Firestone Walker ‘Union Jack’ IPA

Rating:

imageIt’s hard to go wrong with a Firestone Walker beer. It’s equally as hard to go wrong when the beer itself comes decorated with well over a dozen awards and medals spanning over 6 years. That’s what this IPA brings to the table, not to mention a hop bill including Citra, Cascade, Centennial, Chinook, Simcoe and Amarillo. Don’t bother reading our review….just buy it now! No, please continue.

Served in to an IPA glass. A puffy white crown about a finger and a half in height sits atop a slightly hazy amber hued body. The head retains quite well but it eventually recedes to a thick, bubbly halo with tonnes of soapy residue being left behind. All we need is one whiff of this aroma to fall in love. A sweet caramel malt base is a perfect platform for the gorgeous hops to work off. The brilliant combination of hops we noted before all shine as they offer aromas of grapefruit, passion fruit, mango, pineapple, orange peel, licorice and pine needles. Almost smells like a cocktail. Classy stuff. In the mouth it’s well weighted, medium-full bodied with a lively Co2 level. The 75 IBU is aggressive but kept in check really well as it kind of blends in with the hop bitterness nicely. The taste buds are given the same treatment as the olfactories as intense flavours of grapefruit, orange peel, passion fruit and citrus are enjoyed from start to finish. A delicious caramel malt base fills it out as a little addition of musk that wasn’t quite coming through on the nose has crept in to the taste. Wow! This would have to stack up with some of the best IPA’s we’ve ever had. Perfect balance of hops and malts, great body, highly aromatic, somehow it’s sessional and it’s absolutely delicious! What else can you ask for from an IPA? This is a magnificent drop.