Green Flash Palate Wrecker - Green Flash Brewing Co.

nataku00

California

3.75/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Bottle poured into a tulip glass. Beer pours a dark copper with a finger of loose off white foam. Head dissipates quickly to a thin collar along the edges with minimal lacing. Not much carbonation visible.

Nose is pine and grapefruit, caramel, and a bit of alcohol.

Taste follows the nose, big hit of pine and grapefruit bitterness, mellowing into a caramel malt sweetness and alcohol. Lingering grapefruit bitterness on the tongue with some malt sweetness.

Medium body, a little syrupy with low carbonation that lightly tickles the tongue. A bit of alcohol warmth in the back of the throat that lingers after a couple of sips. Not exceptionally bitter, mostly a decent DIPA.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 03:50:28 | More by nataku00

rangerred

Tennessee

3.99/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a snifter out of a 22oz bomber.

Pours a hazy dark orange with a one finger white head. Head fades to a thin wispy cap with some thin lacing on the sides of the glass.

Aroma is full of pine with a hint of tropical fruit along with some apple and peach. Malt is pretty much absent with only the faintest hint of bread.

The taste and mouthfeel is where this beer really begins to impress. A huge punch of resiny pine along with a very impressive palate stripping bitterness. A very tiny amount of bready malt is in the background but is completely buried by all the hops. A very dry mouthfeel for a IIPA which is a wonderful change from the usual.

Overall, this is a pretty delicious IIPA. While it is not something I would drink on a regular basis, it is a nice change up and one of my favorites in the style.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 00:20:12 | More by rangerred

Vec2267

Florida

3.45/5  rDev -17.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A - orange / gold, clear, white head, great retention and lacing

S - pine resin, some sweet citrus/floral notes

T - pine resin, citrus pith, bitterness

M - medium, rich because of the blast of flavors, not syrupy

O - not enough balance, tons of hop bitterness without anything interesting/enjoyable

If you buy this expecting a balanced, enjoyable beer you will be disappointed. There are better hop bombs that manage to provide a more balanced, enjoyable experience. The best part of this beer is the smell.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2013 02:33:24 | More by Vec2267

chefhatt

Pennsylvania

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

I poured this one into a glass. It has a amber color body with a 2' finger of white head. The smell has a carmel note, with a great blast of citrus hops. The taste has a great hop bit up front then a little malt on the back of the tongue. i love the bite from the hops it hits your tongue like a rocket. The moutfeel is great, leaves a nice little after taste on the tongue. Over all this is a great DIPA

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2013 19:34:34 | More by chefhatt

macrosmatic

Florida

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

Reviewed from notes. Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into a Russian River pint glass.

A: Pours a hazy, brownish copper with moderate carbonation and a two-finger white head.

S: Sweet and mild caramel malts, citrus rind, as well as some grassy and flowery hops.

T: Bready and slight caramel malts, bitter hops with hints of citrus rind, resin and spices - but bitterness is the overwhelming hop impression, and it lasts into the hang.

M: Chewy mouthfeel, somewhat heavy body, moderate alcohol presence, relatively low carbonation sensation.

O: This was solid, but the amount of bitterness from the hops was quite high without having much in the way of other flavors the hops should have imparted. I'll probably drink another but I'm not going to run out to grab it.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2013 22:49:49 | More by macrosmatic

Rcraft

Maryland

4.09/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A: Quickly foams to a 1-2 finger head, but recedes to a thin layer around the edges with slight lacing. Orange-amber in appearance, a bit transparent in good light.

S: While you can definitely smell the piney hops, it's not the most pungent aroma. I had to get a few whiffs in a snifter to really gather the variety this brew presented (but that might just be my nose?). Definitely more piney than fruity, I would say - with some citrus mixed in, of course. The longer I try to smell it, though, the more I can pick up.

T: Solid through all temperatures. You can start this one out very cold and get good flavors, and finish your glass a while later a bit warmer and it still has an enjoyable taste. Good balance.

M: The hops/bitter sticks with your mouth for a while if you aren't eating anything. Very pleasant to me. Nothing extraordinary but definitely present.

O: You're looking to pay ~$14 for a 4-12oz pack. For the price, it offers a decent experience. I'll probably have it again for occasions but I'm not going to go out of my way to find this. Solid DIPA!

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2013 09:05:06 | More by Rcraft

Zach225

Arizona

4.7/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75

Appearance: Poured into a tulip glass. Pours a burnt orange/amber with a hefty, fluffy head of about 2-1/2 fingers. As it settles it displays respectable head retention for 9.5% as well as some lacing. Swirling in the glass as it goes down it displays some mild alcohol legs.

Nose: It's like walking into a hop store. An army of different hop aromas surround your nostrils like an assault. Leading the pack are huge notes of ripe pineapple, grapefruit, papaya, orange, garlic, and onion skin. More subtle notes of earth, spice, and sweet flora are present within the onslaught.

Taste: A more full-bodied, "sticky" IPA. Upfront, a rush of bittersweet. Massive hop bitterness attacks your taste buds with just enough mild, caramelly-sweet malt balance to keep it in check. Mid-palate the hop flavors start to dig through the initial slam of bitterness, which remains all too present, to keep you from getting too comfortable. Big, juicy tropical fruit and citrus rush over your mouth as you start to swallow. There is a comfortable amount of warmth in the throat from alcohol, and the beer finishes long and ornery and refuses to let go. It doesn't clean up and refresh you (that would not serve its purpose), it lingers with bitterness that doesn't give in and dank, garlicky citrus.

Overall: I have returned to this beer on several occasions both on tap and by the bottle because I do truly enjoy it. As a beer lover who can't say no to the hop-head inside this beer is irresistible. If you are looking for a relentlessly bitter, but still well constructed Double IPA then look no further. It is like being taken on a tour of a hop factory. It is quite respectably well accomplished for a beer of such aggressive characteristics. A word of advice to those who truly want to explore this IPA's complexities; be weary of temperature. Do not drink Palate Wrecker too chilled, enjoy it in the 52-56 range to really go for a gnarly, roller coaster of a hop ride.

- Cheers!

Zach

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2013 06:50:22 | More by Zach225

ProudBeerSnob

New York

4.51/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Finally found this bad boy at Hegedorn's (a local indie grocery store). Poured from a 22 into a tulip glass. Nice light copper color, but head is sort of sparse.

Aroma is wonderful. Piney citrus notes as expected. Tastes good as well.

Overall, a quality brew. I will seek it out again.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2013 01:32:44 | More by ProudBeerSnob

take_it_sleazy

Vermont

4.28/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Been looking around for this baby. Poured from 12 oz. bottle to Good Nature snifter.

A: deep, amber orange color. Light shines through in a beautiful way. Enjoying this one outside. Head about one finger thick that disappears quickly. Thin, lacy ring along the outside meniscus of the beer. Carbonation looks beautiful, as bubbles continuously rise to the top of the glass throughout enjoying this one.

S: so much going on with this one. Citrus, lemon, grapefruit, orange zest and sweat. The hops are definitely strong throughout, but are well balanced with the seemingly ten other things going on.

T: malty and refreshing rolled into one hoppy Goliath of an IPA. Bitterness up front that mellows over time. Definitely picking up some piney, resiny characteristics as well. Lives up to its name.

M: beer does well here. Pretty standard for the category, I think. Nice medium to light body that's very drinkable. Carbonation is wonderful and lingers for awhile.

O: not for the average hop fan. The bitterness will definitely turn some people off. However, if DIPAs are your thing, you are in for an interesting and delicious ride.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2013 18:24:00 | More by take_it_sleazy

THANAT0PSIS

Wisconsin

4.1/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Green Flash Palate Wrecker

Appearance: This bitter behemoth pours a brilliant, clear, deep amber color, like a particularly beautiful sunset. There are hues of orange and gold throughout the pour as well. The creamy, bone-white, dense head cascades nearly over the top of the glass with even a gentle pour; the retention is ridiculous. The lacing is beautiful, as if tiny spiders wove it all over the glass. Carbonation is evident, but does not seem to be overpowering. This is a perfect looking IIPA.

Aroma: Grapefruit and resinous pine dominate the aroma. Behind the immense waves of bitterness rides a barrage of tropical fruits along the lines of slight pineapple, mango, and indiscriminate citrus. There is a surprisingly strong malt backbone hidden under all the hop aromas that gives an enticingly sweet caramel aroma. For an IIPA, one would expect stronger aromas. What is there is good (if mostly one note), but there just is not enough of it there. Perhaps this beer is not as purposefully imbalanced as the name would lead one to believe…

Taste: …or not. It easily earns its moniker. Lots of grapefruit rind, pine resin, and aggressive bitterness hits hard, fast, and never lets up. There is a bit of the pineapple, mango, and citrus flavors hiding somewhere in the beverage, possibly sheltering from the roving astringent menace. Sweet caramel malts underscore the taste and are present in each swig, but never really get a chance to shine. This is a hoppy, bitter beast with no designs on being balanced. It succeeds in laying waste to all palates that may stand in its path.

Mouthfeel: The body of this beer is nearly right where it should be: light-medium, not syrupy, but also not watery and overly thin; maybe just a little bit more malt to this one would have filled it out to make it flawless. The carbonation is perfect and pairs with the hoppy astringency to become a mouth-ravishing juggernaut. The alcohol is never evident on its own, but makes its presence known as the glass empties. The beer is surprisingly drinkable, but the sheer bitterness of it makes it almost a sipper, where the light-medium body would lead one to believe it was sessionable.

Overall: This sort of reminded me of what Hopslam used to be prior to 2013, albeit far more hop-forward. Hop haters need not apply, as this will just end up being a drainpour. The bitterness is extremely assertive and may even be too much for even seasoned hopheads. It is not quite as bitter as Sixpoint Resin or Stone Ruination, but it is extremely close. Seek this out as it really is a great beer, but brace yourself. 17/20

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2013 19:08:53 | More by THANAT0PSIS

roundthewaygirls

Virginia

3.16/5  rDev -24.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

poured into a tumbler

A: copper/orange color. no head. moderate lacing. chill head. rich color, but unassuming.

S: piney green flash hop profile. citrus. notes of a light, clean malt.

T: hops, y'all. extremely bitter. made me say "wooo." some faint citrus, specifically lemon in the finish. it may be the piney resins that give the beer a green tea quality.

M: the mouthfeel is as balanced as could be asked from a beer called "palate wrecker." the hops are sharp and overwhelming upfront, but the beer finishes clean and smooth.

O: pretty distinctive green flash hop profile kicked up a notch. interesting, but not as enjoyable as the imperial ipa. a little too in your face. palate wrecker, indeed.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 03:57:10 | More by roundthewaygirls

StaveHooks

Oklahoma

4.08/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

12oz bottle served in a Dogfish Head IPA glass

A - Pours a clear copper/amber with a firm 2 fingers of cream colored head. Great heaping edges of head left with chunky lacing left behind. Great looking beer.

S - Pine jumps out with grapefruit right behind it, very hoppy aroma, sticky caramel malts, perfumey ethanol, vanilla, fresh baked bread.

T - Resinous pine sap, sweet grapefruit turns to a rindy and oily bitterness. Stone fruit and bitter pineapple come to mind. Some lemon/lime twang shows up toward the finish. The pine runs strong through the middle with the grapefruit on the sides, forming a synergistic punishment of bitterness. The caramel malt holds it's ground and adds a buttery sweetness. Finishes dry with an aggressive pine bite with notes of peppery herbs. Grapefruit sneaks in quickly in the aftertaste wiping out all other flavors.

M - Heavy in weight, but has a medium body, oily feel, medium carbonation, dry and assertively bitter finish.

And a palate wrecker it is! Just an in your face DIPA. Lots of bitterness with pine and grapefruit fighting it out. Pine comes strong up front but grapefruit pushes more at the end. It's like talking a bite out of a fresh grapefruit, rind and all. Solid malt base for the extreme use of hops. Not a very complex mix of flavors but if your looking for a hop bomb this is it.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2013 23:05:33 | More by StaveHooks

tviz33

New York

4.21/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a 22 oz bomber in to a Ballast Point tumbler.

A- Pours a finger and a half of white suds that settle to a thin covering over top of a completely transparent orange body.

S- Bright citrus and some toasty malts.

T- It didn't exactly wreck my palate like I expected, but was rather balanced. Cracker and bread-like character balances the bitterness.

M- Medium-full and a little slick. Decent carbonation slippery on the way down like oil. The alcohol heat is only slightly noticeable.

O- Pretty solid offering. Wouldn't mind another one bit.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2013 04:39:28 | More by tviz33

TTAmod

Michigan

4.13/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

12 oz. Green Flash-shaped bottle poured into pint glass:

A: Pours a dark, slightly hazy orange. Thick, light white head. Looks effervescent. This beer is pretty lively for 9.5%.

S: Smell is actually pretty tropical and there's a touch of roasted caramel malt.

T: Yowza. There's a bit of grapefruit and pine up front, but it's brief and soon it gives way to a full onslaught of bitter, raw, resin-y hops. There's some marijuana, pine-needle, and just pure bitterness. You really have to be a hop-lover to enjoy this beer (thankfully I am.) There's a bit of roasted caramel malt and sugar somewhere in there, but it ends very dry and with a long, lingering bitterness.

M: Actually pretty smooth, light and palatable (if you can handle the extreme bitterness.) Drinks like a beer with a much lower ABV.

O: Let me reiterate: if you don't love hops (and I don't mean those girly hop varieties, like Citra,) you will probably not like this beer. This is a real man's beer. Green Flash pretty much symbolizes west coast IPAs, and this is the best IPA Green Flash makes. My bottle is a few months old, and the hop barrage is completely relentless. I can't even imagine this super-fresh. Anyways, yeah, the DIPA scene is heading toward the more tropical, fruity, hop varieties, but this one is completely old-school and completely awesome. It's a bit one-dimensional in its hoppiness, but it's a hophead's dream.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 03:00:22 | More by TTAmod

JerzDevl2000

New Jersey

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

This was yet another beer that I picked up at Top Hops a few weeks back. I had never had this before and enjoyed all of Green Flash's other offerings that I had before, even if they tend to be similar to each other and to other beers from the Golden State. Amazingly, this one stood out to me, because of how smooth it went down and how hidden the alcohol was. This was indeed strong but it never felt it and everything worked harmoniously well together, which is rare for something as bold as a Double/Imperial IPA such as this.

Everything was solid about this, from the pour on down. A nice frothy head, radian apricot hue, and a bit of amber-like translucence combined for a nice appearance , before I took a sip. The aroma was that of pine, grapefruit, and some tropical fruits and all of these were repeated in the smooth and potent taste. Almost no malt to be found here but the mouthfeel was certainly solid and this pulled off the near-impossibility of a dry-hopped strength with a wet hop finish that squeezed all of the oil, resin, and metallic bitterness of out each hop. There was even a hint of white chocolate in here, like in the Sonoran Cordillera Blanca that added a hint of tangerine and cocoa underneath everything. As everything faded in the aftertaste, just some earthiness remained and oil that didn't seem to completely harmonize with everything else.

For sure, this was a strong beer and I could feel the booze by the time I finished off the contents of the bottle that I bought. While the alcohol is not detectable via taste, it's present and gives this beer the oomph underneath everything else that went on. This won't certainly wreck anyone's palate but it will give it a good run for its money and push the edge of it out just a bit further, and given that so many hoppy beers are not that discernible from each other, what more could you ask for? Take a good hour and give this is go, there's a lot to like here for anyone who loves hops and depth in a beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 13:19:38 | More by JerzDevl2000

raynmoon

California

3.71/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Smells nice. It has a nice dry tangerine smell to it, some sweetness. Kind of smells like my homebrews, which knocks it down a bit.

Wow, a punch of bitterness and alcohol. Alcohol only adds a puckering sting on the initial sip. A little overly bitter, with the malt staying a little far in the back, same with the hops. This definitely does wreck your palate. Bitterness lingers. It's juicy but the alcohol starts to kick into the aftertaste before any pine or tropical fruit :/

Light carbonation, slightly creamy. Works nicely.

Overall this is pretty good. I'm not the biggest fan of the hop profile in this. Seems like Cascade, Centennial maybe? I typically like a little more tropical notes in my double IPAs.

Seems sort of like a Sierra Nevada brew ha. Good but probably won't be buying much more of this soon considering Hoptimum, Sucks and Enjoy all by me.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2013 05:40:35 | More by raynmoon

DrStiffington

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Looks great. smells pretty good, but I don't get much. Maybe it's me. The taste is the real draw, here. It's not called Palate Wrecker for nothing. Bitter, strong hops dominate here. Some citrus, but mostly just a hop bomb, in the best way. Usually DIPAs have a bigger malt presence. Not here. Mouthfeel thick and sticky. Great beer!

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2013 02:05:21 | More by DrStiffington

Auraan

Arizona

4.76/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Poured a transparent, deep amber with a one finger off white head. It looked quite nice. Scents of citrus, lemon, and grapefruit. Very appealing aromas. Flavor is almost entirely bitter grapefruit pith, grapefruit rind, a tiny hint of grapefruit and a bit of pine. Very little malt character, very much a hop forward beer. Mouthfeel was medium bodied, with low carbonation. The beer hid it's alcohol content quite well. An excellent hop forward beer, pure citrus and bitterness, probably one of the best west coast DIPAs I've tasted.

Serving type: on-tap

04-21-2013 09:11:45 | More by Auraan

lsummers

California

4.11/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a great orange amber with a one finger sandy white head that stays.

Smells straight away of the tropical fruits. Very refreshing.

Taste hits with the bitter piny pineapple pine and grapefruit hops, notes of peppery burnt toffee. Relatively sweet and very bitter throughout.

Mouthfeel is sticky and round. It's definitely full bodied.

Overall, this is a great example of a west coast double ipa. Green flash separates themselves from other west coast double ipa's in the fact theirs has so much hop bitterness combined with their roasted malts. It's a unique flavor that hasn't been replicated which makes it remember able.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 06:29:30 | More by lsummers

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

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

First had: on tap at Broad Axe Tavern, Ambler, PA

Clear amber pour, with a small white head that left some splashes of lace on the glass. As would be expected, the aroma was dominated by hops, citrus pith and pine resin, with hints of a caramel malt backbone bringing up the rear. Lots of orange and grapefruit in the taste, resin, pretty intense WC hop bitterness, with a little tropical fruit and malt sweetness to take the edge off, but the hops were clearly in charge. Maybe not as intense as their regular IIPA, though I'd like to try them back to back to test that theory. Medium body, appropriately carbonated. Maybe a little intense for greenhorns, but a good brew for hopheads.

Serving type: on-tap

04-20-2013 04:32:15 | More by Rifugium

mfnmbvp

Illinois

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

12 oz. bottle, bottled on 02/25/2013, possibly 02/28 since the date is a little smeared. Poured into a Firestone Walker pint glass.

A - Fairly gentle pour yields about a half finger of creamy off-white head on top of a nice burnt golden orange colored body. A bit of a hazy look to it, with some bubbles lazily floating to the top.

S - Smell is of dank bitter hop nugs for sure. Grapefruit, rind, pine needles, and some earthiness. Perhaps a hint of caramelized malt.

T - A bitter hop bite. Fruity, juicy, and bitter. Grapefruits & pine needles. Some earthy malts, again. Hint of copper / minerals. Vague hint of hop spice, with virtually no alcohol presence in the taste at all, considering this beer's intense 9.50% abv. This beer warms me up all nice and cozy though, that's for sure.

M - Feel is of resinous hop bitterness, and some dryness.

Overall, one of the greater imperial IPA's that I have tried in recent times. One that lives up to it's subsequent hype, and is destined to become a classic. Highly recommended.

Green Flash Palate Wrecker ---4.5/5

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2013 20:31:30 | More by mfnmbvp

Roman5150

Michigan

4.48/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

bottle purchased from Total Beverages in Murfreesboro, TN

appearance: very beautiful amber, 2 finger white head that dissapears quickly

smell: piney, resiny, earthy, citrusy, less grapefruit than other IPAs, more hops, hops, and more hops. this is a great smelling beer.

taste: very hoppy, in the same class as hop stoopid and ruination, this is surely a "palate wrecker". very bitter earthy finish, somewhat dry, but resolves nicely with a fruity satisfaction. Very refreshing, also some notes of grapefruit, not very much malt in this one.

mouthfeel: perfect carbonation, very smooth

overall: I'd have to do some side by side tests to compare this with Ruination and Hop Stoopid, but this is equal if not the winner for the hoppiest beer i've tried. It's so bitter, yet so damn tasty and refreshing. Give this to a non hop head and they will give you the "o" face like they just took a shot of bourbon. I bought the last 4 pack of the year at my local store, I will be buying more next year.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2013 08:32:44 | More by Roman5150

BrianJohnson

South Carolina

4.59/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

Appearance: Nice orange coloring, fairly clear, good off-white two finger head with nice lacing
Smell: Piny, citrusy, some hints of grapefruit
Taste: Very hoppy, but with a slight sweetness underneath. The hop bitterness dissipates rather quickly.
Mouthfeel: Feels almost thinner than I'd like. Lacks the thick malt backbone. Has more backbone than Harpoon Leviathan but less than DFH 90-Minute.
Overall: I like it very much and will definitely buy again.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2013 22:38:22 | More by BrianJohnson

dheacck11

Connecticut

4.26/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

From the bottle.

Pour is a honey golden amber with a finger of white soft head which recedes rapidly. Small amount of lacing.

Nose is citrus and sweet, with some lemon, grapefruit, honey and soft piney hops.

Taste is a quick burst of grapefruit and other citrus up front, quickly smashed into oblivion by massive, dry, bitter, woody and green hops. Really just gigantic.

Mouth feel is medium but a little thinner than the hops really want. Leaves a nice resiny coat in your mouth though.

A great Imperial IPA. Especially if you love west coast hoppiness. I like it, although I generally prefer more of a floral and citrus component to my hops. Still really nice.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2013 00:08:50 | More by dheacck11

MisSigsFan

California

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

Pours a cloudy golden color with no head. Smell is of piney resin and a bit of booze. Taste is citrusy with a lot of piney resin and bitterness. The alcohol is covered up really well but still has a nice sting at the end. Mouth is quite smooth and medium bodied. Slightly above average carbonation. Very crisp and refreshing. Overall, I love this brew. You usually don't get this type of pine smell or taste in a beer. Usually it's more of a pine needle taste, but in this it's more like the resin from the tree. I was actually expecting this to be way more bitter than it is, but I think they basically reached the point where it's so bitter that it doesn't really seem bitter. This is definitely one of my favorite IPAs. I'm not sure if I like this or the Imperial IPA they make more. I guess this would be more for a hophead, while the Imperial is less bitter but has a lot more in the way of character.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2013 06:37:35 | More by MisSigsFan