Green Flash Palate Wrecker - Green Flash Brewing Co.

Anker13

District of Columbia

3.91/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

2/21/13 Green Flash | Palate Wrecker | On Draft

On draft at Churchkey in DC

Appearance- Beautilful copper in color, white lacy head, translucent

Aroma- Wonderful hop notes, citrusy and piney, grapefruit, subtle toasted bread

Mouthfeel- Moderate Co2, slight coating, medium bodied, a little oily

Taste- with each sip it definitely "wrecks your palate". You get wave after wave of grapefruit/piney hops. Enough malt character to keep it interesting, but not enough to make it an exceptional beer

Residual- pleasant bitterness, grapefruity and sweet

Overall- A solid DIPA. Worth a try, but odds are I would not seek this one out again. It's a borderline hop bomb in my opinion. Not quite so hoppy that you straight up avoid it, but hoppy enough to make it a one and done. There are a lot of better DIPAs out there, but I can see why this has a following.

Serving type: on-tap

02-22-2013 05:10:48 | More by Anker13

HomeBrewJake

Virginia

4.83/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Appearance - One finger of white head. Bright beautiful deep clear orange in color. Not a whole lot of lacing

Smell - Pine, pine and more pine. Some citrus and lemon zest in there as well.

Taste - Piney with some citrus peel and then a solid lasting pine aftertaste.

Feel - Fairly carbonated, but it coats the inside of your mouth with a piney sticky film. You can taste it from the tip of your tongue to the back of your throat. Incredible.

Overall - Got lucky and got to try it on tap, but I'm definitely going to try to grab a few bottles of it too. Amazing!

Serving type: on-tap

02-03-2013 19:07:11 | More by HomeBrewJake

57md

Pennsylvania

4.14/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Appearance is a copper with golden edges. The half finger of head yielded some lace, but nothing overly impressive. The nose was distinctly hoppy. The flavor was hoppy throughout, but there was a touch of alcohol sourness on the finish that almost reached unpleasant, but not bad enough to ruin this very good offering.

Serving type: on-tap

02-01-2013 01:58:55 | More by 57md

AlexFields

Tennessee

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

Light hazy peach/apricot color with a pretty thick head that sticks around a good while.

Smells of mango, pineapple, some kind of flowers.

Taste is similar but with some spiciness and a (not displeasing) vegetable flavor in the finish.

Great and complex DIPA. Will be drinking again.

8.2/10

Serving type: on-tap

01-27-2013 20:03:35 | More by AlexFields

harrymel

Washington

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

On tap at Manito Tap House

Toasted apricot with a solid quilt of fine toasted cream foam. Unusual look for a IIPA. Lots of pine, tangerine, grapefruit (tons of grapefruit), some pineapple, nice dose of underlying biscuity malt with a touch of sweetness. Bitter, metallic, sweet, pine, resin, more resin, some grapefruit peel, some nice spicy hops - really hoppy (haven't said that in a while). Medium bodied with small, sharp fleeting carb leaves a active feeling beer with a character wet almost slick finish. Nice mouthfeel here. Good beer.

Serving type: on-tap

12-31-2012 00:37:39 | More by harrymel

KickbacksSteve

Florida

4.6/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Kickbacks in Jax. Poured into a snifter. Big, fluffy, off-white head, high retention. Clear, copper body. Aroma includes a ton of grapefruit and pine, exploding from the glass. Taste is extremely bitter, pine dominating, some caramel malt sweetness in the distant background but certainly one of the most biting and bruising bitter beers available. Delicious, despite its out of balance-ness. Awesome.

Serving type: on-tap

12-30-2012 06:56:22 | More by KickbacksSteve

JimsArcade

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a not-quite pale yellow with a moderate head. The aroma of hops are enough to clear your sinuses. The first taste is a veritable hop explosion. With most IIPAs, the drinker becomes accustomed to the extreme bitterness as they continue drinking. This is not most IIPAs: every sip from start-to-finish tastes no less bitter than the rest. If not for the perceptible alcohol presence, you'd be hard pressed to find any kind of malt backbone here.

Without a doubt, "Palate Wrecker" is the most accurate beer name ever created. This is an IIPA that extremophiles will love.

Serving type: on-tap

09-24-2012 19:01:38 | More by JimsArcade

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.88/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Forms a dome-like head that leaves some streaky lace on the glass. The liquid is actually fairly clear with an amber-orange color. It looks terrific.

Very impressive smell with a grapefruit touch. There's almost no more today aroma but that's okay.

Strong hop flavor that gives it a over-the-top bitterness. The alcohol is also large and the carbonation is accurate for the style. Overall, this is an extreme brew.

Serving type: on-tap

08-11-2012 12:55:03 | More by smcolw

Ryan011235

Ohio

2.25/5  rDev -46.3%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

On tap in a tulip at King's Table on 4/14/12

Deep honey amber with layers of brown and sun drenched gold. The head is one thumb of billowy, dense foam. Retention is about a third of that, but solid lace remains over most of the glass.

The aroma is dank hops, oily and piney. Rabid citrus, too - grapefruit and lemon zest. Solvent-like. The mean hop smell is tempered by ample notes of sugar cookie and sweet cracker. Smells like it might be too sweet. Yeaaah... This is going to be hard to finish. Semi-sweet malts swoon up front before being replaced by angry amounts of hops and alcohol. Yikes. I wish I could use the hop descriptors a la the aroma, but this is all scathing, vapidly dry bitterness. Earthy and dirty. Pretty much medicinal-grade bitterness.

Ugh. Full, sluggish feel. Lower than average carbonation is the only reason I can stand finishing this. A bit oily and resinous. Again, brutally dry.

Overall impression - Spiteful just to be. This is a chore to drink.

Serving type: on-tap

08-10-2012 06:48:16 | More by Ryan011235

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

warnerry

Michigan

4.23/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours clear orange/ light brown with one finger of off-white head. Head leaves some lacing but doesn't last long.

S - Very citrusy nose, with some pine and some biscuit malt.

T - Big punch of both pine and grapefruit out if the gate. Some biscuity malt is just enough, and doesn't take away from the hop display. Very nice lingering bitter finish. Alcohol is somewhat noticeable.

M - Medium mouthfeel is herbal, grassy and bitter. Slight numbing alcohol.

O - I don't know if my palate was wrecked, but this is definitely a hop showcase and a very enjoyable DIPA.

Serving type: on-tap

07-15-2012 20:55:22 | More by warnerry

BostonHops

Massachusetts

4.23/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

on-tap at Deep Ellum, Allston, MA - 4/2012
(review from notes)

sits a copper / orange tone in the glass with less than a 1" head remaining upon being served. aromatic nose offers an abundance of citrus / pine hops with a secondary malt presence. no surprises there.

flavor follows as expected with that assertive rush of citric (primarily grapefruit and orange rind) and pine hops follows by some background malt character. very bitter from start to finish. medium-plus bodied on the palate with average carbonation.

overall, as advertised this one bombards the palate with an unmitigated assault of hops. not something i'd want more than one of in a sitting but i like it; will definitely be back for a revisit in the future.

Serving type: on-tap

07-04-2012 21:53:27 | More by BostonHops

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy orange-ish color with an off white head. In the aroma, a small pine dry hop. In the taste, big pine like hops and a small note of alcohol in the end. A small bitterness and a medium bodied mouthfeel, with a dry pine hop in the aftertaste. Nice big to mellow pine hops all the way through, quite enjoyable.

Serving type: on-tap

07-03-2012 16:37:06 | More by OWSLEY069

challenja

Virginia

4.55/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served On Tap at the Black Squirrel in ADMO DC.

A: Orange gobstopper copper with a mellow sunset amber glow.

S: Hoppy sticky resin pine cone. Sweet grapefruit with candied orange bitter leavings.

T: This is one for the Hook Books. You can really taste 6 different Hop varietals flowing through this brew. Ruby red grapefruit forward. Orange rind and sappy pine cone. White confection sugar with coconut biscuit leavings. (tasting alot of biscuit lately...mmmm biscuits...)

M: Really descent medium carbo on this one. Very swisher feel to this one. NOt to heavy, not to light. It's jusssstt right..

O: A real winner for Green Flash. It takes 1st place in my taste book for them, beating out their Imperial and West Coast IPA's. A seriously goof treat for serious IPA coneheads.

Serving type: on-tap

07-02-2012 23:09:02 | More by challenja

SLeffler27

New York

4.03/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Almost clear, dark amber with random carbonation under a big, off-white, long-lasting, foamy head. Ths fine patchy lace leaves a nice screen on a Fisheye Pint glass.

Bold, fresh pine and citrus with some apricot, this one represents the style well.

As one should expect from an IIPA, grapefruit and fresh pine dominate with high bitterness from the entry long into the finish. There is some, but only some, light sweetness.

Full bodied and palate-coating, the alcohol is less than anticipated and it is very dry with modest carbonation.

What’s in a name? This one delivers as advertised. A great hop bomb with tons of flavor and aroma. While difficult to consume, it is well worth the effort. One could discuss this beer at length as it holds up to warming. However, the palate screams for relief.

Serving type: on-tap

06-24-2012 21:16:10 | More by SLeffler27

HopsMalt

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

A: Nice clear orange / amber appearance with a full frothy head.
S: Citrus / spicy aroma.
T: Intense hop flavor which leads to slight malt flavor at the finish.
M: light mouthfeel with appreciable carbonation.
O: Very good IPA, I love the citrus and strong hop flavor. This is a very good IPA and I would love to drink this again.

Serving type: on-tap

06-24-2012 15:02:44 | More by HopsMalt

righthereisay

Pennsylvania

1.75/5  rDev -58.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1.5

OK, first let me say, that of all types of beer, IPA's are my least favorite. If I would like excessive bitterness, I would choose to chew on aspirin.

I purchased this on tap at a restaurant because it was most bang for your buck. How bad could it be? I've drank plenty of IPAs that are decent, and I'm sure (as any beer) this will go down and be at least OK.

Pours gold/amber. Nice white head (1/2 inch).

Smell: Citrus, pineapple, pine. Not too bad of a smell. At this point, I think it will do the job.

Taste: Ugh. How can you taste it? It is bitter in a glass. Trying to get beyond the bitterness, I tasted pine, maybe some orange peel. It was BAD. I know a lot of folks love this bitterness stuff, but this went too far. Again, if I wanted to taste bitterness, I would chew on my daily aspirin. But nobody does that.

Mouthfeel - Not too much body, probably because the bitterness takes over. I couldn't wait to finish it. At least at 9.5% I will get a little buzz out of the whole experience.

Overall: Obviously my ranking is way out of the norm for this beer. I understand that IPA's are not my thing, but I really cannot understand why anyone would rank this so high. I think any beer company could put a ton of bitterness into their beer. But they also need to have room in there for some complex tastes and a good body. Again, I've drank a ton of IPAs, all better than this one. This was the worst IPA I've ever had.

Only reason I gave overall a 1.5 instead of a 1.0 is because it at least has a lot of alcohol.

Serving type: on-tap

06-17-2012 14:28:41 | More by righthereisay

jrenihan

Ontario (Canada)

4.2/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Amber in colour with a medium-sized white head. Good retention and great lacing.

HUGE citrus nose. Orange, grapefruit, pineapple. Some caramel malt behind. Very nice.

Citrus is big in the taste as well. Orange, grapefruit. Some pine. A big hop flavour, no doubt about that. Caramel malt is there as well to provide a contrast. Quite bitter.

Medium bodied, high carbonation. Oily.

Overall, a very nice DIPA!

Serving type: on-tap

06-12-2012 00:24:49 | More by jrenihan

TheBrewo

Michigan

4.2/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This brew was served from the tap at The Blind Tiger in New York, NY. It arrived in a generic tulip. The color was of a nice burnt sienna, with reddish and yellowish hues when held to the light. A one finger tan head held strong, showing great retention. Eventually, spotty patterned lacing was left around the glass. Carbonation appeared lighter, and a chill haze permeated the beverage. No sediment was noted. The nose was beautifully fruity, with pineapple, red apple, and a hint of strawberry. Huge grapefruit hops came through, with light bubblegum esters, and pale malts. The malt bill also exhibited some light steel, toast, and caramel, becoming somewhat grassy with warmth. Our first impression was that this was a very bitter brew, but had a nice sweet balance. As we sipped, fruit hit the palate first. Blueberry and Juicy Fruit gum, with lime and pineapple sugars dominated the entire front. The peak came in, cutting, with cherry booziness, and a huge bitter hop quality. Citrus and pine took over, taking us to the finish, where a continued massive citric flavoring washed the palate clean. Lactic creaminess and booze, with a finally cutting metallic sweetness of pale malts helped to characterize the finish. The aftertaste breathed with soft honey, pale malts, huge citrus, bittering hop cone and Earth, and tannin tea leaves. The body was medium, and the carbonation was high. The mouth was significantly puckered, with citrus, and a nice warming booze. With each sip came a nice soft slurp, froth, and cream. The abv was appropriate, and the beer drank easily.

Overall, what we liked best about this brew was the huge hoppiness in the nose and, more massively, in the taste. The beer was so bitter, metallic, and sweet, all coming in for a beautiful balance. For Green Flash this level of hop bitterness is to be expected, but for some it may be just a bit overwhelming.

Serving type: on-tap

06-06-2012 19:02:10 | More by TheBrewo

AimToCheat

California

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

Ok, I have never given a 100% positive review, but this beer is pretty much perfect. A hop head's dream come true. Definitely one of the top three IPA's I have ever had, I would drink this over pliny the younger any day. My only gripe is that I wish it was available year 'round.

Serving type: on-tap

06-06-2012 18:36:45 | More by AimToCheat

haazer

Pennsylvania

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

On tap at Grace's during PBW.

A - A dark gold, filtered DIPA. Nice small cap of white foam that scrapes lacing on the sides of the glass.

S - A very grassy hop presence. A bit of lemon, lime, pine, a bit of MJ if ya catch my drift. No malt presence here.

T - Big notes of lemon and piney bitterness. Strong grassy notes, and strong hop dominance. This is what it says, rips your mouth apart! Theres a boozy sweetness to this that isn't a burden, but actually transitions into a strong caramel malt backbone. But, the initial hop blast is marvelous.

M - Mouth is medium bodied with mid to high carbonation. A lingering bitterness is constant. The IBU on this has to be through the roof.

O - As a DIPA I loved this. Honestly, almost up there with PTY. I will always get this when I see it, and am telling my beer geek friends about this immediately.

Serving type: on-tap

06-04-2012 00:56:58 | More by haazer

IronLover

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bright copper orange in color with a slight haze. Poured with a big frothy off white head that stayed strong to nearly the last sip. Big sheets of sticky lacings on the glass. Smooth and oily feel with subdued carbonation. Tangerine and pineapple aromas with a light biscuit malt undertone. Ripe citrusy tagerine and pineapple flavors upfront with floral hop flavors through the middle that slowly transition to a bitter pine hop finish. Bitterness lingers for a while. The higher abv is well masked by the hop bitterness and light bready malt undertone.

Serving type: on-tap

06-01-2012 17:04:56 | More by IronLover

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

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

JTSbeerislife

Pennsylvania

4.63/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

On tap at the Fridge on 5/13/12, notes taken when served.
A 12 oz. pour into a snifter, an acceptable glass. Thanks! Bria.

Pours a nice light ¼” off white head, with very brief longevity and some fair lace, spotty and clings to glass. A lively ale easily revived with a swirl of the glass.
Medium deep amber color, nice.

The aroma hits you hard! With distinct, powerful, aggressive hops, dry hopped, spicy, piney and resiny, with hints of grapefruit. Wow, complex! This is followed by light enjoyable malt, toasty. There is probably more malt here than you know but it is completely dominated by the hops.

Very crisp, distinct, bitter hop entry on the palate. Distinct, aggressive hops, pine and resin, very powerful and exceptionally enjoyable, followed by medium distinct, rich, toasty, malt that is completely overpowered by the incredible hop profile. Ale yeast.
The body is full, with a fine balanced carbonation and a light balanced sweetness.

Exceptional, very long finish of bitter, pine and resin hops, some rich malt, but then the hop oils come and linger forever, totally dominating the malt.

An extraordinary ale. Totally delicious, with mind blowing power.
I suppose it could be said that this ale is somewhat unbalanced, but that being said this is a hop heads dream! Like drinking liquid hops. Delicious!!!

Very Highly Recommended!

Note: I believe that Sierra Nevada’s Hoptimum is better balanced while still the equal in power but both stand as the best DIPA/IMP IPA’s I have had this year to date.

Serving type: on-tap

05-23-2012 00:09:23 | More by JTSbeerislife