Firestone Walker Union Jack IPA

Brewed by Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Paso Robles, California USA

12 oz. bottle. Pours a slightly hazed gold with a moderate yellow-white head that lasted through three quarters of the glass and left a nice layer of foam with each sip. The aroma is very bright with lemons, oranges and grapefruit along with some caramel. The flavor steps back just a bit from the aroma. Initially, there is a good solid malt base. This is followed by a solid dose of grapefruit hops. Bitter at the finish, with some mild bitterness lingering for about five seconds beyond the swallow. A solid IPA.

Draft at Liar’s Club on the last night of their existence. Nice hoppy aromas off this clear deep orange beer. More hops on the aromas. Pine and grass and some sweet malts. Pretty good.

Bottle, 9/16/08. Aroma of grassy, floral, and some citrus hops. Also just a general feeling of bitter hoppiness. Flavor also with the bitter hops but more prominent citrusy notes as well. Strong, smooth malt base that doesn’t get too sweet. Very nice, though, yes, I would enjoy a fresher go at it.

Bottled on 9/16/08. Pours a clear orange with a small white head. Aroma of citrus, garlic, and grassy hops. Flavor of light citrus and wheat malt. A nicely balanced IPA. Easy drinking. This is definitely aged but I can tell that it is a solid IPA and hopefully I can get a fresh sample sometime. 7/4/8/4/15 (3.8/5)

This poured a deep copper in color with a fluffy white head. The nose shows of ripe citrus fruit balanced by caramel malt and a slight herbalness. In the mouth it is medium-bodied and again balanced with some malt to go with the wealth of dry bitter hops.

Orange/copper color with a white head that retains well and leaves good lacing on the glass. Grapefruit, pine, biscuit, caramel and an astringent grassy-ness in the aroma. Taste is bitter with pine, grapefruit, light lemon citrus, and a bit of lightly toasted biscuits providing a bit of a malt background. Less than medium body, dry finish, and medium carbonation. A nice, drinkable IPA that I’d enjoy from time to time. Maybe future bottles will have a better aroma, but the taste and mouthfeel was good at least. Thanks to doubleo for the bottle.

Had this beer on Christmas Eve with family and friends. Pours out a deep orange copper with a light orange head to it. Smell is deep of grapefruit and pine resin. As I smell again I can pick up some grassy notes as well. The taste is very pleasing biscuity flavor due to rich malts and a touch of sweetness of caramel. This beer is a bit sweeter than I thought it would be and notes of tangerine are found during the citrus smack of flavor. I also had this beer aged between 6 to 8 months so I know the hops are not as fresh or strong as they could be. However, they certainly make themselves known in a hurry. Big hop profile and evergreem come rushing in to balance the caramel sweetness. Not bad, if I had this beer fresher I know it would have seen a small rating bump due to better hop presence.

Cloudy amber with medium off white head. Hoppy aroma with citric and piney notes. Loads of hops in the flavour. Notes of grapefruit, pine and toasted malt. Dry bitter finish.