Flower Power India Pale Ale - Ithaca Beer Company

HopChef44

Massachusetts

4.24/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Serving Type: Bottle poured into a pint. Bottle has best by date of May '13

A: Light hazy amber color with a minimal head. Good amount of lacing

S: Crisp citrus and pine nose. Very appealing.

T/M: Great fruity flavors. Some nice bitterness as well. Very crisp with good carbonation. Delicious fruit finish. Delicious.

O: Great IPA. Glad to have had it and would have it again.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2013 00:36:13 | More by HopChef44

Suds

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Straw color...firm white head....citric scents...this is a very American beer. The flavor is hoppy, sweet, and soft. Assertive hop flavor, bitterness, and resin-like earthiness. Bitterness is strong and lasting. Some yeast and fruit in the smell...peaches, orange peel, grapefruit, and melon. The beer is solidly hefty, firm of body, and enjoyable. Nice brew.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2013 01:49:04 | More by Suds

paulytasker

New York

4.41/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Serving Type- Bottle with best by date of May '13 poured into a pint glass

A- Poured a big, bold Orange with a frothy, creamy, half inch head that hung around for the 1st couple sips. After the head dissipates, an awsome spider web-ish lacing clings to the side of the glass until it's finnished.

S- A big dose of citrus hops takes hold of the nose, it's almost as if i was walking right into a pineapple and mango grove. Pine hops present as well but not as dominating. Another fruity scent going on that I just can't put my finger on. Through all the sweetness, there is a very slight malty backbone to balance things out nicely. This very well may be the best smelling IPA I have ever come across!

T/M- The fruit madness present in the nose is right there on the pallate, I think the scent that i couldn't make out may have been Tangerine? Piney hops are perfectly balanced in. This is such a sweet/bitter piece of paradise. Finnishes better and better as this warms up to room temp. Medium carbonation and a hell of a drinkable brew, slick on the tounge with a crisp, rather dry finnish.

O- The 1st time i had this brew i chose not to review it due to the fact i had sampled about 6 or 7 other IPA'S that night and my pallate was out of whack. I knew it was good then but now that i could sit with a fresh bottle and focus my senses on it, i am blown away. One of the top 3 IPA'S I have had.... hands down!

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 13:01:33 | More by paulytasker

Arrowhuntr

Pennsylvania

4.9/5  rDev +15%
look: 3 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This beer should be an Imperial IPA. It is in my top 5 IPA's and is so refreshing and goes down so easy, its scary. I live in the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania where you can not purchase this beer yet, so a drive for it was worth it. It smells flowery but it is Citrus and Pine, with hints of grapefruit. All I have to say is I will be buying this whenever available, because in thirty years of drinking, this is truly one of my most enjoyable experiences.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2013 15:34:20 | More by Arrowhuntr

YieldToNothing

New York

4.09/5  rDev -4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

poured from a 12 oz bottle into a rogue pint glass
barely any head

alright, this is a good ipa. really easy to drink, maybe a little too easy. there's nothing about this beer that jumps out at me. everything about it is kinda subtle, dare i say this is a sessionable beer?
still a little bit of a noob, but in my humble opinion, this is a very good, but not spectacular ipa.

glad i was able to purchase a single bottle. would gladly accept another pour of this, but would not actively seek it out. no way in hell am i upset that i picked this up.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2013 04:00:30 | More by YieldToNothing

hardy008

Minnesota

4.31/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Pours a light hazy amber with a one finger foamy white head, with good retention and lacing. The aroma has grapefruit, pine, apricots, and mango.

The taste has a very nice combination of bitterness and sweetness. There is grapefruit, mango, pine, pineapple, apricot, and mango. also tastes like there is some pale malt.

Medium to full bodied with average carbonation. Smooth and easy to drink. Has a bit of a bittersweet aftertaste. This is nicely made, and highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2013 02:12:52 | More by hardy008

Justin_Neff

Ohio

4.16/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Bottle dated best by April '13.

A: Pours a bright orange body with a big, off-white, fizzy head, which fades nice and slow and leaves awesome sticky lacing on the glass and a creamy looking ring on the top of the brew.

S: Juicy fruit smells underlined with strong hop character. Pineapple, mango, and even whiffs of what comes off as peachy. Some faint citrus lemon and orange peel and a bit of pine. A decent malt smell comes out also.

T: More pine and grass in the taste than the smell eluded. Hops dominate the juicy tastes that come through in the nose. A good amount of bitterness and some bready cracker-like malt character.

M: Medium carbonation. Medium body. Sticky and a bit more dry than anticipated, but still drinkable enough to be dangerous.

O: Great first Ithaca experience. Glad I was able to get my hands on some of this. The hop character balanced with the exotic fruit added an awesome element. If I ever see this on the shelf in a trip out east, I'd definitely buy it to try again.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2013 23:45:27 | More by Justin_Neff

Buffalo_Bob

New York

4.61/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75

This is one of my favorite IPA's. It has an incredible explosion of hop aroma that I liken to apricots. Like others have noted, I have observed that there seems to be a shelf life issue causing it to lose its flavor and aroma if not fresh. Noticed a "best by" notch on the label with my latest six pack. Always best on draft or recently filled growler.

Serving type: growler

03-10-2013 03:29:56 | More by Buffalo_Bob

Treyliff

West Virginia

4.15/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Best buy date of May 2013

A- poured into a tulip glass. Pours a hazy but bright orange-yellow color with a two-finger white creamy head with good retention and a bit if lacing. A few floaters swimming around the glass

S-fresh juicy tropical fruit, sweet pineapple juice and mangos. The hops are citrusy and fruity and a bit oily, slight sweet malt on the finish

T- the tropical flavors follow the nose with notes of pineapple and grassy tones, a bit of honey mid-palate pairs with a bready sweetness, the finish is dry-yet-bitter with some pine and grassy linger

M- medium body, low carbonation, velvety and creamy mouthfeel that turns to silk, providing a smooth finish

O- this drinks like a DIPA, but is very well balanced. I especially liked the pineapple-like notes.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2013 00:10:15 | More by Treyliff

sxoidmal

Minnesota

2.09/5  rDev -50.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 1.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Maybe my batch was infected, because all I could taste and smell was kale. This beer was recommended to me by the bartender, and I assume she tasted it because she steered me away from another beer she felt was too weak and recommended this one. I guess there's a slight chance a wild yeast got in some time after she tried it and before I did, because this was not a pleasant experience at all.

Serving type: on-tap

03-05-2013 03:44:37 | More by sxoidmal

Cylinsier

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

12 oz.

Pours a slightly hazy lemon honey gold, white film of suds for a head.

Smells of piney, fruity hops and some grassy and bready malts.

Lightly citrus tartness with a piney hop bitterness and some subtle bready malts along with a bit of honey and grassiness.

Medium body with a light tingle of carbonation on the roof of the mouth.

This is a pretty good IPA, good flavor balance, hides its strength well enough, very drinkable. Pretty hoppy. Definitely a great representation of the style and worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 20:58:07 | More by Cylinsier

kojevergas

California

3.75/5  rDev -12%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Best before April. Thanks to Schlimenhaumer for shipping this one to me from New York. 12 fl oz brown glass bottle with standard branded pressure cap served into an Oskar Blues pilsner glass in me gaff in low altitude Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are sky high given its current ratings.

Served straight from the fridge. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

Not paired with food.

A: Pours a two finger white colour head of okay thickness and good (~4+ minute) retention, but with a disappointing lack of cream. Body colour is a rather pale yellow-copper. Translucent and opaque. Somewhat vibrant. Yeast particles are visible in the bottom of the glass. No bubble show. No lacing as the head recedes. Standard fare for the style, but the head retention is notable.

Sm: Juicy, nectary, and piney. Fresh citrus; light grapefruit, maybe lush orange peel. A bit of clove perhaps. Floral hop character. Mango/tangerine. It's lush and balanced; I can't wait to try it. A refreshing inviting aroma with hop presence in all the right places. It's not generic and floral like many mundane offerings of the style; there's depth of flavour here. A lovely aroma of fair strength. Quite pleasant.

T: Lovely. Deep floral hop character up front giving way to more nectary oily piney hop character towards the finish. Juicy citrusy fruit throughout, without too much grapefruit - a common problem in IPAs. Refreshing and well balanced, though the finish does have a hint of bitterness and the flavour dies rather abruptly. Quite pleasant and enjoyable, but that finish is a definite flaw. In any case, it's a complex and subtly executed IPA; definitely amongst the best I've had - and packed with so much flavour. It rivals many Imperial IPAs in its depth of flavour. I'm impressed.

Mf: A bit buttery. Smooth and wet and oily - until the finish, where it dries up just a touch. Carbonation is a bit high, but it's forgivable. Luscious and refreshing, aiding the flavour profile and the fresh focus of the beer. It suits the flavour profile quite well.

Dr: Very drinkable and enjoyable. I could probably down it all night and be satisfied. It's definitely up there with Sculpin as a favourite IPA, but the problematic finish holds it back. Hides its ABV well.

High B

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2013 01:09:28 | More by kojevergas

SunDevilBeer

Massachusetts

4.59/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Not many superlatives left to describe this beer. Artfully crafted with a wonderful hop-foward profile but with a malt presence to keep it drinkable one after another. A nearly perfect beer for any hophead.

Perfect color & smell that begs to be drunk. Floral & citrus hops dance on the tongue in harmony. Finishes with a nice hop snap that lingers for a good minute.

My favorite east coast IPA (save for Heady Topper which I rarely can get).

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2013 19:36:06 | More by SunDevilBeer

mooseo

Pennsylvania

4.48/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle into tulip.

A - Slightly hazy yellowish orange with a big frothy white head.

S - Awesome hoppy aroma of fresh grapefruit, pine needle, and spicy floral notes.

T - A grapefruit, mango, and pine hop explosion. Light sweet bready malts lend balance. Hints of tangerine and orange juice. Finishes citrusy and earthy with a mild pine bitterness.

M - Medium bodied, smooth and crisp. A bit sticky with a dry finish.

O - This represents the quintessential American IPA. Very hop forward but the malt still brings a nice balance. So many fruit flavors to pick out. Insanely drinkable. If I can keep finding fresh bottles, this will easily become one of my favorite beers.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2013 01:19:06 | More by mooseo

stephenjmoore

Maryland

4.23/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to JLoPMac for throwing this one in as an extra!

A- Pale amber body with pretty good transparency. Thin layer of white bubbles on top.

S- Piney and juicy citrus hop aromas mixed in with biscuity malts.

T- Nice balanced flavors with more hop flavor than the aroma would indicate. Big juicy flavors with the malt coming through just enough to balance.

M- Medium bodied, medium carbonation. I find myself gulping this one more than sipping due to the great drinkability.

O- Impressive IPA. The nose left a little more to be desired, but the flavor is excellent.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2013 00:41:19 | More by stephenjmoore

ChrisL24481

New Hampshire

4.38/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Poured into my new IPA-Specific beer glass that was designed by Dogfish Head and Sierra Nevada. The enjoy by date on this beer was March/April of 2013.

Appearance - This poured a golden color with a bit of haze. A 1-finger cream colored head laid atop with lacing that remains around the top of the glass. Carbonation is visible with plenty of bubbles floating to the top of the beer. Overall, a decent color, but nothing spectacular.

Smell - Hops shine through and through on this one. I can see where the name was derived from as the floral/grassy/piney notes shine through brightly here. The citrus/grapefruit flavors linger in the background and compliment the floral notes nicely.

Taste - Excellent taste that resembles the floral/citrus smell. Floral notes are throughout with grapefruit and slight orange linger throughout the mouth. Definite bitterness from the hops that remains for a bit.

Mouthfeel - Medium-to-full bodied with a bit of carbonation. There is definitely some dryness and stickiness within the mouth.

Overall - This is a great IPA with an amazing smell and taste. The taste and smell has a great combo of floral and citrus flavors from the hops. It is exactly what you want out of the IPA. The appearance and mouthfeel weren't as great compared to the smell and taste, but that is just a minor issue in my own opinion. Overall, a great IPA when fresh. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2013 00:24:14 | More by ChrisL24481

SkeeterBoganski

Colorado

4.3/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25

Thanks to WassailWilly for this one.

A - a deep straw golden color pours, with a nice frothy white head and frothy lacing abundant in my tulip-pint

S - I truly hate to compare beers, even though I do it all the time, but this one smells a lot like ZD; the floral hops are present, with a subtle touch of pine and wheat-zest; there are certainly some grassy notes here too

T - I have to say, that taste-wise, this beer hits a lot of the right balanced notes of an IPA: pine, floral hop, citrus, orange-peel, lemon zest, a touch of apricot: that said, the flavors aren't really all that flavorful. I'm not sure if it's the hop variety used, but being a CO guy, I tend to expect a bit more of a punch from my 'bigger' IPAs

M - honestly, this one shines on the mouthfeel...it's perfectly balanced, has the right amount of carbonation, makes me want to drink all day and in the summer sun...which makes this beer top-notch in any regard: give me 7.5% in something I can slug without overwhelming anything, and you've got yourself a winner

O - I probably overdid my explanation in the M category, but again...this beer is extremely well-balanced, very drinkable in session form, and has the perfect amount of flavor, abv, and carbonation. I think this is where FlowerPower shines...it's accessibility. It's not too much for a normie, and just enough for a serious BA. I dig it and what it stands for. And spending my undergraduate days not too far away from Ithaca, I only wish I indulged in this one WAY more often in college.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2013 00:13:56 | More by SkeeterBoganski

rdilauro

Connecticut

4.61/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Wow, that is my initial impression. The pour was a light golden tone with a small head that disappeared rather quickly.

But I didnt have to bring the glass to my nose to realize that this was going to be a good hoppy beer.

Nothing disappointment me with this beer. I love my stouts this time of year, but I always love a good hoppy IPA.

The typical grassy, citrus grapefruit aroma and taste came through full, rich, noticeable, but still very easy

The taste was even better than the aroma. The first sip was nice, the second sip better, then third even better and better. This was an easy beer to drink, but each sip let you know you were drinking a quality brew....

I purchased one six pack for everyone to try at the store and one six pack for me!

02/14/13
Another IPA in my review. Just like the other ones, this came down just a notch. I felt it didnt have the overall body and fullness that the others had

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2013 16:45:14 | More by rdilauro

CraftEyeDoc

North Carolina

4.54/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

A: Nice deep golden color with small head when poured.

S: Typical lovely hoppy smell of IPA. Lots of piney and citrus along with some dank.

T: Great tasting IPA. Just like the nose, piney and citrus. Nice crisp dank bitterness that hit, lingers just long enough with a piney end. Great balance.

M: Nice body, good carbonation and def not the lightest IPA on the palate. Almost a creamy texture.

O: A wonderful example of an IPA. Name def suits this beer. I would def search this out again and glad I have a few more. A must have if you are an IPA fan.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2013 03:45:58 | More by CraftEyeDoc

rodlavers

Pennsylvania

4.41/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Poured from bottle, BB Feb., 2013, into a snifter. 1-inch fluffy white head dissipates pretty quick, leaving some nice lacing behind. Very thin head, small layer not obvious. Pale orange in color, with some yellow and gold in there as well.

Hop aroma, with pine, citrus, and sweet fruit. Smells a little crisp and tart.

Full bodied citrus and pine hops, with mango and pineapple in there as well. It does have a zesty, spicey/peppery citrus (lemon) bite to it that's delicious, tart and crisp at the same time.

Feel is smooth but spicey, above medium carbonation, but creamy at the same time. It has a sweet, pulpy aftertaste.

Overall this is an excellent IPA. So glad I got try this again before a BB date. I have no idea how often it's brewed, but I would prob grab a six pack or 2 (at least) if I could get it. Cheers.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2013 22:51:46 | More by rodlavers

Lucho

Florida

4.05/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

appearance: pours a golden yellow with a good frothy white head .

smell: cat piss, some citrus notes almost like HT.

taste: great hop backbone. hits you right outfront and finishes well and balanced with some citrus notes.

miuthfeel: standard with some resinous qualities.

overall this is a great beer that I am glad to have a few more of. a must try

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 18:38:39 | More by Lucho

tectactoe

Michigan

4.34/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Pours a pale, golden color, straw in some spots and light amber in others. Murky and translucent, then topped off with a white cap that settles to a quarter-inch and shows some decent staying power. Nice, drippy lacing is left near the top of the glass.

Flower Power, like the name might imply, is powerful and fruity - loaded with citrus, huge pineapples, apricots, and maybe some mango. Light hop resin sits in the background along with some light pine, but stays secondary to the citrus overload. I've heard people compare this beer to Zombie Dust, and I see where they're coming from. This citrus isn't quite as powerful here (and neither is the rest of the hop profile, for that matter), but it's drawing some slight resemblance.

Somewhat surprisingly, the first thing I notice on my palate are the hops, and they exhibit a mildly spicy, white-pepper flavor, something that I wasn't picking up on in the aroma at all. Some resinous flavors come through and the bitterness smacks your tongue quickly and all at once. Slightly oil and leafy. Lemon and orange zest play a big role in the flavor, as well as light apricot and pineapple. The palate isn't picking up the fruit as much as the nose, but it's definitely there, and certainly more noticeable in the latter half of the sip.

The bitterness is pretty powerful and probably helps tone down the fruit at first. Sweetness from the malt is there, giving off a light, sweet bread flavor. Other than being a backbone for the huge hop profile, it doesn't do much else. The aftertaste is full of a peppery bitterness, a little fruity pith, and some dry, bready malt. Maybe even a little ashy as the beer gets warmer. Medium bodied, a little stickier than expected, decent carbonation.

I can see why people might substitute this beer for Zombie Dust where it's more readily available. Similar in many ways - and although I prefer ZD much more, this beer is still pretty damn delicious. If it was available in my area, I'd probably drink it all the time. Goes down easy and gives you a nice fruit, bitter hop kick.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 21:26:58 | More by tectactoe

kangarooAdam59

Wyoming

4.1/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Drove down to Mass to visit relatives:

At CBS Scene (Patriot Place):

In a pint glass:

A: clear light golden body with a one finger off-white head with light slowly moving streams of carbonation seen rising.

S: floral hops, a bit of grassiness, citrus and pine.

T: took those flavors and added a bit of back punch of malt as the beer warmed.

M: light and spritzy with an acceptable amount of harshness on the tongue due to the style, it had a dry and bitter finish.

O: this is good for me and good for the style.

Serving type: on-tap

02-02-2013 00:13:57 | More by kangarooAdam59

DocJitsu

California

3.26/5  rDev -23.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear, bright, lighter copper golden color with a white head. A few asymetrical laces of suds are noted around the edge of the glass. The nose is characterized primarily of malt. Toffee, some notes of apricot, and bits of alcohol all comprise the aromas. The mouthfeel is medium- to full-bodied, smooth and wet with just a hint of carbonation. A bit of an alcohol burn is noted. Not much going on in the flavor outside of toasty maltiness and some alcohol bitterness. Not my cup-o-tea.

ADDENDUM: I've been informed by another frequent Flower Power-consuming BA that the beer is usually not a malt bomb as I have described. He suspects I've gotten ahold of some old bottles. It is January 31st now and the notch on the enjoy by portion of the label is between the January and the February. So he might have a point. I'd like to try this again fresh.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2013 02:50:28 | More by DocJitsu

macrosmatic

Florida

4.51/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to dujayhawk for this particular bottle. I've had this one a few times before, but never given it a proper review. Reviewed from notes. Poured from 12 oz. bottle into a Russian River pint glass.

A: Pours a clear light gold, with a one-finger white head that quickly fades to foam. Moderate visible carbonation.

S: Huge hop aroma. Tropical fruit, floral, grass, dank, and a bit of orange/citrus. Just a touch of biscuit malt in the background.

T: Follows the nose, but more orange & grapefruit citrus hops, with some melon and spice in addition. The tropical fruit hops seem most prominent. Bitterness in the hang but that fades quickly from the palate.

M: Light body, great carbonation sensation, minimal alcohol presence.

O: Well, this is as tasty as ever. Certainly one of my top IPAs out there.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 02:45:00 | More by macrosmatic