Union Jack IPA
Firestone Walker Brewing Co.

12 oz can from Deltaville Grocery The ale poured a clear gold with white foamy head and lacing. The floral hop aroma was eaily detected. The piney taste was present with a malty background. In the upper mouth the pine resin was noticed. This is excellent West Coast IPA and worthy of its reputation.

(review from May 2017) Hopheads rejoice! Wonderfully citrusy hoppy goodness & aroma to boot! At only 70 ibus a great 'stage 2' ipa for those about-to-become hopheads

 

12oz can, painted label. Bottom stamp is 'CANNED ON 011426 11:31', about ten weeks in the can.
Clear, deep gold colored body. Two fingers of white head with the pour, and this slowly retreats to become a rocky cap and high ring. Leaves behind scattered swaths of lacing.
Aroma of tangerine, grapefruit, pineapple, pine, and a bit of caramel malt sweetness.
Taste is honey sweet, with flavors of pineapple, grapefruit, tangerine, and pine. Caramel malt. Gets more herbal and bitter towards the end of the profile. Aftertaste allows the bitter/earthy note to sit on the sweet malts for balance.
Medium mouthfeel. Clean and crisp finish. Very good carbonation.
Brilliantly clear for clarity, and has the old school balance of sweet malts supporting vibrant citrus/tropical/piney hops. An IPA that can serve as a palate cleanser when imbibing multiple hazy/soft/fruity IPAs.

Nostalgic 2014 era beer for me. Still a nice change of OA e in 2026.

 

 

 

 

Classic in every respect. Pours a lovely coppery graham cracker shade with powerful scents of sweet grapefruit and piney fresh cut grass. As sips are taken, fairly complex hop flavors appear: Strong pine, herbal, grassy, floral notes take center stage with citrus barbs coming in here and there. Malt presence is on the sweeter side, but the long yet gentle bitterness cuts through keeping an excellent balance and allowing the WC hoppy profile to shine. Not as bold as some other WCIPA classics, but the excellence in Union Jack can't be denied with its perfect composition and hop complexity

 

 

Copenhagen 7/11 2019. 35,5 cl can from Meny, Gymnasievej, Køge. A beer dancing around the name of the beer in front of what looks like an ragged Union Jack.

Pours slightly unclear amber with a small white head. Settles as thin, almost transparent layer of foam struggling to cover the surface of the beer. No lacing.

Aroma is fairly intense with a solid malt base and strong citric notes. Caramel, sweet malts. Grape fruit, Citrus and Pine.Dry hoppy presence.

Medium carbonation. Slightly thick, oily, lightly tingling texture.

Flavor is medium sweet followed by a stronger citric bitterness. Aftertaste is bitter and lingers for a while. Leading to dry finish. Well balanced, solid IPA not without a bitter bite

A bit mysterious why they have chosen to name a West Coast IPA after Union Jack.

Union Jack IPA has a thick, off-white head and a clear, orange-gold appearance, with some lacing. The aroma is of herbal hops and white bread crust. It has a similar flavor, with moderate bitterness and sweetness. Union Jack IPA has a medium body and a dry finish.

RJT

 

On tap at Firestone Walker

Excellent old school IPA that hits all the right notes. Perfect combination of hoppiness and drinkability. Piney and citrus in equal balance.
Hard to imagine what the beer world would be like if breweries like Firestone Walker hadn’t come up with legacy brews like this.
This one is very deserving of its high ratings.