Stormchaser IPA - Free State Brewing Co.

olddogdave

Kansas

4.78/5  rDev +21.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A nicely balanced Pale Ale. Not truly an American IPA as it is not that heavily hopped. Although the hops dominate the flavors, here they are not out of balance with the malt background.

This is a great summer beer. Refreshing and extraordinarily dry.

Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2012 23:51:29 | More by olddogdave

UnkleFester

Kansas

4.13/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into a pint glass

best by 2nd week of October

A: Pours a clear light copper, 2 fingers of white head that slowly recedes, has a good lacing.

S: Pine, citrus and a hint of sweet malt on the nose.

T: Grapefruit was the first thing I picked up with pine and grassy notes, and a well balanced malt finish.

M: Medium body, moderate carbonation with a dry finish.

O: A well balanced IPA perfect for summer, I'll be sad when this is gone.

Serving type: bottle

07-25-2012 03:09:17 | More by UnkleFester

JEdmund

Kansas

4/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Per website: This bold, blonde American IPA employs a healthy dose of wheat malt and generous amounts of Crystal, Centennial, and Citra hops. The hops provide a great citrusy bouquet and abundant notes of grapefruit and orange, while the wheat malt provides a crisp tartness to this lighter-bodied IPA.

***

Clear, bright orange/bronze color; small head formed

Good hoppy nose of citrus and fruit notes, plus that unmistakable Free State quality (would guess house yeast); hop character is really bright, and before reading the official description, I would have guessed Cascade, Centennial, Amarillo.

Body is a little light feeling for style, but it works for a summer IPA. Hops really shine from start to finish, and there's a good balance to the bitterness with the malt (wouldn't have guessed wheat was included). There's a nice lingering dry, herbal bitterness in the finish.

Overall Stormchaser is a solid beer, though I don't think it would blow away most hop heads. Comparing this to Free State's Winterfest IPA, it's a tough call to pick a winner. I think it nearly comes down to whether or not I like Citra or Galaxy hops more. I like them both a lot, so either way I'll be buying both of these beers again!

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2012 02:32:01 | More by JEdmund

zeff80

Missouri

3.98/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked up a 6-pack in McPherson, KS.

A - Poured out a clear, copper color with a one-finger, tan head of foam. It left thin rings of lace on the glass.

S - It smelled of pine and citrus - mostly orange and grapefruit. A touch of caramel in the nose, too.

T - Good toasty, caramel malt backbone. Citrus and piney hops. Slight grapefruit tartness.

M - It was crisp, sharp and smooth. A medium bodied ale with a dry, clean finish.

O - This is another really good IPA from Free State. Love the label artwork, too.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2012 17:42:23 | More by zeff80

StaveHooks

Oklahoma

3.85/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Growler split between 4 people

A - Clear amber body with 2 fingers of white head. Nice lacing and pretty good retention.

S - Pine, lots of grapefruit, crunchy floral, bready pale malt.

T - Green pine hops at first but after it opens up bright grapefruit comes out taking over the pine. Pithy bitterness. Pale and caramel malts are lightly sweet and supports the hops while keeping a back seat. Finishes crisp and dry.

M - Light side of medium body, pithy bitterness, crisp and clean, dry finish.

This was straight and to the point. Clean summer flavors with a very nice crispness too it. Glad I got a chance to try this.

Serving type: growler

08-16-2012 14:40:23 | More by StaveHooks

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.78/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

BBD of 4th week in September

Pours honey colored with 2 fingers of pearl colored head. Great lacing & good head retention

S: Grassy & lemony, scents fade a bit as it warms

T: Grapefruit, orange peel & grassyness & catty notes up front. Grassyness & grapefruit as this warms, a bit of pineapple too, plus serious crispness. Finishes crisp, grassy & dry

MF: Medium bodied, firm carbonation, decent balance wish this had a little more body though

A nice summer time brew with enough hops to hold your interest

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2012 01:23:58 | More by russpowell

zhanson88

Montana

3.45/5  rDev -12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pours a very warm honey color. Mostly clear, but has a touch of haze. Moderate carbonation. Nice 1/2" of white head forms, which reduces to a slight cap of foam.

Smell: First thing that comes across to me is a lot of florals. Some maltiness backs that up, as well as some citrus/lemon. Nicely balanced, and the florals are very nice.

Taste: A lot of caramel malt backbone shows up initially. Again, some citrus and especially lemon come out after that, followed by lots of nice florals. It leans more towards malt than hop in the taste, which I did not anticipate after the nose. Good, but not great taste.

Mouthfeel/Overall: Light to medium in body, nice carbonation presence. About right for the style. Moderately dry finish. Overall, I liked the beer and would have again. It leans more towards being a pale ale than IPA to me though, with those great floral notes and ample malt presence.

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2012 20:32:05 | More by zhanson88