Green Flash Palate Wrecker - Green Flash Brewing Co.

JMScowcroft

Vermont

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Green Flash Brewing Co. - Palate Wrecker - 1pt 6fl oz bottle

Look - Pours golden amber/copper with a small fizzy head. Good lacing. Minimal carbonation.

Smell - Citrus and pine hops, sweet caramel malt, smooth mix, mouthwatering.

Taste - Snappy, turns smooth, followed by two hoppy waves, pine and then citrus.

Mouthfeel - Sits heavy and earrthy, decent drinkability. The mouthfeel was not the best aspect of this brew. It really does wreck your palate, but it was not in a good way for me.

Overall - Great brew, a bit raw on the palate (as advertised) but not quite what I expected. I would recommend trying though as taste is subjective.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2013 12:06:45 | More by JMScowcroft

da_beers

Vermont

4.06/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

@jmscowcroft brought a bomber over to share and review, we have been looking forward to this one for awhile. He found this hiding behind a different beer at the local shop.
A - coppery golden pour, minimal head that dissipates quickly. Had decent lacing, was bottled in Jan of this year.
S - Huge hop smell! Earthy notes abundant. Pines and citrus notes come thru at the end, hits with a malty sweetness as well.
T - very light sweet malt taste. Citrus at the end. Hops are obviously abundant here, massive blast. The earthiness lasts thru the end.
M - very smooth and almost velvety. Light/moderate carbonation. Has a crisp finish.
D - "Palate Wrecker" is an appropriate. Not a sessionable ale for sure. Wouldn't want multiples of this one.
O - overall enjoyed this hop bomb. Drinkibility is the low point for me, but the complexity is great. I would recommend if you haven't tried and love IPAs!

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2013 01:41:14 | More by da_beers

LtCracker20

Connecticut

4.04/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A- Pours a clear golden copper body with a 3-finger off white head that falls to about a 1/2 inch cap. Some good sticky lace.

S- A little sweetness comes through first, but it's quickly followed by piney and citrusy hop aroma. The caramel sweetness comes back through towards the end again. Not getting any kind of booziness though, which is good. Just a little too sweet on the nose.

T- Good resiny hop flavor...Nice and sticky. Pine comes through first, then some grapefruit flavors. There's still some sweetness there. I know it's a DIPA, but I would've liked a little less sweetness. Still very good.

MF- Almost a full body on this, still pretty thick. Carbonation levels are right for me. Flavor's like a slick sheet of oil on the tongue. Flavors seem to last a while.

O- A very good beer. I was expecting even more of a hop bomb, but it is very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 23:06:37 | More by LtCracker20

cmp26

California

4.79/5  rDev +14.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

this is a great beer its a little spendy but worth it.i poured 2 in to my 32oz mug and after finishing had a nice buzz and was ready for bed after the 4th. this is a really strong hoppy beer with a creamy head aromatic head.i wish they would make it in six packs 4 beers is enough but your always left with that feeling of wanting more. i highly recomend trying this delicious brew

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2013 04:16:10 | More by cmp26

JohnGalt1

Idaho

3.96/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Small bottle picked up tonight at the COOP for about $3... Poured into my HotD tulip... Long lasting white head with fantastic lacing atop a clear light orange brew.

Huge resinous hoppiness coats the nose hairs. Piney with some tropical fruit notes... Very west coast.

Huge grapefruit on the palate with a little bit lesser pine.... just enough pale maltiness to deliver the hops... pretty damn bitter.

Super stoked we are getting Green Flash into Boise.

4.25/3.75/4/4/4

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2013 03:42:18 | More by JohnGalt1

SaCkErZ9

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This one pours from a 22oz bottle into an imperial pint glass. Emerges clear and bronze in color with a stark white colored head. Loads of lacing, head retention, the works. Two finger sized head recedes very slowly into a quarter inch froth atop the beverage.

This one is also a nose wrecker. Full of delicious hop goodness in the nose. Even with allergies, this one takes my nose and squeezes all aromas into its cilia. Piney and citrusy and delicious. There is also a nice bit of maltiness to back up the hoppiness, and some sweet alcohol presents itself nicely as well. Smells extremely fresh, like fresh hop cones.

Killer flavor as well. Very well balanced. I generally like beers that lean more toward hoppy than malty (balanced) but this one seems to marry the two quite well. There is still a prevailing hop bitterness and flavor, but the malt and alcohol combat that nicely and offer a semi balanced beer. ( As the beer warms slightly, the balance leaves the table and Mr. hoppy takes his rightful seat at the head). Quite bitter, very tasty.

The hops linger for a long time on the palate, and as this one warms, the hops slaps the palate and call it it's bitch. Very long, bitter finish with just the right amount of oiliness and lemon rind.

A bitter beer for sure, and a delicious one. As balanced as an overly hoppy beer can be for sure. The bitterness will certainly drive some away, but I dig it man. A great beer!

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2013 21:34:36 | More by SaCkErZ9

flablaze

Florida

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

Poured into a standard pub glass. Appearance was a light copper with slightly noticeable haziness. Nice white head, 1 finger width. Moderate lacing on the glass.

Sniff test indicated obvious notes of citrus and pine. Aroma hung heavy, which I did enjoy. Definitely enhanced the experience.

Taste indicated much of what I smelled, but the hops were somewhat subdued by an obvious maltiness. Some would call this balance, but when I drink an IPA I am looking for hop quality.

This brew presented fairly heavy mouthfeel, which I found to be pleasing. There was a definite aftertaste...as if my mouth was coated in resin. This was not unpleasant, but I definitely needed a palate cleansing before sampling the next brew.

Good IPA? Absolutely. Great IPA? Arguable. When compared with other beers of the same style, the price is a deal breaker. At $14.99 for a pack of 4, it is hard to justify with so many quality IPAs available.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2013 05:01:52 | More by flablaze

Hendry

Vermont

4.15/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

"Vinnie, don't put too many onions in the sauce!" Reading reviews before getting the opportunity to try a particular beer can be enlightening. Having felt the Green Flash West Coast IPA was pretty average, a friend recommended Palate Wrecker and gave me one to try.

The nose on this ale is really pleasing and inviting, hops abound for sure,plenty of grapefruit and other tropical tones. The pour was a pretty clear deep orange with about an inch of foamy white head. The aroma is a big feature here.

Flavor wise, this is a hoppy brew that rests heavily on the palate and has a savory character to it. Mouthfeel is medium to heavy and halfway through, it becomes quite rich and not suited to chugging: this is a slow drinker. It really does have a savory onion quality to the aftertaste despite the citrus aroma from the hops. Some claim they can smell the onion in the aroma, but that isn't what I took away from it, so the flavors were deceptive to me given the attractiveness of the nose (I was expecting a sweeter aftertaste I guess).

The aftertaste is not displeasing as the brew is quite hoppy and peppy. I can appreciate the variation from the typical citrus bomb, and cannot knock it for that, but the flavor is not one I prefer to have in the rotation despite the interesting character, and quality ingredients. A couple of my friends really dig PW, and I respect their opinions, but at $14 a 4 pack not likely one I will reach for any time soon with all the choices out there.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2013 03:49:16 | More by Hendry

clayrock81

Virginia

3.95/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Poured a cloudy orage with great head and lace on top of a strong piney, citric hop aroma that has little sweetness to it. Taste is more of the as I thoroughly enjoyed the strong citric, piney hop character and it is balanced, which I found odd as for a DIPA that is smooth, relatively speaking, to drink and not a total tastebud killer I find that I can't really pick out any discernable malt presence. Finish is very crisp and strong thanks to carbonation and ABV although not a bleeder. This is a beer I really enjoyed yet one was enough for me.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2013 13:30:07 | More by clayrock81

yamar68

Minnesota

4.28/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Thanks to mnphish for the pour!

Pours a glowing copper gold with a slim and soapy cap of off-white carbonation.

Pungent conifer, mango and sweet citrus. Smells beautiful. So far so good.

Hops all up in my grill... definitely too hoppy to butt chug but I totally would if I could.

Delicious, even if it's exclusively a mouth drinker.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2013 20:58:30 | More by yamar68

mnphish

Minnesota

4.26/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

12 oz, bottled 2/5/13, served into a pint glass.

Appearance: Pours a very clear light amber with a two finger head. There is noticeable lacing as well.

Smell: potent resinous-piney hops, some grapefruit, malt, and floral hints.

Taste: huge bittersweet hops, lots of pine, grapefruit, citrus, and caramel malts. Huge bitter aftertaste, and a tiny hint of warmth/booze.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, nicely carbonated. Very flavorful stuff.

Overall: This is a very balanced beer and the alcohol is masked very well by the huge hops and malt backbone. Tasty brewski here.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 22:39:47 | More by mnphish

Georgiabeer

Georgia

4.56/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

A very solid beer, flush with bitter herbal notes and a long finish. Quite bitter and very distinctive- I'm very glad they bottled this one. Amber in color with a somewhat short head, but that's okay given the abv. It's got that dill/green onion and sour cream thing going on in the nose from the hops- I happen to love those notes, but I know many do not. Really nicely bitter in the mouth, with an almost beefy flavor rife with the herbal and onion notes as well as some pine to give it some backbone. This is no citrus bomb, but if you're into this profile you'll love it. Very firm in the mouth at first, but then with a creamy finish and a long, mouthwatering, lingering bitterness. An all around excellent beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2013 20:18:04 | More by Georgiabeer

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

SerialHiker

Illinois

3.95/5  rDev -5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Pours a nice, deep golden orange…transparent with zero bubble action, a very crisp looking beer…tons of off white head thins out to pinky thick, but livens up with each swirl…a very clean looking beer with a thin frothy top…(4/5)

Smell: An array of bitterness…musty/dank bitterness first, but underneath there’s pine and a little citrus…for a palate wrecker, I can definitely smell some biscuity malts…more balanced that I would have expected…a little musty for me, but not bad…(3.75/5)

Taste: Tons of earthy, mildly musty, dank bitterness…it’s fresh and that for me, is the plus side to all the earthy/woodsy/dankness…the flavor is still real palatable…like the nose, there’s a real buscuitiness that’s mildly sweet with a touch pale qualities…this brew really takes you on an adventure: it’s bitter, then buscuity, then uber bitter to finish…very full flavored, each sip lasts a few minutes…(4/5)

Mouthfeel: Light to medium body, medium carbonation…fluffs up bringing tons of bitterness: grassy, piney, danky…there’s a creaminess to the carbonation…grass and lemon peel bitterness in the after taste…(4/5)

Overall: This is a good beer…I love hops, the hoppier a beer the better…this beer does fit that bill, but the choice of hops used aren’t my favorite…for whatever reason, I’ve encountered more musty/dank variety IPA, maybe this is the beginning of the trend away from citrus hops dominant IPA’s…I’m not sure…but if an IPA could be a sipper, this would be one…good flavor though, easily recommendable for the standard hop head…this brew reminds me of Hop Stoopid by Lagunitas, if you like that, then you’ll find happiness here…(4/5)

Brewreport.blogspot.com

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2013 15:49:26 | More by SerialHiker

Hopscat

Maryland

4.49/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

I really want to love this beer, based on what I paid , $4.00 /12 oz , and it's reputation. Bottle poured into snifter. Orange/yellow body with some haze. Nice white head that leaves a nice ring and lacing. Very nice looking
S- Big citrus slap at first with some other fruit and some earthy notes in the background.
T- lots of grapefruit rind and citrus lusciousness , lemon and peach . Bitterness almost overwhelms upfront but sweet malty goodness backbone for balance. Boozy and bitter finish just liked I had hoped for. Too complex to review without notes
M- medium body , oily and the carbonation seems to dance on the tongue.
O- Really love this one. It's in my top 3 DIPAs. I've got so many more to try

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 20:40:36 | More by Hopscat

LCB_Hostage

Pennsylvania

4.69/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass

A: Pale orange with a thick, 1-finger head and heavy, prolonged lacing

S: Glorious smack of hops to the brain. Citrus dominates, but some piney resinly goodness as well. Love this beer already

T: Pays off the aroma in spades! True to it's name, it overwhelms the taste buds with exquisite hoppiness, but that's just what I was hoping for. Not that there isn't any malt in behind there, but that's really not what this beer is about. Full-bodied, yet refreshing to the point of invigorating.

M: The tongue just quivers in submission. Crisp, prickly and long-lasting.

O: Needless to say, I LOVE this beer. A hop-bomb among hop-bombs, so understandably, it's not for everyone, but if you're a true hophead you have to at least give this a try. Too intense to drink every day, but something to pull out of fridge when you really want to "experience" a beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 16:13:14 | More by LCB_Hostage

teromous

Virginia

3.48/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Very nice transparent body that is a medium shade of copper. The head is a small fluffy white pillow that leaves lots of lacing on the glass.

S: Very catty, and a bit of herbal tea. Not very complex.

T: Very strong grapefruit rind, accompanied by a faint caramel sweetness. There's not a whole lot of hop flavor, but there is a ton...and I mean a ton of bitterness.

M: The mouthfeel is very strong and commanding. There is no way to drink this without knowing it is there...a real kick in the face, and it lives up to the name "Palate Wrecker." The body is medium and leans toward full-bodied.

O: Overall the beer has impressive bitterness, but unfortunately lacks the complexity of hop flavor. It's not really a beer that I would recommend, but it has a novelty appeal for being extremely bitter.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2013 17:09:41 | More by teromous

rajendra82

Georgia

4.75/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

The body was a deep orange shade of amber, and formed a two finger thick head in the tulip glass. The aroma was very piney and spicy and very much in line with the West Coast style. The taste is where the complexity started to show up. There was a mouth puckering, tobacco like bitterness up front which stayed throughout the taste. The initial shock of bitter was followed by some tropical fruits, such as mango and pineapple. The finish was spicy, with notes of ginger and clove. The beer felt very dry and did not show much of the character of the malt. This definitely lived up to its name, as I can't imagine having another beer after this, except if it's another Palate Wrecker.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 04:32:29 | More by rajendra82

rringler

California

4.43/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

A: Clear, light copper pour with about a half finger of white, fine bubbles. No real observable particulates in suspension, just tiny little rising bubbles. Medium to medium- lacing.

S: Good malts, with foreshadowing hops. More floral/earthy than spicy.

T: Hop-heaven. Lots of IPAs open up with malts first, but this beer immediately sets the tone with some hop bitterness. When the malty flavor gets to shine, it has a bit more biscuit and caramel flavor than some other IPAs, which I enjoy. After the malt comes a nice strong round of hops. As they smell, they're more floral/earthy than spicy. I wish I knew what these hops were. There is a bit of boozy dryness to this beer that I'd prefer to avoid, but eh, it's 9.5% abv; what can you do.

M: Medium to Medium+ body; a bit thicker and stickier than others. Carbonation is great.

O: Awesome west-coast IPA. This is probably Green Flash's answer to Stone's Arrogant Bastard, but it's well executed, and once your tongue adapts to west-coast IPAs, it's an amazing drink.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 02:16:08 | More by rringler

alk3kenny

Georgia

5/5  rDev +19.3%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Copper orange color slight haze smells of pine citrus and hops tastes as good and just like it smells. Hop bitterness bites the tongue great for hop heads and a nice way to test if your friends are true hop heads. Will be getting my hands on more of this before its all gone for the year

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 02:06:28 | More by alk3kenny

snaotheus

Washington

4.29/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

12oz bottle poured into a pint glass

Pours fairly cloudy orange-golden, smallish head that fades to a clumpy coating pretty fast. Already appears to be leaving some lacing from the fading of the head, even though I haven't taken a sip yet. Smell is big and round and sweet, mostly flowers, maybe some orange, some grapefruit rind.

Taste is a bright sweet flash that is quickly dominated by hoppy bitterness. Lots of grapefruit rind, some pine.

Mouthfeel is dry and light, slightly sticky. Overall, this is quite nice.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 03:42:54 | More by snaotheus

dickieb

Rhode Island

4.04/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4.25

Starts of a really nice looking beer, clear amber/ reddish in color with a small white head and above average lacing. The smell is piney citrusy and resiny with floral notes, everything a hop head is looking for. The flavor is strong and very bitter living up to its name, not exactly a hop bomb due to a good malt profile but still waves of bitter hops dominates the flavor. The mouthfeel is a bit rich for me but by no means bad and overall this is a very good beer. I would not session this one, but a good one to sip.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2013 22:12:15 | More by dickieb

ESeab

New Jersey

3.86/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Poured a clear orange with medium to thick white head, some lacing

Big hop smell

Tastes like it sounds, a hop bomb with a lot of bitterness. Comes off a bit spicey with oniony tastes. Definitely has a lingering aftertaste. Huge flavor that goes well with spicy dishes

The mouthfeel is pretty sticky, the taste and body hide the big abv well

This was the third time overall having this brew and probably the best since it was the most fresh of the bunch. I wouldn't mind grabbing another fresh one off a single rack, but wouldn't see ever buying a four pack for myself. I understand if your a big hophead you'll love this one, I just tend to like a bit more balance and less bitterness

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2013 22:12:01 | More by ESeab

bubseymour

Maryland

3.74/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Very nice pour for an IPA. Orange and clear and a super white 2 finger head with tight bubbles and great retention.

Smells wonderfully citrus hops screamin from the glass.

Taste - Very flavorful up front, with the hops really kicking in on the finish with some lingering bitterness. The more I sip, the more bitter it gets. A little too much raw bitterness for my preference.

Mouthfeel - Warm, buttery and thick. Very nice for an Imperial.

Overall - Many IPA's with scary hop names end up being tame and flavorful. The Palate Wrecker is the first one that has an accurate title. It truly is a hop bomb and bitter on the palate.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2013 23:46:50 | More by bubseymour

droomyster

Virginia

4.21/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Pours a slightly hazy burnt orange body with a small off-white with okay retention. Aromas are typical of the best DIPAs: tropical fruit and floral and citrusy notes, a bit of bubblegum and honeyed sweetness. Smack of bitterness right up front, with a blast of grapefruit and bitter salad greens. A swell of sweetness, marmalade and caramel, on the mid-palate. Finish lingers for days and days on an ultra bitter note of orange zest. Lot of body on this super substantial beer. This is very good and worth the price.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2013 03:50:41 | More by droomyster