Full Sail Sunspot IPA

Brewed by Full Sail Brewing Company
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Hood River, Oregon USA

22oz bomber purchased at Davidson Liquors in Littleton, CO. pours a nice dark orange hue with a bubbly white head. Nice citric aroma-pineapple, tangerine, mandarin, grapefruit. The palate gives a cool tingle to the tongue from the high alpha acid hops. This beer has alot of hops, but it is well balanced between piney bitters and citric fruit tones. I really dug this beer! As the beer warmed, i got a nice apricot note-Amarillo hops? Well Done full sail :)

Bottle 2004: Coppery hue with a small but heavy long lasting head and outstanding lace. She is a looker. The aroma has lots of citric notes of orange peel, lemon zest, grapefruit in addition to piney and earthy esters. Some clove and allspice detected as well on the nose. The taste starts as expected with a serious dose of citrus snap and aggression. Some malt character in the background but not enough for full balance IMO. The finish is that of spicy and bitter hops. The feel is sharp, lively, and quite twangy. Very interesting indeed. There does appear to have a metallic and dusty lingering effect well after the beer has left the palate. This is very good but not very much like many IPA’s and it’s that differance which I enjoyed.

Burnished copper color with a tight, white head. Aroma of pine, citrus and oranges. Flavor of the oil from orange peels (almost like the aroma from orange oil furniture polish [do not necessaily take this as a negative]). Beyong this orange flavor I do not get much else. Perfect balancing bitterness and an icredibly long finish. A very original IPA though it would never be my first choice.

Clear burnt-orange body with moderate carbonation, some apparent visible viscosity and a soft, cream-colored head with decent lace. Nice round aroma of grapefruit, dried fruit, musk, toasty malt, and a touch of butterscotch. Raw, grapefruit and orange citrusy hop flavor with a spicy edge. Has herbal, fruit peel and plastic phenolic components. Near threshold hop bitterness partially balanced with some light residual malty sweetness and moderate tangy acidity. Decent fullness in the body, by IPA standards, with a moderate resinous feel. A solid IPA all-around.

Reddish Orange. Lightly aromatic, mainly hops, a bizarre Pacific-Northwest blend that seemed to emphasize grass, herbs, pine and lemon. Medicine and caramel was also present in the aroma. The malts were very fruity, mainly apricots and cherries, with hints of caramel and medicinal undertones. The hops were floral, delicate and developed notes of pine and wood. Fairly mediocre for a Brewmasters Reserve release.

Semi-cloudy, rusty red with a small-bubbled soapy white head. The nose is dry, musty hops with a burnt toast overtone. Aroma is overhopped and full of yeast, similar to a homebrew IPA. Dry wood plum flavor, quite sweet, with some light bubble gum along with a cherry cola hop flavor, quite interesting. Surprising taste after being disappointed by the aroma. Palate was expected to be too dry, but it was a nice, even hopped starchiness with a light, wet hint. Quite a good IPA.

Deep amber red color, creamy off white head, looked great in the glass. Big fresh green hop aroma, chewy malts backing up the hops. Flavor is way more one dimensional with the hops. Very bitter, long bitter finish, some citrus. Medium bodied, a bit dry from all the bitterness. All around pretty good, if it tasted like it smelled it would have been awesome. Thanks frielock for bringing this home with you.

Poured a dark amber with an averaged sized off whte head. Strong orange smell with some flowers. Tastes was a little bit of a let down. Some malts and not at all bitter (almost balanced but not quite there).