Alpha Ambush
Fat Head's Brewery & Saloon

 

I got a 6pck of cans of this beer from my local meijer store. It poured a clear golden with white head that is leaving some lace. The scent had bold tropical fruit peel spice notes. The taste was nicely balanced and easy to drink with bright crisp malt base with fruit peel spice presence. Pineapple, mango, and apricot show well in this beer. The mouthfeel was medium in body and had good carbonation. Overall it is a solid beer.

 

 

 

Poured into a tall clear pint glass. Appearance is gold with a finger's worth of foamy white head, good retention and lacing.

Aroma: very complex. Pine, resin, mint, dank grass, cracker, pepper, caramel, honey, peach, stone fruit, pineapple.

Hoppier and bitter than what the aroma suggests, the sweet notes acting as a sort of foundation for the taste but the bitter hops and grapefruit occupying most of the body, which is a nice balance. The body essentially is rich in taste, bitter, hoppy, minty. Body is medium-light. Pretty solid.

 

 

Just when we thought that hazy had completely dominated the IPA scene... BAM! Here comes a bitter bomb out of Fat Head's Brewery out of nowhere.

Alpha Ambush takes us by surprise with a pale and reasonably hazy honey gold, seemingly glowing through a fine translucence and floating an ivory cream froth. A bold green perfume of citrus, grasses, botanicals, cannabis and a host of pantry herbs. A moderately sweet tone strikes up the flavors as the early palate plays host to caramel, honey and graham cracker.

But anything resting on sweetness is short lived as the hops billow on the tastebuds with a strong citrusy tone of pink grapefruit and oranges. Trending swiftly bitter and with more earthy tones, the middle palate shifts to fresh grass clippings, chive, geranium, hemp, pine, pepper and straight-up weed.

Full bodied for a more West Coast, stronger IPA, the hops still dry the session with its peppery resins and its strong ling between alcohol spice and hops. A long linger of citrus peel, cannabis and herb leave an after palate of patchouli and citronella lingering in memory.

Drinking this a little warmer than it ought to be but inita impression is right on par with head hunter - so world class WCIPA. A touch sweeter. Ill probably have more to add when I get around to drinking a fully chilled one like I prefer IPAs to be.

 

Poured into a shaped glass: color is gold, transparent, head is off white/brighter white and presents 1/4 inch thick, head leaves a thin top and thicker ring along the glass sides, some light lacing.

Smell is light pine, resin, stone fruit, light pineapple, citrus pith, honey, hint of caramel.

Taste is more floral, with pine, stone fruit, citrus pith, honey, light caramel, toast.

Mouthfeel is moderate carbonation, moderate sweetness, moderate/solid bitterness, lingering bite on the tongue.

Overall a hoppy, malty, bitter IPA - aroma is newer age but flavor and feel are more west coast.

Thanks to adrock314 for this 12 oz. beer. Perfect to pair after watching two tense episodes of Yellowstone. Costner’s finest work if you ask me (though that ain’t hard).

Spring sunshine gold; I feel warmer just looking at it. Smells like an alcohol-laced meadow; wet grass, spring flowers, with a bit of pine coming from the stand of trees to the east. Or is that west?

Alpha Ambush is typical Fat Head’s, tasty & easy sippin’. A little more wet grassy danky ness than I prefer, but a lovely citrus hit, bitterness. Not much else going on.

Fat Head’s is an IPA category killer but his one leaves me wanting more. Pretty good.

 

I've come to the conclusion most Fat Heads IPA's will be pretty damn good but blend together after awhile. Now that I've had this fresher it is pretty good but a Fat heads IPA is just becoming a Fat Heads IPA. Absolutely zero nuances.

 

Can into pint glass. Pours a clear gold with a nice off-white head Great lacing. Initial impression heavily favors pine resin - quite bitter, but there is a bit of citrus and even a little floral stuff going on in the background. Mouthfeel is quite clean; finish is piney-bitter. Overall, a pretty good example of an old-school West Coast IPA.

 

 

Smells fantastic. Like sitting in the brewery. Tastes pretty good, but the flavor falls off at the end and is all a bit flat.
Body is really thin and watery. Drinks like a 5-6% beer at 7.5. Disappointing. I’d much rather have either of the Special Hoperations collaborations.