Linchpin White IPA - Green Flash Brewing Co.

josht

Alabama

4.03/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I see this is qualified as a Belgian IPA. I think a better description would be a wheat IPA. It may be because it is model after a Belgain Wit. But I think it reflects more the wheat than the Belgian IPA style I've seen. It is delightful though. Pours a pale yellow not really clear reflecting the Witbier style. It has a creamy white head. The taste is or a little sweetness from the wit style and some hoppy bitterness. The citrusy hops come through with the wit style. Very delicious.

Serving type: on-tap

09-01-2012 22:46:12 | More by josht

barnzy78

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at the Geneva Ale House - Geneva, IL

Pours clearer than expected, golden with a frothy, white head that fades to a foam leaving plenty of chunky lace on the glass. Aromas are fresh and citric with orange zest, lemon zest, coriander, wheat, and yeast. Tastes are complex with notes of orange and lemon zest, coriander, tangerine, Belgian yeast, and some pine. Body is medium, creamy, slightly resinous, finishes somewhat pungent, bitter, and semi-dry with a dash of white pepper on the end. Overall, very good white IPA. Quickly becoming a favorite style of mine, although there is no official style of white IPA!

Serving type: on-tap

08-31-2012 00:08:49 | More by barnzy78

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

3.38/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Came out mostly yellow, a bit cloudy, nothing excessive, great head retention though, about 1" when it poured. Aroma, really didn't allow the hops or wheat to come across. Neutral. No off aromas.

Taste, mildly hoppy, the belgian yeast is the primary flavor delivery vessel here. Big phenolic mouthfeel easily outshines any wheat or hop character. There is a twangy bitterness seemingly delved from the yeast and hops equally. Really this tastes more like a belgian ipa than it does a white ipa. Mild citrus flavor to it. Alcohol minorly stinging.

Just another in the line of this year's trend of beers. Still not impressed. Not a mess, but the beer doesn't seem to have much of an agenda or place that it is taking you.

Serving type: on-tap

08-13-2012 23:39:48 | More by Beerandraiderfan

QuentinCall

Georgia

3.75/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at The Porter in the ATL.
This beer arrives as I could best imagine a beer classified as a white ipa would, an effervescent, half-hearted blonde (a sort of neon pale) body capped with a sizable and resilient eggshell hued head. With regard to the nose, while there are the familiar Belgian yeast characteristics, alongside some dank (but ultimately mild) hop florals, the dominate aromatics are of the rich grapefruit/bitter orange citrus order with something brightly vegetal lingering in the background. Conversely, on the palate, this beer is dirty, earthy, full of lemon and proud of its grassy upfront hops. It strikes me almost as an imperial Oberon; faint esters and pungent citrus woven into wheat/grain tones and supported by an appropriately aggressive hop profile. In turn, it is wonderfully bitter -- citrus peel, lemongrass and hop bitterness effectively rounding out the tail end. The feel is another study in multiple personalities, appropriately carbonated and wet enough to be refreshing but still surprisingly plush and supple.
It seems easy to take it for granted (another ipa) , but we've been given a lot here (a beautiful ipa) and, in good faith, what more could we really ask for?

Serving type: on-tap

08-10-2012 00:19:43 | More by QuentinCall

Mcculler

Ohio

2.83/5  rDev -25.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured very nicely by the bartender at Fries Cafe in Cincinnati to create a whipped egg white head, that refuses to go away, over a pale golden body with medium carbonation.

Smells of bubble gum, clover, camomile, grapefruit and lemon, rind and pine.

Grapefruit and lemon rind and pine take a baseball bat to the Belgian influences here. Not even a pretension of elegance. Well done for what it is, but what it is is not that interesting.

Hops! Oh yeah! (sarcasm).

Serving type: on-tap

07-23-2012 03:29:11 | More by Mcculler

Phelps

Arizona

3.83/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This collaboration between Founders and Green Flash was enjoyed in a snifter at Tops.

Pale whitish-gold, a goldenrod hue with slight haze. Atop is a fuzzy, one-finger head of pure white that does a good job of both sticking around and sticking to the glass.

The brewers have said that they lined up more than a dozen hop varieties in the brewery, then selected the three hops with the biggest citrus character to dry hop Linchpin. The result: a very fruity nose, both from the Belgian yeast and the hops. Bright pears and banana blend with sharp lemon as well as more tropical stuff, like mango and pineapple. A touch of biscuits and honey are noticeable below. Don't see how a white IPA could be much better.

In the flavor: big, pithy bitterness contributed by lemon and lime peel. Belgian fruits are milder here — just a splash of pear and pineapple, with a suggestion of banana at the finish. A good amount of alcohol here too. Clean, grainy finish.

Viscous medium body; moderate pinching carbonation; just a little hit of fizz. Appreciate the bigger body here. Alcohol is perhaps a bit too large for the beer, flashing hot in the throat.

Not bad. I’m not the biggest fan of the style, but this is at least fairly well-balanced, mixing bitterness with fruity esters.

Serving type: on-tap

07-03-2012 04:28:12 | More by Phelps

tempest

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had a tulip glass at Valhalla in Midtown West. I'd say this leans more toward Belgian IPA (a Belgian strain is used) with the fruity esters mixing with an extra spicy finish. The body wasn't heavy, but the flavor was rich enough that this made a fine sipping beer on a rainy day. The malts are largely hidden under the array of dry, biting citrus hops. It's a fruity beer, but not at all juicy, and a great example of how both wheat and Belgian yeast can be used in an IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

06-04-2012 01:00:34 | More by tempest

HopHead84

California

3.5/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

5/20/2012

On tap at Urge.

A: Yellow gold with an inch of white froth.

S: Perfumy floral notes with coriander, pepper, and orange zest. Peach and tangerine with lesser notes of grapefruit. Heavy on the phenols

T: Peppery up front with orange zest and grapefruit. There's a little coriander in there with orange flesh and band aid. I get some apple as well. Phenolic, astringent, bitter finish.

M: Upper light body with upper medium carbonation.

Overall: Hops battling with phenols makes it difficult for a beer to rise above a certain level. There are pleasant aspects, but the combination is nothing to write home about. If there's one style that didn't need to happen it's the White IPA. That being said, this is a well executed White IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

05-21-2012 05:10:14 | More by HopHead84

notchucknorris

California

3.68/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at O'Brien's. Collaboration between Green Flash and Founders.

A: Slightly hazy brilliant gold color with a one finger white head. Some slight spotty lacing.

S: I get a touch of wheat with some pine and weedy smelling hops. A bit of an earthiness to it as well.

T: A decent amount of hop flavor with a bit of a grapefruit juice like sourness. A touch of wheat and coriander in the middle and a slightly dry and puny finish. The wheat lends a nice thickness to the mouthfeel without making the beer feel too heavy.

Serving type: on-tap

05-09-2012 21:08:20 | More by notchucknorris

phishsihq

Colorado

3.81/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

This White IPA pours a hazy, honey amber color and it is capped by an inch of billowy, white head. The foam slowly dissipates, but it does leave a solid ring of lacing around the glass. Belgian yeast esters and a touch of wheat quickly give way to citrus fruit aromas including tangerines and grapefruit. The brew starts out like a Belgian Wit, with orange zest and coriander both detected, and a subtle hint of pepper leads way to citrusy hop flavors that pull through the finish. Moderately carbonated, Linchpin features a medium-light body.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2013 01:27:41 | More by phishsihq

swoopdog

Arkansas

4.55/5  rDev +19.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

A - Rumpelstiltskin golden straw color with a huge 3 to 4 fingers worth of billowy white head (pour this over a sink) nice carbonation with some alcohol feet . Sticky long lasting lacing. Awesome looking!

S - Grapefruit hop bitters with some light citrus with sweet tarty lemon notes. Lot more hops are evident if you sniff the neck. Getting a high astringency which I am not surprised by since this is part Green Flash and they are known for the smell of their hops.

T - Lots of citrus like I expected and the hop profile follows the nose nicely. Astringent qualities in the middle of the mouth that smooths out with some of that Belgian yeast taking over. The end of the mouth is lots of earthy tastes maybe some lemon grass.

M - Highly carbonated with a medium body lots of dry effervescent qualities from the hops and lemony zests.

O - I am not sure the last time I had a Belgian IPA if ever but as a White Ale or a Belgian Pale I can say this carries lots of those big west coast hop characteristics over into making this a full fledged IIPA. This is a collaboration between two of my favorite breweries. I think also something should be said for how easy drinking this is despite the higher ABV. Damn good!

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2013 21:09:32 | More by swoopdog

Cyberkedi

Georgia

3.6/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Aroma is hoppy and yeasty with a sweet citrus hint, not strong but still appealing. Pours a slightly hazy bright yellow with a thick, fluffy, white head. Flavor has a hoppy and rather bitter core, with woody, yeasty and orange tones. Bitterness plus a little citrus sourness equals the drinker making faces! Firm, smooth texture has a decent amount of fizz, leaving a hoppy, yeasty, bitter finish. A bold and distinctive IPA for the strong of heart - and taste buds.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 01:12:15 | More by Cyberkedi

sleuthdog

Illinois

3.21/5  rDev -16%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25

Poured into tulip

Pour: Color is of a light orange hay like color with a huge 3 to 4 finger bright white head that leaves a lot of sticky lacing behind. Settles to a clumpy like consistency on the surface.

Smell: Mild citrus, grapefruit and lemon notes mix with a peppery note. There is a bread like aroma (belgian yeast?) and a faint floral and pine hop.

Taste: Interesting and not what I was expecting. Tastes much like a belgian with a strong yeast component but also a very mild IPA. I get a bit of bitter pine mixed with some faint citrus lemon and grapefruit. Like in the nose I get a pepper taste and some spice.

Mouthfeel: Pretty light actually with a creamy mouthfeel and a decent amount of carbonation.

Overall: Have not had anything quite like this so I personally don't have anything to compare it too. I would not go out of my way to try anything that described it as similar to this. Glad I tried it but thats about it.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2013 01:59:01 | More by sleuthdog

bobhits

Kentucky

2.84/5  rDev -25.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 2

L. A bright yellow beer with orange hints pulling through. There is plenty of haze, making this beer completely opaque. A good 2 inches of white foam formed leaving lacing that impresses.

S. Aromas of passion fruit, grape fruit, and frankly an amazing amount of overly ripe fruit. This seems to have nailed the white IPA aroma to near perfection with nice caramel sugared sweetness finishing things off.

T. There's a LOT of wheat flavor in this beer compared to other white IPAs I've had. The wheat really adds a sour and tart flavor that doesn't work for me with the wonderful hops. I want to give more description here, but with a cool-cold beer this is just tangy, tart, and there's a lingering bitter hop profile that's being really blown away by the hops. Once the beer warms up the tartness and the hops seem even.

M Extremely well carbonated gives this one a huge feel. At 7% this is a good sized, but hardly a huge beer, but boy does the carbonation make it seem bigger.

O. This is a hard beer to explain. It has the bite of a GREAT IPA, but the tart wheat flavors aren't for me nor do they work well with this beer. It you want a clean malt flavor with some what elements and a hell of a bitter/tart kick this might work well for you. For me, I'm glad to have tried it but I won't be looking for another bottle.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 11:22:34 | More by bobhits

mscudder

Georgia

4.15/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reviewed from notes. Served in a pint.

A - Cloudy, grapefruit-orange. One finger pale head. Good retention and quality lacing.

S - Juicy grapefruit among some other sweet fruits. Light Belgian yeasts and a touch of hops.

T - Large grapefruit bitterness. Finishes dry with juiciness from tropical fruits. Both piney and citrus hops.

M - Medium body with good carbonation.

O - An enjoyable white IPA. Not the best I have ever had, but I would buy again if they brewed it once more.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 03:06:48 | More by mscudder

BeerDawgs

Georgia

3.95/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A 22oz bottle picked up at Green's on Buford Hwy

A - A bright yellow, with 1 inch of head and sticky lace left on the glass. No clarity, unfiltered with sediment floating around

S - Citrus hops and spices.

T - Mild citrus and fruit notes, white pepper, almost begian style IPA. A bit of a bitter aftertaste. Tasty!

M - Highly carbonated and sizzles in your mouth. Nice!

O - A very good take on a white IPA. I am digging it. Also love that 2 of my favorite breweries are collobarating. Hope to see more collaborations between the two

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2012 23:30:41 | More by BeerDawgs

katan

Colorado

3.43/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

22oz into a pint

A - Golden, very clear. Lots of frothy white head. Slow to break down to a film.

S - Spicy, strong - white pepper really dominates. Just the smallest amount of pilsner malts hiding back there.

T - Starts off rather spicy, dry, strong white pepper flavors. Mid-stream gets a resinous hop flavor and a stronger pepper flavor. Almost biting. Almost medicinal. Strange. Finishes with a little bit of citrus hop flavors.

M - Fully carbonated to say the least. Very effervescent.

O/D - Very white belgian IPA - more white than IPA. That spiciness really is good but I just can't get past that strange flavor in the mid -stream. It goes right to the edge of Belgian yeast flavors with strong hopping and then something goes too far.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2012 01:34:04 | More by katan

Neorebel

New Jersey

4.43/5  rDev +16%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Taking a look at the color, it's a brilliant straw color, crystal clear like honey, with a robust cotton-like head that isn't going anywhere. Lots of foamy lacing on the sides of the glass later on. It looks great, but I'm a little thrown off seeing a 'Belgian IPA' with this sort of appearance. I'm instantly sold on the scents coming from this beer... resinous hops, zesty citrus, lemongrass, coriander, flowers, and grainy wheat. What an interesting marriage of styles. There are moments where I am thinking I am tasting a DFH Namaste Belgian White, with wheat breads, herbs, and spices. On the other hand, there is a Belgian yeast flavor and the piny, earthy hops. The beer seems kind of filling and its medium-bodied. Not a very noticeable alcohol presence. Coats the mouth pleasantly, and the only negative aspect I am finding, is that it is a little too sharp and dry to me. I think this is a noteworthy experiment and collaboration, not sure why other review scores are not higher. Give it a try!

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2012 02:49:01 | More by Neorebel

ThickNStout

Georgia

2.98/5  rDev -22%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

22oz bottle from Sherlock's (Marietta, GA). 7.99. No apparent bottling date. Served in a Southern Tier snifter.

Pours cloudy straw yellow with three pillowy fingers of off white head leaving large clumps of lacing.

Smells of lemon zest, coriander, orange peel and wheat bread. Interesting, different but not what I look for in an IPA.

Tastes more in line with what something labeled as IPA should be. Starts with lemony citrus, white peppercorns, and faint orange peel. Continues with wheat bread, grapefruit, mild pine and grass. Alot going on here.

Medium body with heavy carbonation. Slightly oily slick. Long dry finish.

Given the quality I've come to expect from both Green Flash and Founders this one fell a bit flat for me. It is an interesting take on an emerging style with a complex and unique flavor profile. I'm willing to concede that perhaps white IPAs are not my thing but it just didn't do it for me and I'll be passing on this in the future.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2012 04:06:29 | More by ThickNStout

brentk56

North Carolina

4.03/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: A massive cap of foam leaves a curtain of lace; the hazy amber liquid lingers below

Smell: Balanced between the floral citrus (grapefruit and pineapple), wheat bread and coriander elements

Taste: Floral and citrusy, up front, with grapefruit and pineapple forward; the wheat bread emerges and is joined by the coriander at mid-palate; bitter and herbal flavors dominate the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate to high carbonation

Overall: A nice rendition of this relatively new style; I know some don't care for White IPAs but I like them

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2012 21:51:19 | More by brentk56

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Linchpin White IPA
Green Flash Brewing Co.
Style: Belgian IPA
ABV: 7.00 %

Pours a cloudy white/gold color with some sediment. Active carbonation on what appears to be a witbier. Smells of lemons, lemon grass, oranges and floral notes. In the taste, wheat malt with a lemony twang, Belgian yeast, and a nice amount of citrusy hop flavor and a sizable bitterness. Definitely herbal and hoppy but also alot of good wheat flavor. Medium bodied feel with a good level of carbonation. Overall, a pretty nice brew, very wit like, with hops.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2012 14:52:37 | More by Stinkypuss

facundoCNB

New Jersey

4.68/5  rDev +22.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

a hazy orange/yellow with 2 fingers fluffy off white head, tons of lacing, great retention. smells of fresh hops blasted into my nostrils as soon as the cap popped. smells of cloves, pine, coriander, grapefruit, smells like an actual hop cone is next to my nose.
slightly bitter up front, lots of sweet malts followed up by a spicy taste (saison style), slight hint of citrus in the finish.. grapefruit, orange, coriander, banana.. this is a hell of a beer.
light-medium body.. refreshing and crisp initially, but once it hits the palate it feels rich, creamy.. moderate carbonation, very crisp/refreshing.
so glad i asked for 2 bottles of this from a trade. totally worth it, one of the best tasting beers i've ever had.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2012 21:18:17 | More by facundoCNB

Georgiabeer

Georgia

4.23/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A great beer- I really like the combination of the delicate wheat malt, which really drys the beer out, and the explosive, but balanced hops. The body is fairly light, so the hops they've chosen to use are big and bitter, but not sticky or piney, and the very clean and bitter hop profile works very well with the clean, light, dry malt. There is a nice citrus finish, without the sweeter malt you usually find in combination with the hops, and the results is more pure hop flavor. Very well done.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2012 00:12:27 | More by Georgiabeer

ehammond1

California

3.6/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottle (2012)

Thanks for opening this with me, Josh!

Cloudy and hazy dark yellow with a moderately sized off-white head, eventually leaving irregular lines and thin webs of lacing down the glass. Very pretty Belgian/white IPA.

Aroma of mild citrus hops (some lemon notes), some undefined herb component (perhaps a coriander?), and wheat combine nice enough. I do believe this has improved since the time I tried it incredibly fresh in May. I remember a distinct soap-like aroma that is all but gone now. While pleasant enough, there's nothing particularly exciting, innovative, or wonderful with this beer's aroma.

The flavor is a nice integration of wheat, mild citrus, herb, and just a bit of grass. Moderate bitterness. A successful white IPA.

Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.

Good, but this one has never struck me as overtly special or exciting.

Serving type: bottle

08-20-2012 19:58:26 | More by ehammond1

vfgccp

New York

3.7/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Beautiful creamy white had with stelar lace and retention. Bright, crystal clear wheat gold body - almost pilsner like.

S - Nice bright nose. Fruity, orange marmalade, lemon, green hops, and just a touch of pine resin.

T - Quick bitter pith opening. Huge, sharp, acidic, woody pine flavor through the center. Light honey, net dry finish with a strong lingering bitterness.

M - Medium body with a nice smoothness.

O - One of the drier White IPAs I've had to date, and definitely one of the more bitter forward takes on the style.

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2012 20:08:35 | More by vfgccp