IPA For Change
Flossmoor Station Restaurant & Brewery

IPA For ChangeIPA For Change
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From:
Flossmoor Station Restaurant & Brewery
 
Illinois, United States
Style:
American IPA
ABV:
7.1%
Score:
91
Avg:
4.19 | pDev: 5.49%
Reviews:
21
Ratings:
23
Status:
Retired
Rated:
May 13, 2012
Added:
Nov 19, 2008
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  0
Dark green wax.
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Ratings by bros:

  None found.

Photo of Sammy
Reviewed by Sammy from Canada (ON)

3.88/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I expected this stored IPA from Steve to evolve into an American barleywine or a vintage ale. What I got was a cask-like American pale, intense orange hop oil flavours. The carbonation has eased off, and of course hop intensity. Very drinkable,smooth mouthfeel, and I think the 3 plus years has elevated the alcohol as somewhat boozy finish. The sediment was the best.
May 13, 2012
More User Ratings:
Photo of srandycarter
Reviewed by srandycarter from California

4.35/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A - Murky, apricot and honey. Not much head. Not much lace.

S - A little barny, malts and hops quietly underlying. Perhaps too cold?

T - Yes. Hi volume crisp and sweet, with malt and hops mingling almost perfectly.

M - Balance is terrific. Carb better than I thought, very coating for the mouth. Want more.

D - Like I said, want more. I don't know the ABV, but I assume it's not a small beer. However, I could drink it without getting tired for sure.

Sad it's retired, glad to have tried it.

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 01-03-2009 05:35:11
Jan 13, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by ygtbsm94 from Utah

Jan 10, 2012
Photo of mikesgroove
Reviewed by mikesgroove from South Carolina

4/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
deep amber with a nice white head that gaded leaving a ring of lace around the top. Smell was big time piney hops with lots of resin. Slight sweetness and a hint of alcohol were present. First impression was hop bomb, a little slick due to not being overly carbonated, but not a detriment at all. Really strong hop presence with nothing balancing this at all. Slight alcohol presence but nothing distracing at all.
Dec 15, 2011
 
Rated: 4.25 by brandoman63 from Illinois

Nov 30, 2011
Photo of mikey711
Reviewed by mikey711 from New Jersey

4.2/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Received this one in a trade with Beersis81.

A: cloudy and near orange in color. good amount of carbonation with a big three finger thick head.

S: Very floral smelling with the slightest hint of lemon. There is a very nice spicy sweetness in the background as well. However, the smell has dulled a little.

T: Very very tasty. Good floral taste and a mild sweetness to go alone with it. A touch of fruitiness is present as well, either mango or orange.

M: Very rich and creamy with no harshness at all. Despite being so flavorful, it drinks light with not alcohol present.

D: Very high, I hink I could easily polish more than one bomber off/.
Sep 15, 2009
Photo of madtowndmb1
Reviewed by madtowndmb1 from Wisconsin

3.97/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured a hazy golden color with little lacing. The smell got me ready for a citrus hop bomb but the taste failed to give that to me. But it was a very tasty IPA, but I like when the taste matches the smell. I liked it but it wasn't my favorite IPA from them.
Jul 16, 2009
Photo of msubulldog25
Reviewed by msubulldog25 from Oregon

4.13/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Beneath this dripping dollop of dark green wax lies the first Flossmoor beer these lips will have tasted. This 22 oz. bottle (nice label!) has rested in the cellar for a few months since I received it from a kind Cincinnati trader (Yetiman420); opened at the end of an excellent Memorial Day, the culmination of an equally excellent weekend.

A: Liquid caramel in color, a velvety haze of orange/amber that looks disappointingly still, at first glance. On closer inspection, plenty of miniscule bubbles rise to a rather short head of near-white cream. Broken ribbons of lace adhere in drooping rings.

S: Shows a little sign of age, hops that maybe aren't quite as vibrant as they once were. An enticing orange dances with a more pronounced caramel sweetness. Roasted nuts, sweet pastry (apple pie?) swirl around with a field full of herbal hops.

T: Hops hit immediately, a little fatigued but still packing quite a punch. Very spicy, like earthy/bitter greens, some resinous pine. Fleeting orange and more fruit flavors as the beer warms. Candy caramel comes and goes between sips. Lemon cake, or custard? Yaeh, it's at least 6 months old, but still filled with flavor: well-balanced, though leaning towards hops and pithy bitterness.

M: Sharp hop bite upfront, then a gradual malt/sweet mellowing that fades to a lengthy, rebounding bittering. Not too thick, but on the heavier side of the spectrum. Seems to grow creamier and smoother with each sip.

D: Very tasty, one I'm happy to have tasted. I could say 'go find some' but as it's a one time brew (Fall 2008), that's probably impossible at his point.

One thing I'm also happy about is that brewer Matt Van Wyk has relocated to Oregon (Oakshire Brewing/Eugene); hoping for more fine brews of this caliber in the future!
May 26, 2009
Photo of PrinceDarren
Reviewed by PrinceDarren from Illinois

3.91/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Cloudy appearance in a brown bottle with green wax top.

Slightly chilled bomber poured into a chilled, half-liter HB tall glass.

Thick, foamy white head with good lacing. Hazy, caramel in color. Smells like bread and wet cloth. Expecting citrus aroma but finding none.

At first, there is a slightly toxic taste, like carpet padding or some kind of chemical polymer. Fades somewhat, but it's hard to shake. With time this becomes less noticeable.

Not overly sweet. Smooth texture. Drinkable.

There is something about this beer that is very special compared to other American IPAs - it has a heavier body and is not as sweet. This is good. However, I can't figure out the chemical after-taste that I first noticed. I am wondering if this bottle is already too old. I believe this was brewed in 11/08 and I am now drinking it in 5/09. It is possible that this sat on the shelf at Whole Foods, directly in front of the cooler's florescent light, for 6 long months. On the other hand, it could just be the heavy hop resins used in the brewing process. Or, could it be, that the serving temperature is too high? It is worth trying again if they ever make another batch.

I am definitely looking forward to trying more of Flossmoor's IPA series.
May 06, 2009
Photo of tmoneyba
Reviewed by tmoneyba from Ohio

4.15/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Bottle from Ajsdad.

Poured a hazy copper color with an average frothy white head that mostly lasting with good lacing. Moderate sweet citrus aroma. Medium body with a smooth texture and soft carbonation. Medium bittersweet flavor with a medium bittersweet finish of moderate duration.

This is a drinkable beer and my expectations where met.
Mar 20, 2009
Photo of John_M
Reviewed by John_M from Washington

4.1/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Many thanks to Yetiman420 for this fine beer.

The beer pours a light orange color with fairly good head retention and very good lacing. I get a fair amount of orange citrus on the nose, with some underlying lemon and white pepper as well. On the palate, this is a very nice IPA. The beer is moderately sweet, but what sweetness there is balanced very nicely by all the hoppy bitterness. Furthermore, the beer finishes well, with a nice wash of refreshing bitterness. The beer is medium bodied and substantial, but is very, very drinkable for its abv. The beer has a refreshing, thirst quenching feel to it, which is something I always appreciated in a well made IPA.

This is an extremely well crafted, well made IPA, with impeccable balance. Very nice indeed.
Mar 06, 2009
Photo of WakeandBake
Reviewed by WakeandBake from Michigan

4.2/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
22oz bottle from Secret Santa trade.Amber color pour with a nice fluffy lasting white head,huge amounts of lacing on the sides of my glass.Heavy malt on the aroma,bread and toasty grain along with the hop aromas of pine,resin,and maybe some orange peel.Flavor of caramel,peaches,wood,apples,and tobacco,with a hint of lemon zest on the finish. Big full mouthfeel soft carbonation slightly sticky.Very good,a very well built craft beer.
Feb 02, 2009
Photo of Overlord
Reviewed by Overlord from California

4.37/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Thanks to D0B (get a new avatar) for the trade/extra.

Pours a burnished orange. Maybe two inches of sudsy foam. Yadda yadda, looks like anice IPA.

The smell is very rich ... much moreso than I expect from an IPA. It may be the highlight of the brew. Floral notes, a big pulpy grapefruit and malt aroma ... very nice.

It's a good tasting IPA, but it doesn't quite deliver on the aroma. The grapefruit and pine are pretty obliterating, and only after a while, when my tastebuds were numb, did I begin to really see the balance in the malt. Still, the malt's there, nice caramel/toffee, it's a good tasting IPA no doubt.

Nice mouthfeel. Resiny/chewy and a great amount of carbonation. It almost has a cask-like fluffiness.

Well ... I'd drink it a lot more often, if it were here.
Feb 01, 2009
Photo of GbVDave
Reviewed by GbVDave from Illinois

4.6/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Poured from a dark green wax sealed bomber into a Loterbol tulip.

A: Pours a hazy orange, glowing apricot nectar color. Capping this is an off-white head with a thick and "springy" meringue-like consistency. The foam recedes quickly but leaves a ton of lacey webbing in the glass.

S: This one features aromas of grapefruit, pineapple, pine tree, caramel, spicy toasted malt, mango, and possibly a dry touch of fresh cut grass. I can't stop smelling it!

T: i was greeted, initially, with a healthy dose of sweet, ripe pineapple and mango with a follow-up of bitter grapefruit, apricot, and caramel. Toasted malt, floral hops, and pine resin round out the bill of fare.

M: This is one juicy, sticky, and spicy monster of an IPA. Near perfect levels of sweet, bitter, and dry. Nice tingly sensation on the tongue during the long finish.

D: I just about inhaled this bomber! One of the things I like most about the Brewers Whim IPA Series is that each one of them is so utterly drinkable. They all feature varying degrees of complexities as far as the Smell and Taste are concerned and the drinkability is unparalelled. So incredibly good!
Jan 31, 2009
Photo of tpd975
Reviewed by tpd975 from Florida

4.23/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: Pours a brillant golden hue with a nice creamy head. Good retention with some nice sheet lace going on.

S: Wonderful sweet caramel malt aromas with notes of wet grassy hops. Bold citrus notes as well as sweet pine.

T: Sweet sweet caramel malt, resinous pine with a nice light citrus addition.

M: Medium in body, smooth, creamy for the style.

D: Good I really liked this one. Thanks to OHLRangers for sending it as part of my Secrect Santa Package.
Jan 29, 2009
Photo of hopdog
Reviewed by hopdog from Pennsylvania

4.17/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
22oz, dark green waxed, bottle.

Poured a cloudy amberish/deep golden color with a larger sized off white head. Aromas of citrus, floral hops, and a little earthy. Tastes of grapefruit, oranges, caramel, lighter floralness, and some grassiness. Nice bitter finish.
Jan 16, 2009
Photo of younger35
Reviewed by younger35 from Minnesota

4.36/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Picked up a bottle of this from Armanetti's in downtown Chicago for $9.99. It wasn't in a fridge so hopefully hasn't lost a lot of that hoppy goodness. I'm still trying regardless of my DISLIKE of Obama and his asinine "ideas". Drank from my Stone India Pale Ale flute.

Dark Green Wax.
Flossmoor IPA 4 of 10

Appearance- Pours chill hazed with a orange reddish body and super creamy, one finger bright white head. A brilliant cap and collar remains leaving rows and rows of thick lacing.
Smell- Full of spicy pine cones and a light spearminty herbal note. Loads of full blown citrus including pineapple, grapefruit, peach and lemon. Cotton candy and a liberal (get it!) amount of brown sugar, toffee and red licorice. Definitely more on the hoppy side but a more balanced nose than usual (if that's possible).
Taste- Starts slightly bitter before a nice rush of sweet maltiness overtakes everything. Very citrusy but not overly so with the aforementioned grapefruit and lemon. A liberal (get it!) amount of orange helps meld the event horizon between hop and malt. As the bitterness subsides and the sweetness intensifies tinges of cotton candy and bubblegum show. Lightly burnt sugar and peanut brittle (minus the peanuts) add a ying to the citrus yang. As I drink more, the balance in the beer seems to shift a bit more to the hoppy side. Finishes with a bit of lingering pineapple and grapefruit pith.
Mouthfeel- Fairly heavy body with a nice creamy feel and perhaps the tiniest bubbles of carbonation I've ever felt in a beer.
Drinkability- Like the socialist commune that he wishes to create, everyone can enjoy this beer. It's got a great hop bite that even the heaviest of hop heads can enjoy but backed by a fantastic malt balance. No matter your opinion on Obama's stupidity, we got another winner here from Flossmoor!
Jan 14, 2009
Photo of paco1029384756
Reviewed by paco1029384756 from Illinois

4.2/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Pours a cloudy orange color with two fingers of white head.

Scent of grassy hops, caramel, sugars, and a hint of earth. The hops are still quite present, but the malts are starting to outbalance the hoppiness.

Taste of grassy hops, caramel, and bready malts. A nice caramel flavor, but the hops seem to be dying. Finishes nicely with caramel and bready malts.

Mouthfeel is light bodied with a nice consistency.
Jan 06, 2009
Photo of TurdFurgison
Reviewed by TurdFurgison from Ohio

4.47/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
I picked up this bomber at Armanetti in Chicago for $9.99, along with 4 other "Brewer's Whim" series bottles. No "IPA For Change" name on the bottle, only identified by the green wax. The beer is yellow color, a little orange, transparent clear, with a 1-finger spitty head. The smell is wickedly good, dominated by strong pungent and potent hops. A nice malt base in the background, but the hops mix is really nice in this beer. The taste is citrusy and resiny, so flavorful that I'd peg this as a DIPA. Lots of grapefruit up front, and although it's bitter it's balanced well by sweet malt in the aftertaste, nearly flawless flavor. The body is similar to the Curse, thin and creamy like a cask conditioned ale but with more carbonation. This is an intense and delicious IPA, I'm really impressed with the Flossmoor beers I've tried so far.
Jan 04, 2009
Photo of BeerTruth
Reviewed by BeerTruth from Connecticut

4.37/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Another Flossmoor IPA thanks to joe1510.

22 oz. dark green waxed bomber poured into a nonic.

Pours a medium copper-orange hue with a one finger off-white head that slowly falls to a creamy layer of foam. Pretty minimal in the stickiness department, but still a good looking beer none-the-less. Smell consists of sweet creamy grapefruit and pineapple. A dash of pine and sweet caramel malt in the nose as well. Some lemongrass adds to this very complex but well balanced aroma. Taste begins with a buttery citrus, almost like a creamsickle. Puckering grapefruit midway with a touch of brown sugar and biscuits. Aftertaste is pretty moist with a spruce-like earthiness to it with a hint of orange, very enjoyable lingering flavor. A medium to full body with a slick coating feel inside the mouth. A mild flowing carbonation which is expected for the style. Another winner in the Brewers Whim Series for Flossmoor, they just keep me wanting more! Luckily I have The Curse waiting in the fridge as I type this. Thanks again Joe for keeping me up to date on these addicting IPA's!!!
Dec 07, 2008
IPA For Change from Flossmoor Station Restaurant & Brewery
Beer rating: 91 out of 100 with 23 ratings