Sparklepuff, Galaxy Starfighter Defender of the Universe
Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery

Sparklepuff, Galaxy Starfighter Defender of the UniverseSparklepuff, Galaxy Starfighter Defender of the Universe
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From:
Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery
 
Ontario, Canada
Style:
Imperial IPA
Ranked #1,492
ABV:
10.2%
Score:
90
Ranked #9,280
Avg:
4.04 | pDev: 9.41%
Reviews:
41
Ratings:
96
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 29, 2024
Added:
Jan 30, 2019
Wants:
  4
Gots:
  23
Exploring reams of deep, dank space with the Rule of 3 in its DNA, Sparklefluff launches with a payload of smashed summer peaches for cushions of fierce malty fluff behind a force field of hops. Three times dryhopped, triple the hop flavour and thrice the aroma, the 10.2% alcohol by volume of this unfiltered adventure glimmers with the epic glory of Sparklefluff, Galaxy Star Fighter Defender of the Universe. Note: Please be prepared for lots of special treats in the bottom of the can. Give it a good shake 15 minutes before consuming.

37 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by taxandbeerguy:
Photo of taxandbeerguy
Reviewed by taxandbeerguy from Canada (ON)

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 2 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
473 ml can served cold into a chalice (and then a pint glass). LCBO purchase for $5 CDN.

Appearance - The Good: Beautiful dark golden color, dripping with honey hues. A small half finger of white head is poured and fizzles out in under a minute. The not so good: Tons of sediment poured in the glass. Like beyond copius amounts. Looks like flakes of vomit coming back up. I like some sediment as much as the next BA, but this is one of the first beers where it bothered me.

Smell - Dank resiny hops, sweaty gym socks and underlying tropical mango sweetness. Nose is very subdued initially and does open up some as it warms.

Taste - Now we're talking. Tropical sweetness through and through with mango, papaya and pineapple leading the way and some grapefruit coming in at the end. Subtle touches of orange interspersed are well integrated. Booze is very well hidden, although there is a certain booziness as it's hard to hide 10.2% ABV for that long.

Mouthfeel - Smooth and slick, booze is well hidden and while the feel is juicy and supple, the high ABV creates a drying sensation in the mouth. Does not feel chunky despite the appearance.

Overall - An absolutely delicious triple IPA with well hidden booze, gobs of tropical flavor and sufficient bitterness to be very balanced. Good bang for buck as well. Only thing I'd change would be to do something about the unappetizing appearance. This is one beer that has stuck with me so far in 2019.
Feb 16, 2019
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.23 by Antyk from Belgium

Jan 29, 2024
Photo of The_Snow_Bird
Reviewed by The_Snow_Bird from Michigan

4.01/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours a hazy yellow color with a white head on top. Has a very hop forward smell and has a malty taste with a hop aftertaste. Cannot tell this is high on alcohol.
Jan 21, 2024
 
Rated: 4.15 by DannyBaldoni from Canada (QC)

Aug 20, 2023
 
Rated: 3.86 by Taphouse_Traveler from Florida

Jul 03, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by Zekenyce from New Jersey

Jun 08, 2023
 
Rated: 3.53 by Rainintheface from Florida

Mar 29, 2023
 
Rated: 4.1 by Jonathan-Morgan from Florida

Mar 04, 2023
Photo of harrypowers
Reviewed by harrypowers from Massachusetts

4.21/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pours an almost clear golden color with a 1F head and light lacing. The last pour has a lot of sediment.

Smells of slightly dank, floral hops and tangerine.

Tastes of sweet malt, honey,lemon and pineapple with a mildly bitter and boozy warm finish.

Medium light body with light carbonation. Lightly syrupy mouthfeel.

This dangerously drinkable alcohol bomb of a brew is half way between the two coasts : strong malt and hops profiles with moderate juiciness.
Feb 28, 2023
 
Rated: 3.98 by Monkeyknife from Missouri

Dec 20, 2022
Photo of Act25
Reviewed by Act25 from New Jersey

4.21/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Lava lamp sediment swirls in the semi-hazed golden liquid that spouts a finger head and then laces.
s) Big bright fruity nose with orange rind, peach, tropical fruit.
t) Follows aroma but adds a ton of sweet malts tempered by puckering bitterness, big, powerful flavor see-saw. Finished pepper and peach (interesting and original).
f) Not thick, smooth, sharp.
o) Original, large, must try.
Dec 02, 2022
Photo of schoolboy
Reviewed by schoolboy from Ohio

4.12/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
An IPA this big can get over the top sweet and syrupy, but Sparklepuff succeeds in going beyond sane limits for malts (ABV) without a thick feel.

It pours yellow, like a hazy IPA. The aroma is subdued but clean. It hits with a big bitter bomb on top of mountains of malts. The balance is quite good. The aforementioned lighter than expected mouthfeel is exceptional.

Highly recommended. These are dangerously good.
Nov 25, 2022
Photo of patre_tim
Reviewed by patre_tim from Thailand

4.1/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Golden orange and mostly translucent with moderate carbonation and 3 fingers of yellowish well sustained head.

The smell is of resinous hops, pears and peaches.

The taste is more intense than the nose, starting with a fruit bowl of pineapple, pears, peaches, passionfruit and mangoes. Dank hops kick in and a bit of green. As the malt lingers on the tongue, there is a savoury umami biscuit that hangs out and compels one to take another sip.

Medium, resinous body with moderate carbonation.

I got this in Toronto and am drinking in New Hamburg, Nov 23, 2022. Excellent brew.
Nov 24, 2022
Photo of ZebulonXZogg
Reviewed by ZebulonXZogg from Illinois

4/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a foggy gold, big frothy white head, some nice lacing and gobs of sediment. Nose gets stone fruit and some citrus, flavor matches, big malty backbone. Easy drinker considering it's 10.2%. Nice beer.
Oct 12, 2022
 
Rated: 3.95 by Gerred from Missouri

Sep 16, 2022
 
Rated: 4.24 by burnaby391 from Canada (ON)

Jul 24, 2022
Photo of Bouleboubier
Reviewed by Bouleboubier from New Jersey

3.53/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
(16 oz can, FEB/01/22; purchased cold single at Clayton Liquors... poured into a teku, because it was clean and nearby)

L: polished-clear, gold liquid, until the frosted flakes start glugging into the glass, then it's coconut shards suspended in jello mold; as one may guess, the head explodes and collapses during the pour... barely a collar, no lacing

S: sort of a one note fruity gummy / malt syrup base with fruit cocktail hop flourishes; muddled and struggling for clarity; subtly feline

T: ethanol 'how are ya?' hit up front, followed by a resin-drenched kind of strong malt liquor-like base bill, spiked with apricot liqueur; sort of (water)melon aftertaste, mild-to-moderate pithy bitterness...

F: a little fizz, a little heat... sort of a slippery, glassy texture... a bit lip-smacky... just missing some excitement: fluffy, pinging, viscous - I could go on... sort of muffled distortion

O: huh, expected a bit more?; twasn't awful by any stretch... bought it of course for it's psychedelic, black-light poster label artwork... so much promise, so little razamatazz (1901)
Jun 13, 2022
Photo of HappyGuy12345
Reviewed by HappyGuy12345 from New Jersey

4.46/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Poured from 1 pint can into a pint glass
Look: Opaque golden-yellow with 1/2 a finger of head and plenty of sediment
Smell: Hops and citrus notes
Taste: Follows the nose, Appropriately bitter for a triple-dryhopped beer, but the bitterness is not unpleasant. The high ABV is not detectable.
Feel: Full-bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: This is an impressive IPA from Flying Monkey that I look forward to trying again.
May 27, 2022
 
Rated: 4.1 by BeerBeast from Florida

Apr 06, 2022
Photo of Magibeg
Reviewed by Magibeg from Canada (ON)

4.52/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Bright, almost florescent orange with a thick haze.
Almost tropical smelling with a variety of fruity notes.
You wouldn't expect the ABR as any hit of its potency is covered by the rich flavor.
Feels almost creamy.
Overall one of my favorite beers.
Nov 27, 2021
Sparklepuff, Galaxy Starfighter Defender of the Universe from Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery
Beer rating: 90 out of 100 with 96 ratings