Rayon Vert - Green Flash Brewing Co.

Darkmagus82

Montana

4/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from bottle into tulip glass

Appearance – The beer pours with a nice hazy orange color with an enormous white head. The head is insanely huge with multiple pours needed to get the 12 oz bottle into a ~ 20 oz pint glass. Eventually it does fade however, to give a light amount of lacing.

Smell – The smell was a wonderful blend of fruit and yeast with notes of candy sweetness. The fruit was largely of citrus, mango, and a light pineapple. These aromas mingle with some other lighter aromas as well. There is also a light presence of floral hop and some notes of a green apple sourness. One wonderful smell.

Taste – The taste starts out with a nice malty and fruity flavor. A citrus and tropical fruit sweetness mixed with a nice biscuit base. As it moves on some grapefruit citrus and a lighter floral hop come to the tongue. Accompanying these hop flavors are tastes of sour Brett yeasty flavors. As the taste advances further and goes toward the end it sours even more with other notes of more bitter hop coming to the tongue. In the end it leaves a bitter and sour flavor on the tongue.

Mouthfeel – The body of the beer is on the light to medium side for the 7 % abv. As for the carbonation, it is on the slightly higher side (as would have been perceived from the super heavy head). The lighter body was slightly off putting for the hop and malt flavors, but it was good for the more sour and bitter flavors. The higher carbonation level did the same as the body and really accentuated the sour flavors of the brew.

Overall – A tasty sour beer with probably one of the best aromas of a beer I have ever smelt. One I would go to again given the chance.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2012 00:15:15 | More by Darkmagus82

womencantsail

California

4.1/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a light amber color with a huge white head. A really nice Brett character. Heavy on the fruit (especially apple), a bit of pear, lots of straw and grass, and a mild spice. Some bread and cracker and a light citric quality on the finish. The flavor is slightly tart and citrusy with lemon and lime notes. Light tropical fruit character as well as some pear and apple. Good bread and a mild spice note to it as well. Really nice.

Serving type: bottle

07-16-2012 20:52:06 | More by womencantsail

daledeee

Iowa

4.05/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A nice unusual bottle used by the folks from Green flash

This beer poured one of the most uncontrollable heads ever. Dark gold with off white head(and more head).

Nose is funky and yeasty.

Taste. It appears the Californians can't control them selves with the hops. This is listed as a Belgian style pale ale. However the hops are really bitter and in your face. Not saying this is a bad thing. Actually, this is quite unique. Very tasty beer. Mouth feel is very bubbly.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2012 21:26:47 | More by daledeee

312HopBomb

Illinois

4.48/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This brew was poured into a pilsner flute glass which was a poor choice due to the explosion of effervescence. It took three separate pours to empty the bottle. Even when sippinng the foam it spilled over. The color is a rich deep golden. After a few minutes the head falls to tasty looking peaks with huge rings of lace stuck all the way up the top of the flute glass.

The smell is a super funky phenolic belgian yeasty aroma of top quality with a somewhat sour apple and lemon character.

The taste follows with phenolic yeast funk and subtle malt with a sour tang that is appropriate to the style. Reminds me of Half Acre Ambrosia with the Hibiscus and Orange flavors but with extreme Brettanomyces yeast flavors.

Mouthfeel is not as fizzy as the initial pour would indicate. I like the moderate carbonation, light to medium body and crisp finish.

Overall this is a great surprise from a producer of fine west coast hop nectar beverages. My wife enjoyed this one too. Very refreshing as the 12 ounces disappeared fast. I would recommend Rayon Vert to anyone who appreciates funky belgian beer. Kudos to Green Flash!

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2012 04:05:27 | More by 312HopBomb

Duff27

Illinois

4.2/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Pours a huge three inch head, not normal I don't think. Have to wait a few minutes for it to subside. Fluffy white head on a dull amber colored body. Head stays thick the whole pint through with clumpy lacing.

S- Definite funk, floral, and fruity. Digging the aromas, different...Orval-esque.

T- Yeast strain is the star or the show here. Hints at citrus hops at the tail end of each sip.Drinks closer to 6% rather than 7%. Belgian Pale Ale fits this perfectly, as opposed to Belgian IPA.

M- Above average carbonation but nicely done. Medium mouthfeel.

D/O- Was looking forward to this one but still very pleasantly surprised. Well integrated Belgian yeast funkiness with just enough American hop presence to know which country it was brewed in. Wouldn't hesitate to have again.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2012 03:22:30 | More by Duff27

Momar42

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle into Duvel artist tulip

A - clear, light to medium amber color. HUGE head. I mean, huge. Smooth pour yielded a dense, tight white fluffy head that had to be consumed before I could get the whole bottle in the glass. Lacing is great too.

S - Bretty, soapy, Belgian yeast in your face aroma. If you dont like that, steer VERY clear of this beast. Luckily I do, so great nose.

T - After I got through the foam, and trust me, when you drink this you will understand, there was a great Belgian IPA to be found. Nice level of Brett and great yeast taste throughout. Just a delicious beer.

M - full. high carbonation but it works. thick and chewy almost at times, but like I said, it works here.

O - I have to freely admit that I have been under selling Green Flash. Everytime I revisit one of their beers, I am impressed. Now that they have found their way to the East Coast I'm going to seek them out. Rayon Vert is truly great Belgian IPA. If you dont like those qualities, dont drink it. But if you do, find it and see for yourself. This is a damn fine beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2012 03:55:37 | More by Momar42

HopToIt420

3.98/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Rayon Vert is what I drink when I am not in the mood for something as "in your face" as a west coast IPA. Another good beer from Green Flash. Golden color with a nice head (had this in a pilsner glass). Smooth mouthfeel with a little bit of lemon curd, grapefruit, and honeysuckle on the palate which is highlighted by a much more citrus driven hop characteristic than the West Coast IPA. Good solid beer for hop lovers that aren't looking to take a nap after putting down a big IPA.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2012 17:41:34 | More by HopToIt420

Bowdoinbeerboy

Maine

4.4/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - This beer poured with a ridiculous amount of head. I mean honestly, I had to suck down foam twice just to get this thing into the glass! The foam sticks around for awhile too; the beer itself is a light coppery haze that when held up to the light becomes golden.

S- Very sweet and citrusy in the nose.

Taste - Very balanced, not nearly as sweet as I would have believed from the nose alone. There is still a lot of sweet malt flavor here but it plays fairly nicely with some peppery hop bits. Quite a flavorful gulp!

Mouthfeel - Solid presence here, not watery and not anything you will choke on.

Overall - I am very impressed with this beer. It is quite a bit hoppier than I would expect from a belgian pale ale but quite tasty. Color me a big fan of this beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2012 21:25:04 | More by Bowdoinbeerboy

imasloth

Texas

4.38/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Aged three months in chiller.

A- Dull orange with sizable almond-coloured head and some lacing.

S- Sweet, floral, and fruity hops (pineapple and passionfruit) ... even cidery (apple) aroma.

T- Bretty, but subdued. Dry in swallow with cidery finish. Hoppy throughout with tropical fruits.

M- Medium body, notable carbonation, smooth with nice afterfeel (hop-oil coating?).

O- Very tasty beer. Would certainly by in a four pack again.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2012 21:15:05 | More by imasloth

Bfarr

Washington

4.2/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Cloudy golden copper with a huge foamy off-white head. Sweet, yeasty, herbal, and spice aromas. Tropical fruit and brett herbal funk. Light hop linger. Sharp feel with a semi-dry finish.

A great beer if served warmer to bring everything that’s available in this beer. A nice sipping PA. It pours rather uneven and the feel is rather distracting at times, but the aroma is great and the flavor is very balanced and rewarding.

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2012 23:34:47 | More by Bfarr

woosterbill

Connecticut

4.48/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle into a Duvel tulip. Thanks to vonschplieffen for tossing one of these my way - my first CT-purchased Green Flash brew. Most welcome!

A: Clear medium amber body with tons of carbonation rising up to maintain the majestic 2 inch head of off-white froth. Huge amounts of chunky lace. Absolutely gorgeous.

S: Terrifically fresh, vibrant aroma of spicy, phenolic minerality and herbal, floral, honeyed, pollen-like notes. Awesome.

T: All the spicy, floral goodness of the nose, plus a bit of bready malt and a bitter, herbal, hop-tinged finish. Long, dry, aftertaste. Great.

M: Light-to-medium body, lots of fine, bubbly carbonation. Good.

O: I honestly didn't know this was a Brett beer until after I'd already written my review, but that helps make its unique floral characteristics make a bit more sense. It certainly didn't strike me as funky at all, just really fresh and outdoorsy. The price is a bit steep ($12.50/4-pack), but it's undoubtedly one of my favorite American-made BPAs.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

06-27-2012 02:22:09 | More by woosterbill

larryi86

Delaware

4.38/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12 oz bottle poured into a tulip

A- A very hazy orange with a massive white head.

S- Brett, funk, tart lemons, earthy spices, touch of grapefruit.

T- Great funk, nice sour lemon taste from the Brett, touch of pepper, some hop bitterness in the finish, earthy spices.

M- Smooth, medium body.

O- A really good beer, and worth trying if you like Brett. I would like to how this ages, definitely will buy this again!

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2012 22:53:01 | More by larryi86

loving44

California

4.63/5  rDev +19.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours honey orange with huge amounts of white head into my Duvel glass. Great head retention and lacing.

S: yeasty, lemon peel, grapefruit, black pepper

T: Amazing. Citrus, black pepper, honey, melon, fruity yeast esters with a nice crisp hoppy finish. It reminds me of Juicy Fruit gum in a way, but with a nice citrus finish that helps balance the sweetness. Hardly any alcohol burn.

Overall: I really, really like this BPA. The fact that I can get it insanely fresh here in San Diego is the icing on the cake.

One of the few beers that have inspired m to write a review in a while. Get some if you can!

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2012 22:14:23 | More by loving44

VncentLIFE

North Carolina

4.75/5  rDev +22.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

This might be better than Duvel, honestly. The huge head (filled my glass all the way), but the body is that cloudy yellow I love. The smell is all lemon grass and lemon peel all the way. I get a nice hint of funk as well. It honestly reminds me of Sanctification. Very light body and very grassy with a hint of funk. Light body and very drinkable. I love this beer, and its my top BPA.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2012 02:11:47 | More by VncentLIFE

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

4.05/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottle from IGA Potsdam NY for 3$

Appearance – Hazy dark amber colour with a huge size fizzy/frothy white coloured head. I can't make out the amount of carbonation and there is some great lacing. The head lasted for over 5 minutes before it was gone.

Smell - Grains/wheat, hops, yeast, grapefruit

Taste & Mouth - The beer has an above average amount of carbonation. I can taste grains/bread mixed with lemon, hops, and some faint yeast. There is also some coriander/herbal notes mixed some grapefruit. It ends with a slightly bitter yeasty hoppy aftertaste.

Overall – Another brewery that can do no wrong. I've enjoyed every beer I've had from them and this one is no different. The mouthfeel is excellent and the flavours compliment each other well.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2012 00:51:25 | More by spinrsx

IvoryFoxhole

Virginia

3.63/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Refrigerated 22 oz. bottle, poured into tulip glass

A - Deep amber color, even slow pour results in very large head (4 fingers plus) that lasts a while and produces significant lacing

S - Brett predominates (as it should), then some fruitiness and yeastiness

T - Yeasty/malty at first with a hint of spiciness, then the Brett kicks in and it ends pretty sour

M - A bit thin and dry, moderate carbonation.

O - A pretty good effort, like all the Green Flash offerings I've tried. It's a relatively uncomplex flavor, or I would have bumped up to an overall 4 instead of 3.5, but it's a close call.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2012 22:56:41 | More by IvoryFoxhole

rfbenavi80

Missouri

4.03/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle kept in fridge, poured into a Tulip Glass.

A- Pours a very clear deep golden almost pumpkin orange color with 4 fingers of foamy, off white head. Even with a careful pour the head on this one piles up quick and lingers a while, and leaves chunky lacing on the glass.

S- Sour pears, some Brett funk, earthy herbal hop aromas.

T- Interesting flavor. Starts off with some spicy, peppery flavors that give way to a moderate Brett flavor. Finishes a tad dry.

M- Nice amount of carbonation. Would say it's a high amount. Easy drinking medium body.

O- Would buy this again. A good one to try if you want to experience Brett flavor thats not overwhelming.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2012 09:39:27 | More by rfbenavi80

dbrauneis

New Jersey

4.03/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a hazy dark golden yellow to orange in color with moderate amounts of visible carbonation. The beer has a three finger tall creamy off-white head that reduces to a dense small patch of thick film and a thick ring at the edges of the glass. Significant lacing is observed.

S: Moderate aromas of brett sourness/funkiness combined with some Belgian yeast and a light amount of spices.

T: Flavors of pale malts, Belgian yeast, and spices upfront. There is a light to moderate amount of bitterness in this beer along with a moderate amount of brett sourness/funkiness, which lingers for quite a while.

M: Medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Dry in the finish.

O: I am a huge fan of beers that have brett added to them and this one does not disappoint. This is a great sipping beer and one that I could enjoy all evening long - I found this one real easy to drink and would happily get it again.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2012 01:22:48 | More by dbrauneis

BEERMILER12

Maine

3.98/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a golden yellow-orange color with a massive head that takes a while to die down

S: Definitely get some Belgian yeast and brett character at first, imparting nice fruity and sour notes. Light malts are faintly noticed

T: Follows the nose, nice and fruity with just enough brett character to leave behind faint horse blanket and sourness. Also get some bitterness, possibly from hops into the finish

M: Moderate bodied with moderate carbonation, fairly standard

O: This is a great example of an American brewery pulling off a Belgian pale with brett character. The brett doesn't overwhelm the palate or any of the other flavors of the beer. Solid job by GF here

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2012 01:18:04 | More by BEERMILER12

sommersb

Tennessee

3.3/5  rDev -14.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Tasted On: 06-21-2012
Freshness: Not indicated
Packaging: 12 oz. brown bottle, pry-cap
Glassware: Dogfish Head Signature glass
Purchased: 4-pack from Midtown, Nashville

A: Crazy pour on this beer due to the massive head formation. I tried 2 different glasses and bottles with the same result -- 5+ fingers of rocky, off-white head. I had to drink from the bottle because of the massive head that didn't want to go away. I think this batch may have gotten over-carbonated. Color is a clear pumpkin orange. Lacing is excellent along with the ridiculous head retention.

S: Big hop aromas of citrus, grapefruit and pine, plus some earthy and grassy notes and maybe a bit of tropical fruit.

T: As in the nose, the main taste component is the hops. Tangy and dry, with flavors of grapefruit and citrus. I think the dryness of this beer tends to make the hops stand out more than you'd expect at 32 IBUs.

M: Lively carbonation on a medium body. Finish is bitter, yeasty and dry, with some acidic character. Seems to soften pleasantly as it warms.

O: This was a bit of a disappointment for me. It seemed too hoppy for the style and the intense carbonation made it a pain to drink.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2012 00:54:29 | More by sommersb

fields336

North Carolina

3.9/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle poured into SN tulip/snifter
no bottle date

A: pours a caramel amber color with a thick four finger head, carbonation is streaming off the bottom of the glass. honeycombs of lacing stick around as it dissipates. clarity is nice

S: yeast, brett, funk, lemon, citrus, apple, pear, light fruit, spice, earthy

T: light fruit,lemon, citrus, belgian yeast, spice, brett, rose hips, brett bitterness lingers

M: airy, and pretty dry, it is medium bodied, easily quaffed

O: a nice beer, not the best beer, but a really affordable wild ale, just a bit too overpowering on the brett but nice and drinkable and complex, smell is awesome, taste is a little too repetitive though. Worth a shot if you have never tried it or are looking for widely available/cheap wild ales/sours

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2012 22:06:54 | More by fields336

benbazi

California

4/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into to tulip glass producing a monsterous head! Color is a hazy golden, impressive lacing on the glass.

Some nice fruit flavors, not to intense, pear and grass flavors mixing nicely with a bit of funk.

Taste supports the aroma with fruit, pepper, grass and spice. Brett is working quite well with the flavor profile and the dry finish is just right.

Medium body carbonation a little high

Overall, I'm very much digging this beer. Will buy this beer again.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2012 05:11:48 | More by benbazi

mdaschaf

Washington

4.03/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a hazy golden color with a massive foamy head, 3+ fingers in height. Couldn't pour the entire bottle into the glass. Amazing retention and some of the thickest lacing I have ever seen.

S: Light fruit, some pear, apple, faint citrus, and grassy hops. There is a little bit of barnyard funk mixed in. Slightly perfumy.

T: Similar to the aroma with the fruit and light citrus flavors. More grassy hops, some peppery spice, and a little bit of biscuity malt.

M: Medium bodied with medium to high carbonation.

O: Very impressed. Drinks very well with a nice flavor profile. The brett adds nicely to it. Might be one for aging.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2012 01:56:22 | More by mdaschaf

oldp0rt

Quebec (Canada)

4.03/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz bottled poured into a pint.

Reviews on this brew are very varied but it is worth a try.

Pours a dark orange with a thick foamy head that dissipates slowly.

This beer smells and tastes great, it's a nice belgian pale ale with a twist. You can really get all the funk that the brettanomyces have to offer.

If this was available to me, it would be the kind of beer i'd by cases of.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2012 14:59:55 | More by oldp0rt

trxxpaxxs

New York

4.4/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a cloudy honey gold with a massive white head. It takes forever for the foam to settle, and leaves it rocky along the top of the beer. There is also some serious lacing as it drinks.

S: The nose is big on the brett, with spice and citrus coming through. What's odd is that the dominate scent in this beer is metallic. It's like it's been soaking up aluminum.

T: The beer starts out a with mild citrus and bunch of spice. The brett comes on almost right away. I get some rose hips and earth, some coriander, and even some lavender. There is also a nice underlying sweetness that I like.

M: Medium bodied beer. It carries a bit more heft than you typical BPA. It hits the palate soft and sweet, over powers it in the middle, and finishes dry. The carbonation is hard to choke down in this beer.

O: Decent beer. You have to appreciate an off-the shelf brett beer when you are in the mood for it. It's not my favorite, but I'd buy another 4-pack down the road.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2012 21:39:20 | More by trxxpaxxs