDizzle

Indiana

4.3/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Looks like a dream! Bright orange an copper with a huge puffy whit head. Lacing is incredible.

Great nose with a bouquet of hops that are piney, grassy, citrusy, and resinous. I don't get much of a malt presence in the aroma. It's very hop forward!

Fuck me, this has to be one of the most bitter beers I have had. It stings your tongue and the bitterness is still there after eating between sips. Superb flavor with a sweetalt backing that keeps it from being overwhelming.

Mouthfeel is great as well. Medium body with high carbonation.

What a unique beer that I will definitely have again.

Serving type: on-tap

07-26-2012 15:46:58 | More by JDizzle

mikem0487

Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

12oz bottle poured into snifter. Bottled on 01/29/13

A-A clear amber with a red hue. Has a thumbs width off white head. Head dissipated pretty steadily and leaves some nice lacing.

S-Thats in your face hops and I love it. The citrus hops dominate this beer. Extremely floral with grapefruit, kiwi, orange rind, red delicious apple, with a malt profile that helps to tame down the hops.

T-Grapefruit and tangerine right there. Lemon, pineapple also on the palate. Like the smell it has a malt profile to bring it all together. Smooth caramel and nutty taste try to balance out the hop taste. Hops still win.

M-Nicely carbed, medium body that finishes bitter. Would be surprised if it didnt finish any other way.

O-Highly enjoyable Imperial IPA. It starts where it finishes, the aroma brings you in with a huge hop aroma and the taste leaves you with a huge hop profile on your palate. Great beer but the taste could be slightly more balanced.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2013 02:08:22 | More by mikem0487

McStagger

California

4.3/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Poured for a 22 oz bomber. Brewed on 1/8/13. Well, let's see how it stood up.

A: Pours a nice, transparent orange copper. Stellar clarity. Moderate carbonation. One finger off khaki head. Good retention for the style,. Good lacing as well.

S: Doesn't smell like we've lost too much here. A bit malt heavy, with husky grain and bits of cooking spice. Still a serious pined hop edge though. Evergreen needles are dominant. As the beer warms a bit, touches of citrus and an almost herbal edge make themselves known.

T: Hot damn, this is bitter. Seriously bitter. Lot of alcohol warmth in the finish. Lacking the massive malt sweetness of so, so many DIPA's. The hops are leafy, almost vegetal, with a lot of bruised herb (rosemary) thrown into the mix. The fruity notes are subdued, but there are bits of citrus and tropical. The finish is incredibly dry and oh so bitter. Aftertaste of bitter citrus peel.

M: Very lean and very dry for a DIPA. While I wouldn't necessarily call it crisp, both the malt and the alcohol are exceptionally well hidden in the mouthfeel. It's ALMOST refreshing.

O: One of the better DIPA's I've had, and this beer is three months old. I would absolutely love to try this one fresh.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 07:18:39 | More by McStagger

schoolboy

Ohio

4.31/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Save-on in Mentor, a store less than two miles from my house, recently added a few taps from which to sell a great selection of growlers. I bought one of these last night and drank most of it myself. That's really unnecessary!

It's a pretty, well crafted beer and the head never got wimpy. The aroma is strong, malty, yeasty (a little) and very hoppy and piney. The taste is the same, but a little sweeter than I would like (only a very little). The aftertaste won't let you forget what you are drinking.

Overall this is a huge beer that I would never refuse, but more than one or three is more than is necessary.

Serving type: growler

02-17-2013 22:51:54 | More by schoolboy

Halcyondays

California

4.33/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at Beachwood BBQ,

A: Pours a dark amber with a medium white head, good retention, leaving lots of lacing.

S: Pine forest, it smells like a Christmas tree.

T: While the pine is overt in the smell, the flavour gives more of a balance in the various hop elements. Lots of pine along with a pink grapefruit character and a bit of booze. Certainly an interesting flavour.

M; Nice full body, full of hop resin, aftertaste didn't last as long as I thought it would due to the name, but nice.

D: Another real good beer from Green Flash, I'd definitely have it again, but I'd make sure to make it my last beer of the day.

Serving type: on-tap

10-31-2008 07:11:43 | More by Halcyondays

hopdog

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap [on cask].

All I can say is what a great name (especially for a IIPA)!

Poured a medium amber color with a small sized off white head. Aromas of citrus, floral hops, and pine. Tastes of the same citrus, pine and a lighter maltiness. Nicely bitter.

Serving type: cask

12-09-2008 04:10:40 | More by hopdog

HopHead84

California

4.33/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Consumed on tap at the Taproom on 11/11/2009 in a 6oz glass. The beer is dark orange with a frothy one finger white head. Great retention and scattered lacing. Great clarity.

The nose is strong pine and grapefruit notes, as I remembered it from last year. Some light caramel notes are present, but it's mainly aromatic pine and grapefruit.

The name is befitting, as this beer is bitter as hell. It attacks my palate with fury and malice. The bitterness has a nice backing of hop flavor with resiny pine and grapefruit. A low level of caramel sweetness is evident, but it doesn't approach balancing. The finish is dry and very, very bitter with noticeable alcohol lingering line. The mouthfeel is dry and sticky. A damn fine and very bitter double IPA. This is a veritable palate wrecker.

Serving type: on-tap

11-12-2009 21:57:06 | More by HopHead84

womencantsail

California

4.33/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at Stone. I was super excited to get to try this one!

A: The pour looks innocent enough, a pale copper color with a thin layer of white foam on top.

S: This is what I expect from Green Flash, pure hops in the nose. Very citrusy, mostly grapefruit and a bit of lemon with a substantial hit of pine as well.

T: A very intense grapefruit flavor leads the charge, followed by a bit of caramel malt. The finish is quite bitter and has some very nice resinous pine character to it.

M: This is a medium to full bodied beer with a moderate level of carbonation.

D: One of the better IPAs I've had in awhile. The typical flavors you expect from a Green Flash IPA and it definitely lives up to the name. Just watch out for this one because it packs a punch.

Serving type: on-tap

01-04-2010 16:51:04 | More by womencantsail

Billolick

New York

4.33/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 ounce bottle, from DeCicco's in Ardsley, NY. Part of a four pack for $14 and change...no bargain here...and no freshness info that I can find, c'mon GF great beer but this style cries out for some consumer friendly information...anyway..pours clear, medium amber, lite tan head, that stays, froths and leaves nice, fine and scattered lacing. Nose is the expected blast of fresh and gooey hop goodness, with resins, citrus and pine infused hop cones coming to mind.

Full flavor, full and again fresh tasting hop crunch. Malty and quite smooth and soft under coating. Hop lovers rejoice go get and enjoy.

Close your eyes and you are in San Diego, enjoying a fine example of the local nectar. Well done and worth the price of admission.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2012 02:30:38 | More by Billolick

Topher78

California

4.33/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Blistered...that's what your tongue feels like after the first sip of Green Flash's latest DIPA entry. There is a good reason they call this bad boy “Palate Wrecker”, there is nothing smooth or subtle about this brew. It's an in your face HOP A-BOMB! This brew pours a brilliant golden orange with a fingers worth of a white head that leave nice lacing. The aroma is amazing and is very reminiscent of “Pliny the Elder” in that it has big citrus and pine notes to it. My first thought after I tasted it... “What the %^&* just happened to my tongue?” I could feel my pupils dilate as my taste buds were obliterated by a bitterness like I've never tasted before. There is absolutely no malt backbone to balance out the hop bitterness but who cares? That's why I bought this beer, to be blown away by a super hoppy beer and “Palate Wrecker” more than fits the bill.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2012 01:18:52 | More by Topher78

CuriousMonk

Virginia

4.33/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 12oz bottle into a tulip glass. Pours amber in color with large white head. Lacing lasts well throughout the session. Aroma is lightly malty, caramel, toasted grain, resiny/hoppy, and grapefruit with alcoholic notes. Moderately acidic, moderately to heavily bitter finish. Full body, creamy texture, lively carbonation, and moderately alcoholic. A very nice hoppy beer!

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2012 18:38:39 | More by CuriousMonk

weeare138

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appears a transparent light gold with a small white cap that slowly fades into a gentle cap and collar. Scattered streaks of lacing are left around the glass.
Smell is of intense citrus, herbs, pine, flowers...reminds me tad of Hop Slam.
Taste is of the mentioned aromas with a blast of honey infused sugars and bitters.
Mouthfeel is medium bodied, abrasive with the hops, and grassiness and herbs.

Serving type: on-tap

04-13-2012 17:49:14 | More by weeare138

dividedsky727

4.33/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at J. Ryans in Syracuse, NY

Pours a golden amber with nice head, good lacing and retention. Strong citrus and pine aroma, lots of grapefruit notes. Taste is incredibly hoppy, bitter but complex with citrus and grapefruit flavor. Good carbonation, lots of body, alcohol is hidden well for what it is.

Absolutely delicious and any hophead must try! Definitely a special beer. The tase of hops is just explosive, but in a more pleasing way than many other hop bomb IPAs and DIPAs.

Serving type: on-tap

04-14-2012 20:32:02 | More by dividedsky727

abrethanson

California

4.33/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

appearance - pours a clear copper, carmel with (1) finger white head. A good amount of lacing left on the tulip glass. Pretty solid looking ale.

Smell - dominating pine bitterness, fresh citrus, and hop hop hop.

Taste - hop bomb all the way but very well balanced with the malts. Hops up front, malty caramel boozy body, and grapefruit / burnt bacon bitterness at the end. Hop bitterness aftertaste definitely sticks. A little dark fruit but is masked by the hops. The booziness is apparent but plays second fiddle in this arrangement. More hops than I generally enjoy but respect the ability to put that much in and still make it drinkable.

Mouthfeel - first sip the bitterness is apparent on your tongue. That is the point of this beer.

Overall - Really enjoyed but definitely not a sessionable ale and lives true to the name 'Palate Wrecker.' A fun and unique beer to taste. Because of the powerful flavors would be a good bottle to split with a friend.

Food Pairing - BBQ, BLT, french fries

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2012 23:34:04 | More by abrethanson

OtherShoe2

Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Gigantic cream colored foam head on top of a copper brew. Decent lacing.

Toasted maltiness, but a big grapefruit note. No doubt the hops are there.

Nice happiness up front, with a toasted malt balance. The resinous hop flavor is throughout, and the bitterness is in great balance. Some light sweetness, but not fruity. Good hoppy finish that is both bitter and mouth-coating. Alcohol is not even a factor -- don't notice it at all.

Medium body, bite and mouth-coating goodness.

Overall, a winner. A double IPA that hides the alcohol so well that it makes the beer entirely drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2012 03:59:01 | More by OtherShoe2

dbmernin83

California

4.33/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This one lives up to the name. Huge piney hops, big mint, some citrus. Malt whispers but hops just beat it back down. Booze is there but not in the way. Medium plus on the body, good carbonation. Hops linger for days. This one numbs the tongue. A must for hopheads.

Serving type: on-tap

04-26-2012 09:09:06 | More by dbmernin83

nrbw23

Ohio

4.33/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Pours a dark golden amber color with a off white head. Head has good retention and leaves some solid lacing.

S- A pretty strong smell here. Quite a bit of tropical fruits and pine leading the way. Pretty much a hop bomb and I'm not really picking up any malts.

T - I'm digging this one at the first sip. Quite a bit of hops here a lot of tropical fruits and pine. Not really picking up any malts.

M- Medium in body with a good amount of carbonation.

O- If you're a hop head this one's for you. I really enjoyed this one.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2012 09:33:18 | More by nrbw23

soulfly1492

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Aroma: Bold as expected. Pine, floral, grapefruit, a bit spicy. Grassy and resinous. Some mild caramel sweetness and some pale malt.

Appearance: Light copper, high clarity. Some bubbles rising. Head is light brown with orange highlights. Great retention, super fluffy. Lots of lacing.

Taste: No misnomer here. Bold pine, grapefruit and some mild floral notes. Resinous, sticking to the back of my tongue. Some alcohol.

Mouthfeel: Medium body. Slick and oily. Mild carbonation, very smooth, never stinging.

Overall: I'd trade some pine for grapefruit, but that's my only negative comment. About what I expected. Lasting flavor, never quite becoming harsh.

An Imperial IPA that improves as it warms up, fabulous!

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2012 00:57:37 | More by soulfly1492

tkarsies

Ohio

4.33/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this as one of the special guest taps at Barley's Smokehouse in Columbus, Ohio. Served cool in a 13 oz tulip.

Nice clear amber appearance with small tan head that left some sticky lacing. Minimal carbonation seen.

Smell was piney, citrusy, hoppy goodness. No sweet malty aroma to get in the way of the hops.

Hoppy, bitter taste. This actually does have some malt that tries to balance out the hops....but it loses miserably. But, this is what I was hoping for. Hop bomb. Menu said 147 IBU, and I can't argue with that number.

Mouthfeel was smooth, a bit creamy, and lightly carbonated. Not that I noticed because my mouth was numb from the hops.

Overall this lives up to my expectation of being quite the hop bomb. Green Flash nails it for sure. Doubt I would want more than 2; I am only just now able to feel my tongue again 24 hours later. Would definitely come back to this when I need a major hop fix.

Serving type: on-tap

05-26-2012 14:42:32 | More by tkarsies

brewandbbq

New Hampshire

4.33/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle.

Pours hazy copper with an inch-plus head of bone. A partial skim coat with tattered webwork of lacing throughout the glass.

Aromatics lead off with intense pine and grapefruit. Some lighter notes of tangerine and spicy honey follow through.

Medium bodied with a crisp, tacky mouthfeel.

Resinous pine, grapefruit pulp, and spruce bark start the palate. A firm, drying bitterness steps forward with a hint of alcohol warmth and faint malt.

Finishes with lingering pine, alcohol, and bitterness.

Great beer. Very hoppy with plenty of bitterness but not overly done.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2012 02:17:51 | More by brewandbbq

alexgash

Connecticut

4.34/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12 oz. bottle. Bottled on 01/01/13.

Clear, clean burnt sienna body. Two fingers of very thick, dense, light creamy khaki head. Awesome lacing. Big time tropical fruit and citrus on the nose. Pineapple, mango, mandarin orange, grapefruit, and guava just to name a few. Hints of non-palate wrecking caramel/butterscotch malt as well.

Numbing, herbal hop flavor and bitterness up front. Sweetish fruity malts settle in quickly, while the herbal hop bitterness crescendos. A hearty, heady mix of resin, pine, tropical fruit, pineapple, and citrus make for quite the hop presence. The bitterness is pretty intense as well, and just seems to keep increasing into the long finish. I feel like there are hop flowers stuck to the roof of my mouth. Warming notes of fruity alcohol also grace the finish. Medium-full body with a creamy, thick feel. Gentle carbonation takes pity on my alpha acid wracked mouth. Palate wrecker? Maybe, but I like it.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 04:01:05 | More by alexgash

sweemzander

Illinois

4.34/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

12oz. bottle poured into an imperial pint.

(A)- Pours a deep copper amber orange color. Produced a really nice cap of white froth with great retention behind it. Some lacing left behind. Some froth still remained with my last sip!

(S)- Its actually quite dry and resin-like from the massive hop level. At the same time, some good sweet caramel malts peek through with subtle hints of citrus fruit.

(T)- This really is a hop bomb, but a nicely complex one that showcases alot of what hops can do. You get plenty of the dry resin-like flavor, but also bits of pine hidden in a vibrant citrus profile of pineapple, orange, and lemon. The malt backbone is there, but just in a supporting role with a subtle sweetness.

(M)- A good carbonation level and a great balance to it overall. I definitely get where this gets its name, but it is not completely over-the-top. The hop level is massive and does get a bit bitter as it warms, but it has a really nice range from dry, to sweet, and fruity.

(O)- I really like this one, particularly going into it with no known expectations. In a style that I tend to quickly get bored with how many examples are out there, this is a nice surprise.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2013 19:51:37 | More by sweemzander

CHickman

New York

4.35/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Rattle-N-Hum in NYC. Pours orange with a creamy 1/4 inch off white head; great lacing that leaves rings clinging to the glass.

Smells of huge hops, floral, piney and citrus hops, sweet malt, caramel, grapefruit and bread/grains.

Tastes of huge hops, floral hops, piney hops and citrus hops, sweet malt, caramel, grapefruit, lemon, grass, a touch of brown sugar, a hint of syrup and some mild spices - what a tasty brew, it is delicious! It bombarded my palate, but didn't wreck it.

Mouthfeel is creamy, with little to no carbonation, a light crisp feel and a very smooth feel overall. I guess it was balanced, but it's hard to judge since this was a hop assault and just a very tasty beer that any hop-head will enjoy. The 9% ABV was well hidden and this beer went down very easy. A definite recommendation.

Serving type: on-tap

04-03-2010 03:02:05 | More by CHickman

jcomp21

California

4.35/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Wow. First thought is that this is DEFINITELY a palate wrecker. Whooo. Man.

I took one sip and that flavor lasted for literally minutes. This is the hoppiest beer I have ever had. Really fun! On the front of the taste, we get all variety of hops, very grapefruity and piney,... as it moves to the back of the tongue the bitterness really kicks in. And that bite goes on and on and on....

Appearance is a dark golden almost light amber in color... nice little bubbles spread out flow slowly to the top.

One finger white head that dissipates rather quickly.

Overall I would recommend this beer for experienced hop heads only. Very enjoyable!

see ya on the next one.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2012 20:31:42 | More by jcomp21

fmccormi

New York

4.35/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Straight pour from 22oz pry-off bottle to a large Hill Farmstead stem. No bottling date, but I picked this up the first day it hit the stores here so I’m assuming it’s as fresh as it’ll get.

Appearance (4.5): Beautiful clear, orange-gold body with an off-white head starting at two and a half fingers and fading slowly, leaving a sudsy web of lace. Surface of the head is rocky, with a mix of big fat bubbles and little bubbles all over the place. Looks great for the style.

Smell (4.0): This is an awesome, pungent mix of lime juice and weed with sweet citrus notes thrown in there—but there’s a strong lime juice thing going on here. Grassy. Great smell.

Taste (4.5): What really caught me off guard here is the grassiness of it: there’s a lot of other stuff going on in the hop profile, but the grassy character comes in right at the beginning and hangs on forever. The finish is a skunky, bitter flavor that walks the line between intense herbal, grassy notes and chewing on grapefruit rind. There’s a sweet pineapple / mango character in the background that mixes in with a pale, understated malt body—bready and plain, it comes out a bit more as it warms but it really doesn’t hold a chance next to the hops. This is great, and I’m enjoying the hell out of it.

Mouthfeel (4.0): Very good mouthfeel, finishes dry as hell (probably thanks to the booze) and it has a medium to lighter-side-of-medium body to it; carbonation is relatively understated but balanced. It’s an easy drinker, if you can handle the hops.

Overall (4.5): Great beer. Love it. It could definitely be a bit more balanced, and I’ve had DIPAs with a more nuanced or complex hop profile, but this beer promised an unrelenting hop experience and that’s exactly what it delivered. Very, very happy to have enjoyed this bastard, and I look forward to wrecking myself again in the future.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2012 02:21:44 | More by fmccormi