Firestone Walker Union Jack IPA

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

IPA have been my favorite for about 3 years now. When I first started drinking microbrews I gradually moved toward brews with more hops until I found my first IPA. Wow, it was intense! I still have a special place in my heart for them, and this one is my favorite of those I have had.

The gold medal winner of the 2008 Great American Beer Festival. Out of 104 IPAs, it took first place. Enough said.

22 oz bottle via Hagen. Pours a semi-hazy amber with a decent sized somewhat chunky head. Doesn’t leave much lacing. Nose is all hops..mostly citrus..grapefruit, pine. Taste is very good. Wish they would have used some Simcoes in the finishing hops though. I love Simcoe flavor, ashamed to waste them in just bittering part of boil. I think i can almost tell they are there at least, and the the Centennial is nice along with the Cascade in the end. The tomahawks give it that extra punch in the aftertaste. THis is a very very good IPA and a half, bordering on IIPA territory, but without the high alcohol bite often found in IIPA’s. I think 7.5% in this case is just perfect. The body is just right too. Medium/full body. Malt backbone is there, but allows the hops to ride a 20 foot wave atop it. All this could use to make it perfect, in my eyes, are more Simcoe hops in the flavor profile,and more dry hopping for aroma. Not complaining though, this is better than almost every IPA out there. Well done! Now out to the freezer to get some Simcoes to drop in my Firestone! Do it yourself dry hopping!!!

If you like Racer 5, this is a great one in comparison. Very tasty. 7.5% Union Jack! Have only seen it in grocery stores in the area of the brewery (central coast, ca).

Tasted during outage: Another great American IPA with just the right balance of aroma and flavor so as to not conk you over the head with hops, but they’re there to let you know the beer is a serious IPA. Very drinkable, despite the alchohol. RERATED on 08/15/09... This stuff was super fresh, absolutely killer... the only other IPA that is better is the Yulesmith. Absolutely wonderful pine, grapefruit aromas, crisp, bright, and sublime... color of burnt orange amber, clear... alcohol is hidden very well. It has been over a year since I last tasted this one... and I’m loving it. It’s rare when a beer impresses me even more the 2nd time.

Really a refreshing, sessionable offering from Firestone Walker that at the same time is over the top in hop aroma and flavor, quite a feat indeed. Light bodied, full aroma of grapefruit and orange, with resinous flavors that are even stronger, lemon,orange and pine, with a lingering but pleasant bitterness. A note of toast and carmel, but the hops dominate this!

This looked to be a run-of-the-mill over the top IPA. The appearance is what you would expect, a not-at-all pale hazy light amber, with a typical coarse head. God save the Queen! At the forefront is a shower of grapefruit followed shortly by pine resin and a finish of mineral dirtiness reminiscent of dead-sea mud. The bitterness is apparent, but well balanced by the malt. Very near perfection. May very well be the best I’ve had! I need to go drink some Heavy Seas Loose Cannon to make sure...

Definitely a rival with Stone for best west coast IPA. Came on the recommendation of kenb and he knows his beer! Finishes with a lovely resinous feel.