December 4 - Firestone Union Jack IPA


Okay Jonny, I get it, you love IPAs! Today's beer is Firestone Walker Brewing's Union Jack IPA, so I'm assuming with a name like Union Jack, it will be an English style IPA. We shall see..

Appearance: Pours a clear golden/amber, significantly lighter and clearer than the past 3 (I)PAs I've had in the past few days, but still significantly darker than any Keith's "IPA". Foam diminishes immediately, leaving a light beige film to the side of the glass.

Aroma: Piney hops giving it a typical West Coast essence to it, a touch of grapefruit and a light caramel sweetness. It even has a bit of a scent that reminds me of Elmer's School Glue, remember that stuff?

Taste: Bitter bitter hops that leave a bit of a tingling sensation on the palate, dense pine flavour, more presence of grapefruit and a touch of caramel. Not as malt-forward as I was expecting, more hop forward, like a West Coast IPA.

Overall Thoughts: Was expecting an English Style malt-forward IPA but it's really a West Coast hop-forward IPA, big on the hops, subtle on the malt. You know when you drink a bitter bitter IPA and you get hop burps, yep, I'm getting those!

www.firestonebeer.com/beers/products/union-jack


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