Green Flash Imperial IPA

Brewed by Green Flash Brewing Co.
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Vista, California USA

It definately is all about the hops. Big grapefruit aroma from the start followed by a crisp hoppy taste. Stays with you for a few minutes, I like that in a beer.

22 oz. bottle, no bottling/freshness date, mini-blurb in the lower center of the label, sampled in a tulip glass. L: Hazy orange hued slightly tarnished copper color with a ecru head of fluffed foam that slowly settled into a thin bubbly skim, nice amounts of sticky, chunky lace is left behind. This has your classic DIPA appearance. S: Orange peel, grapefruit rind, pine oil, floral herbs and dark green cannabis, the aroma has a fresh smelling hop profile. Taking in a good strong whiffs brings out traces of honey caramel malts. F&T: Airy, creamy light body that finishes on a dry crisp note, there is also plenty of oily, sticky hop resins on the tongue. Oily herbs and earthy, woody hop tastes at first, followed by mildly subdued, sour citrus flavors, namely oranges, grapefruit peels and pith. In the middle is some sweetly floral, almost honey-like tastes. The hops, while with a coating sticky slickness, their bitterness is genteelly soft. The malts play a minor supporting role, mainly adding a caramelized sweetness to the hop tastes. The alcohol is not that noticeable, just lowest of grades of warmth in the palate, I didn’t really notice it until nearing the end of the bomber when it’s 9% ABV started to catch up on me. This is a good, affordable DIPA, I’m glad that it is now available in my area, I will be returning to this often in the near future.

This is a really good Imperial IPA although not top notch. Very drinkable and packs a punch at 9% ABV. I’d do this one again.

Pours a clear light amber with an off-white head and nice lacings. Quite bitter with strong aromas of piny hops. Tiny hints of plantsap. Medium to full bodied. Medium to low carbonation. Hoppy resiny finish.

650 ml bottle from Bev4less in Santee. Pours a translucent copper color with a big sudsy white head that lasts for a long time. The aroma is strong with grapefruit and pine. The flavor showcased moderately biter hops, spices, herbs and a touch of caramel; but no mention-worthy citrus. The mouthfeel was full and malty. The finish was long with lingering biter hops developing into a superb caramel aftertaste. Overall: Very drinkable, but so far my lowest rated San Diego IIPA. I will definitely re-rate sometime later just to make sure I got a representative sample.

Bottle, courtesy beastiefan2k. Pours a murky amber copper, with a big fluffy white head, and prominent thick lacing. Big, nostril stinging hops, very spicy and full of pine needles. Flavor-wise, it can best be described as a creamy experience. Vanilla, some nuttiness. Spicy flow, such as ginger and cinnamon. Hops come through in the end. Balanced, very smooth and drinkable.

copper/orangey color, head is almond colored. nose is initially strong on the pine and grapefruit, slight caramel nose with a hint of scorched sugar. Flavor is intially loaded with caramel and hints of scorched sugar. THe hoppiness is surprisingly subdued in the flavor. The hops are definitely there, but this one is dominated by the caramel malts.

Strong pineapple and grapefruit nose with a hint of caramel. Amber and medium cream colored head. Grapefruit and lemon flavor. Lemon zest and grass finish. Tasty and well hopped, but not terribly unique. It tastes better when warm when the maltiness peeks through.