Flower Power India Pale Ale - Ithaca Beer Company

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.7/5  rDev -13.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

An interesting brew because of the highs and lows. Grapefruit aroma, lace in appearance, refreshing aggressive carbonation. However, a drying leaf aftertaste, bitter drying out grainy like the sucrose toothpaste. A bit of metallic, and a line of dark blood red like a radish in the head of the pour. I would try this on tap, but would want some food right away.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2005 03:35:42 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.98/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bright brassy orange beneath an attractive head of palest beige. I prefer 'dirty' IPAs (that is, unfiltered), but Flower Power India Pale Ale is pristine all the way to the bottom of the bottle. There's nothing really wrong with the appearance, it just isn't a standout.

Thanks to an unconventional hop bill (Northern Brewer and Palisades) the nose is different, while still being enjoyable. Palisades is a Tettnang variant that is supposed to be grassy and apricot-like. I'll go along with that, especially with respect to the latter. If the flavor profile follows the aroma, we have a winner.

I'm not much of a flower child, but I like Flower Power just fine. It stikes me as a well-brewed English IPA that uses more hops than most English brewers would normally use. It has a long way to go before reaching the 'tongue ravaging' stage, but then every beer of this style doesn't need to push the IBU envelope.

Although I love the C-hops with a passion, it's refreshing once in a while to drink an IPA that uses something else. Ripe apricot, bitter orange, lemongrass and pine sap occupy the high ground. Pale malt with a hint of toast (Munich malt) hold down the fort. This is well-balanced beer that, as the style dictates, favors the hoppy side of the ledger.

The mouthfeel fits the flavor profile well. It's a shade lighter than IPA average, but then that only adds to the drinkability. I can't complain about the enlivening amount of carbonation either. Well done guys.

Why is Flower Power is a seasonal? If I lived in the distribution area, I'd pester the brewery to no end until they made this well-crafted IPA a regular offering. I wish I could run out and buy a sixer right now. Thanks to BeerTruth for the bottle.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2007 15:37:10 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.28/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The pour was very nice, with a copper tinted amber that was just soo damn clear it was rediculous. Light carbonation that continued to bubble to the surface throughout the session really added to the overall look. The aroma was light, clean, crisp and decidedly citrus led. Really very well done here. It had a nice and bright quality to it with really only pineapple and grapefruit leading the charge. As I took the first sip I was instantly refreshed. Such a clean IPA, not overally balanced, this was a light, drinkable, very hoppy IPA, just what I wanted. Started with a rush of pineapple and grapefruit that was balanced against a light bready flavor that popped up mid palate, before falling by the way side and leaving only a nice and dry, and very clean bitter finish. The feel was damn perfect, very carbonated, light and very refrshing made this something that I went through all too quickly.

Overall this was easily one of the most sessionable IPAs I have ever run across and really one of the best tasting. I am glad I got this and it was worth the wait.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2011 05:18:42 | More by mikesgroove

womencantsail

California

4.15/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A re-review of this one from the bottle as it seemed a bit different from the growler I had previously.

A: The pour is a nice looking amberish color with a fair amount of orange to it. A nice big white head forms as a cap.

S: The nose is more intense than the previous taste of it. A lot of floral and citrus hop notes, leaning toward orange and grapefruit with just a hint of pine.

T: The flavor is much more bitter than I recall it being. Lots of resinous flavors with a moderate amount of citrus. The hops also have a bit of tropical fruit that I didn't notice before. A bit of alcohol comes through as well, which is the only thing that knocks the score down here.

M: A really solid body to this one with plenty of carbonation and a really crisp feel overall on the tongue.

D: Again, the only knock on this beer was the alcohol flavor that I noted. Otherwise, a solid IPA and one of the few from the East Coast that I've had that I earns that description.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2010 05:34:04 | More by womencantsail

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.53/5  rDev -17.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a slightly cloudy light copper with some orange tint to the color. White head is initially two fingers in mu tulip but fades down to just a bit. Good lacing. Nose is light citrus with a bit of tropical fruits. Taste is might and sweet with a small amount of bitterness and some light citrus and tropical notes. Light and slightly bitter. Drinks pretty well, but nothing too special.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2010 23:35:39 | More by Thorpe429

brentk56

North Carolina

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

Appearance: Pours a clear golden color with a firm, foamy head that leaves dribs and drabs of lace

Smell: Flower power, with sweet, floral citrusy elements; s bit different from the typical IPA, however, as there is an apricot aspect in there, as well

Taste: Sweet and citrusy from the get go, with a building floral apricot aspect the reaches its crescendo at mid-palate; after the swallow, the bitterness sets in to provide a foil to the sweetness

Mouthfeel: Medium body with low to moderate carbonation

Drinkability: Really enjoying this one; the only change I would make would be to add a bit more carbonation to cut through the sweetness more effectively; although there is considerable bitterness, this is one of the sweeter IPAs I have encountered

Thanks, jjayjaye, for the opportunity

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2009 23:26:49 | More by brentk56

UCLABrewN84

California

4.22/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to mjtiernan for sending me this one!

Pours a hazy light orange with a 1 inch puffy orange-white head that fades to a film on the top of the beer. Nice foamy rings of lace line the glass on the drink down. Smell is of citrus zest, pine, and herbal hops with slight malt and soapy aromas coming through as well. Taste is of fresh citrus zest, pine, and herbal hops with a nice malt backbone. Mild hop bitterness on the palate after each sip. A good level of carbonation with a crisp and clean mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good IPA with a very nice hop aroma and taste. I am glad I got to try one of these.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2011 05:23:37 | More by UCLABrewN84

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

4.58/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle: Poured a hazy beige color ale with a large foamy head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma of floral hops cones with light bittering notes and some light citrus as well. Taste is a very pleasant mix between some floral notes with whole hops cones notes with solid semi-sweet malt base. Bitter notes are not too heavy. Body is full with good carbonation. Really well brewed with nice notes of floral hops with well balanced bitter notes and semi-sweet malt bill.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2011 02:48:59 | More by Phyl21ca

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.22/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

An absolutely exquisite IPA with an intensely floral and fragrant nose of citrus, nectar, and perfume. With the supple and elegant aroma, the flavors are to match, while offering a sensible drinkability that's almost dangerous.

Hazy golden in color, the beer carries a modest amber hue with finely knit carbonation taht coats the surface with foam and froath. Intricate pockets of fine lace adorns the glass in consistent and froathy fashion. A very solid IPA appearance.

Again, the perfumy nose puts on a show with citrus peel, grapefruit, pineapple, appricot, zesty corriander, tangerine, and mango. The citrus and tropical fruit descriptions can go on and on. Suble malt sweetness gives roundedness to the hop nose and provides a mouth-watering sensation without bringing about attention. This beer is all about the hops.

Flavors continue the hop dominance with a crisp and sharp flavor of citrus and tropical fruit zest and pulp that all fade into a clean and sharp bitterness in finish. Again, hop sweetness gives a slight roundness and caramel sweetness, but really only offer a background support for hops and never interfer with balance. Alcohol taste begins to resemble mild acetones but are disguised well by hop bitterness and flavor. Any esters are hard to detect beyond the fruity flavor offered up by hops.

Medium-full to start, the soft creaminess of carbonation gives a fuller texture. But as the carbonation subsides, the hop dryness set in at mid palate and usher in a bright and cleanly dry finish. A soft linger of malt accompany the fleeting hop bitterness and give a short lived impression in aftertaste.

There's a part of me that wants to detest the gimicky beer name. But the floral character makes 'Flower' relevent, and the 'Power' is understated but relevent. But this beer wins out regardless of the name.

Serving type: on-tap

06-29-2011 02:56:43 | More by BEERchitect

oberon

North Carolina

3.93/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a deep copper with a two finger head that settles nicely leaving big globs of foam down the side of the glass,aromas of pine needles and some nuttiness.Taste is a hop heaven piney and resiny with nutty malt backbone very dry makes you want more.A soapiness in the finish may keep the drinkability a little lower but if you like hops you'll like this for sure,well made and highly drinkable well done.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2004 23:00:06 | More by oberon

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

3.4/5  rDev -20.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Overall, the Flower Power is a basic IPA that offers about the same hoppiness that many other American pale ales do. It's decent enough, however, and I could easily imagine trowing back more than a few of these at a backyard BBQ or concert.

It pours a just slightly hazy orange-gold body (with some sediment) beneath a short head of off-white foam that holds quite well and leaves some very nice, sticky lace about the glass.

The nose is yeasty and fruity with some citrusy hops (and a touch of phenolics, but nothing overwhelming).

In the mouth it's medium bodied and crisp with a fine-bubbled,median carbonation.

The flavor delivers a nicely balanced combination of light, biscuity malt and delicate citrusy hops backed by a solid bitterness. It's yeasty fruitiness adds a layer of complexity to it, and it finishes drying with some residual sweet malt that slips quickly from the palate leaving a mild, dull bitterness behind.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2005 20:19:02 | More by NeroFiddled

WesWes

New York

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

Unfiltered Version (only available at brewery)

The beer pours a deep golden color with a thick frothy white head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is killer! It has a powerful citrus hop blast along with a really solid malt aroma (pale and Carapils). The hops smell so fresh. The taste is great as well. It's perfectly balanced in the West Coast style. It has the basic malt bill of pale and Carapils malts loaded to the gills with Cascade hops. It's wickedly bitter, yet so refreshing, even at 8%. The mouthfeel is good. It is a medium/full bodied beer with adequate carbonation. This is a tastey beer that seemingly is better unfiltered, although it's not very hazy at all.

Serving type: growler

06-02-2009 19:27:16 | More by WesWes

drabmuh

Maryland

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

At the time of this review, this is #48 on the "Top Beers - American IPA" list on beeradvocate.com. A top IPA, needless to say this is a top want. Thanks to a recent trader for extra-ing this beer my way.

Beer is yellow / amber with a mild haze, steady moderate carbonation, white head small bubbles, lots of lacing, looks nice.

Aroma is quite hoppy, piny, mildly sweet, a nice aroma for sure.

Beer is medium in body and really nice on the finish, strong and complete with a nice body and a moderate bitterness on the back. Mostly pine hops but a wonderful little IPA here. I'd drink this every day, seriously.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2012 03:42:08 | More by drabmuh

Mora2000

Texas

4/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to exiled for sharing this bottle.

The beer pours a clear light orangish-brown with a white head. The aroma is a mixture of resiny hops with some orange and grassy hop character as well. The flavor is resiny hops with a little bit of orange citrus. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation. A nice IPA but nothing too special.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2010 01:51:12 | More by Mora2000

metter98

New York

4.22/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: The beer is slightly hazy amber in color and has a very light amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a finger high off white head that quickly died down but never completely faded away.
S: The nose has moderately strong aromas of citrusy hops along with some hints of pine resin. Smells of grapefruit stand out in particular.
T: The taste is filled with citrusy and bitter flavors from the hops, but these are in no way overpowering because there is an excellent balance with the underlying malts, which even contribute some hints of malty sweetness to the initial taste.
M: It feels medium-bodied and crisp on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation. There is a bit of dryness in the finish.
D: This beer is quite drinkable considering all of the hoppy flavors and the alcohol is well masked from the taste.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2011 14:33:28 | More by metter98

MasterSki

Illinois

4.35/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to BeerTruth for tossing me a fresh bottle of this one. Best before August according to the label. Served in a pint glass.

A - Pours with three fingers of soapy off-white foam that leaves chunky lacing and settles to a thick cap. The body is a drab brown-orange color that is a bit ugly - you can tell this is now unfiltered.

S - Floral, earthy, hops, with notes of candied citrus, pine, and a touch of cattiness. Not much obvious malt character, and that's just the way I like it - maybe a touch of sugar cookie.

T - The taste is a little more malt forward with some light brown sugar flavor peeking through. Otherwise it's pine, peach and tropical fruits, and a bitter grapefruit finish. Less catty than the nose, which is an improvement.

M - Nice solid medium body, that's perhaps a bit grainy but otherwise very satisfying. Lively carbonation, and an extremely dry finish. Nice oily hop resin is left behind.

D - Not sure why this has a B+, as it's a nice hoppy IPA that doesn't seem to have any major deficiencies. You can tell there are a ton of different hop varieties in here, but it never seems overly busy or muddled.

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2010 04:19:44 | More by MasterSki

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

2.05/5  rDev -51.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5

Poured from a 12oz. bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a deep amber color, with a thin off-white head that fades quickly and leaves a thin lace on the glass.

S: The aroma has a strong pale and pungent hops smell with some citrus, spice and caramel in the background.

T: The taste is bready with a strong burst of pale hops. There’s also some citrus and caramel sweetness that come in next. The after-taste is slightly bitter and there even seems to be what tastes like a weird mint flavor in it.

M: Crisp but not very smooth, light-to-medium body, medium carbonation, finish is dry.

D: Not very tasty, goes down ok, not too filling, decent kick, not the best representation of style, I didn’t really like this one too much at all and would definitely not drink it again.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2007 03:57:38 | More by TheManiacalOne

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer poured out as a lightly hazy orange yellow color. The head was pretty fluffy and white looking. The lacing was strong on the glass. The smell if citrusy and floral, very lively aroma. The taste is hoppy and has a really nice floral earthiness, balanced with some lemony melon flavors. The mouthfeel is smooth and light, lightly carbonated. Overall this beers got a good drinkiblity to it and I feel it's a very good IPA.

Serving type: bottle

07-02-2011 19:19:20 | More by Knapp85

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.55/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Got this from mjtierman, Cheers Matt! BBD of July

Pours an effervescent honey color with 3 fingers of cream colored head. Great lacing & head retention

S: Floral, citrussy & tropical fruits, plus a touch of apricot & biscuitty malt

T: Tropical fruit, grapefruit, some dry & biscuitty & honey malt notes up front, Dryness, honey, grapefruit & pineapple as this warms, some herbal bitterness as well. Finishes with grapefruit & pineapple & a kiss of booze warmth

MF: Medium bodied, soft carbonation, great balance

Drinks too easy, great AIPA, reminds me a lot of Hop Slam

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2011 01:41:06 | More by russpowell

emerge077

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Glowing sunset orange, flecked with some suspended sediment. A finger of foam rises initially, settling to a wispy cirrus skim across the top. Against the edges of the glass sits a crescent string of larger bubbles. Flecks of spotty lacing in the glass also.

Candied oranges, banana, mango, tropical fruit notes. Hops throw off a light spiciness as well.

Grapefruit rind and bitter pith, juicy sweet and resinous bitterness at the same time. Earthy and herbal, resonant hop flavor and bitterness that lingers in the aftertaste for awhile. Balanced malt flavors in the middle. Full bodied with a creamy feel. Nice to sip and enjoy, could have another for sure.

Thanks Mike for this one.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2011 02:02:56 | More by emerge077

Gavage

New Jersey

4.08/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: hazy orange in color with a short 1/2" head. No lace develops.

Smell: caramel, oranges, and floral hop bitterness is easy to detect and pleasant on the nose.

Taste: caramel, green grapes, grass, grapefruit, orange, and a floral bitterness. The bitterness provide a nice bite late as you swallow. Hint of alcohol here too.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied beer. Crisp throughout. Aftertaste is long as the flavors linger in the mouth for a while.

Drinkability: a nice sessionable IPA. Easy to quaff. Worth giving this one a try.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2009 13:38:55 | More by Gavage

jwc215

New Jersey

3.95/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Best before January:

Pours lighty hazed amber with an off-white head. Lacing sticks.

The smell is robust - floral/herbal/perfumy and fruity...Very hoppy, though a bit different than typical American IPA - but very nice!

The taste is of big bitter hops - herbal, floral, fruity with balancing malt in the middle that balances it, but recedes to leave a aspirin-ish perfumy dryness.

It is medium-bodied with ample carbonation.

Something a bit raw-ish about it...Alcohol is masked reasonably well in flavor (didn't realize abv until putting review in, though doesn't exactly surprise me - and that might be it). There's a different sort of hoppiness to it. An interesting brew and a good change to something a bit different in an American IPA hop character brew.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2009 17:07:20 | More by jwc215

akorsak

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Fresh, on-tap at Al's.

A: The IPA is a golden amber color, a little dark but strikingly clear. No head comes along, making it look like a cask pour even though it isn't.

S: The stickiest of the icky, the beer is wickedly dank. The hoppiness has citrus and plenty of it, along with a resiny thickness. What a hoppy delight to linger on.

T: For as hoppy as it is, its caramel base isn't shy. Standing out through each sip, it adds balance and support for the dark, dirty hops. As the hops bloom, which they do often, the ale becomes a resiny swirl of citrus bitterness. Grapefruit and orange rind are strong, fresh and vibrant. The strength of the ale is slow to materialize but at a certain point it hits. Even after that point, the hops are deliciously strong. A floral dose of intensity.

M: Resiny and thick, coating my tastebuds anew on each sip. Dank is the word of the day, a dark hoppy melange of flowers and citrus. Fresh this IPA is tough to top.

Mouth smackingly good, bitter and focused with a true bite. Amongst a line-up that included Mongo, Big A, Hopsickle and Idiot IPA, this one stood out (I did grab a mongo growler to go).

Serving type: on-tap

04-22-2011 17:13:19 | More by akorsak

tempest

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had a bottle at Mosaic in Astoria. Poured a slightly hazy orange. There was a wonderfully fruity citrus aroma that opens the flavor, but the beer gets a touch thin in the middle. A great clear grapefruit note that finishes the beer out. The hops character is clean and sticks with classic American flavors for a big, rich IPA.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2011 22:52:25 | More by tempest

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Fresh Flower Power IPA it's been awhile since I've seen this, but this stuff is excellent fresh. Appears a pale copper hazed orange hue with an off white slight orange tinted cream colored head. Forms thick and lacing is patterned evenly as it dwindles down around the sides of my chalice. Aroma is full of citrus/pineapple and earthy hops, very nice smell with caramelized/biscuit malts sugar coated hops wafting my way. Pungent bitterness with sugar coated citrus/grapefruit/earthy hop blasts...a very nice east coast hoppy IPA. Probably one of the best versions I've come across in some time from the East Coast. Mouthfeel is nice medium bodied sharp carbonation, this would cut through either spicy foods or strong cheeses easily. Slightly oily textured hop content in the body gliding across the palate. Drinkability overall is excellent one of those effortless easy drinking IPAs that will surprise you with the alcohol content, up there with Bell's Two Hearted or Founders Centennial IPA.

Serving type: bottle

10-05-2010 01:52:56 | More by WVbeergeek