Big “ups” go out to Grant (gford217) for the chance to try this one. Part of my BA March Madness 2009 “winnings”. 22oz bottle, black wax and my first Flossmoor experience.
On opening there is a small amount of dense gushing. Poured into the Young’s 20 oz pint glass, we get a butterscotch orange hazed beer, with that soapy, spotty, large bubbled head that is typical of the style and the ABV. Some nice lace.
Nose is big on resinous hops but they seem to be quite sweet and less aggressive than some in the same style. However, once I get a taste of the beer I am taken back about five or six years ago when I first tasted a “West Coast style” DIPA. This style is a fine line for me. There is a suitably appropriate, slightly cloying sweetness BUT it remains manageable. Also we get that sweet sinus clearing grapefruit. Serious alpha aromas and a surprisingly well balanced beer come across the palate and the other sense to make a delicious combo.
Alcohol is very well hidden and the combo yields a very drinkable, delicious example of the style.
As I say, this style walks a fine line for me but this beer really pulls it off incredibly well. For me, perhaps NOT an absolutely quintessential example of the style (it’s not as aggressive as some would like, nor is it as bitter as many), but for me it’s one of the more accessible and SENSIBLE examples. Restored my faith in the style, nice job Flossmoor.