I'm Green with envy...

If there's anything that can take the edge of a far-to-early US exit from the World Cup it's a cold, delicious, California IPA, and when it comes to California IPAs, Green Flash knows whats up! Before I even cracked the bottle the label has me feeling weak in the knees: 95 IBUs, 7.2 ABV, the warning that the beer is 'extravagently hopped"... this is gonna be good!

I had this beer for the fist time two months ago after touring the brewery. When I sipped it I was 30 yards from the tank in which it was fermented. I was in the company of the hard working men and women that toiled--pain-staking--in their labor of love to make the beverage. I swished and swallowed while the warm Southern Californian sun peaked through the garage door entrance and a hint of salty ocean air flirted with the aromas of malted hops in my nostrils.

People say that your perceptions of taste and smell are dramatically affected by your physical surroundings. If that's true, then I would have every reason to believe that even though I enjoyed Green Flashs' West Coast IPA tremendously when first tasting it, I shouldn't expect that upon drinking twelve ounces of it alone in my quite kitchen that it would find it to be anything more than 'above average'.

Well if ambience is a true test of a beers character, then GF's West Coast IPA passes with flying colors! Simply put, it's fantastic. It has a big, green, hop flavor. It is wonderfully sharp with a bitter bite upfront and a smooth creamy finish. It has deep aromas of citrus and pine. It has a beautiful golden pumpkin color and tiny effervescent bubbles. It's balanced from beginning to end. It's silk in a pint glass. This is the beer that I want to make. Teach me Chris, teach me!!

I give this beer a 3/3rds full pint glass rating-all the way!

-Prost!
D.Lux

P.S. To visually illustrate how I feel about Green Flash's West Coast IPA I've included a clip from the movie Beerfest, enjoy!