A taste of… Green Flash West Coast IPA

Green Flash Brewing Co.
1430 Vantage Ct
Vista, CA 92081
Phone: (760) 597-9012
FAX: (760) 597-9013

Preface: This 12 oz. bottle of Green Flash West Coast was purchased for $1.88(USD) at Key Food in Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, NY. There is a note stamped on the label: “Please drink by the end of the month notched…” in this case it is February 2010

The following notes are made after a mouth wash with room temperature sparkling water. These notes have not been influenced by reading promotional material or any other review of this brew.

I am including this preface to inform the reader of any and all circumstances that might be conceived of as creating a biased review or a conflict of interest regarding the choice of words used in the following review. I could go on and on with semi-legal jargon but I guess you will just have to trust me eh?

The following are my tasting notes:

Appearance: A slight haze, perhaps from a slight chill, gives the bright copper color a bit of depth. (More of a fog than a haze actually…) The bright carbonation builds a rocky head of parchment colored bubbles of small to medium size.

Aroma: There was surprisingly little first impression to this brew, almost a “clean glass” aroma. The second nosing found fresh green vegetation notes with recognizable notes of humulin. The third nose-dive found more of those hop notes but not a crescendo, more of a glissade.

Mouth feel: The hop tang adds a bit more body that first felt.

Flavor: The first sip, after the refreshing cool feel carries waves of a particular hop tang. The second sip brings out a scorched sugar flavor that slides into a more mellow brown sugar flavor. The third swallow leaves the flavor receptors looking for anything sweet to settle down the rugged spikes of hop tang.

Finish: There is a metallic tang that hangs out for a good long while. Not unfriendly, just a bit sharp for the neighborhood.

Comments: There is a good bit to chew on here. The slight haze adds to the mental reception of the flavors. A “rustic” looking brew, I would be glad to stew a bit of seared pork bits in a broth based on this brew, and a good measure of pork broth. Root veggies and more than a handful of onions would make a fine meal on a cold night.

The Brewery: http://www.greenflashbrew.com/

What others say:

BeerAdvocate: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/2743/22505

RateBeer: http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/green-flash-west-coast-ipa/44905/