Galactica
Clown Shoes

GalacticaGalactica
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From:
Clown Shoes
 
Massachusetts, United States
Style:
Imperial IPA
Ranked #1,881
ABV:
8%
Score:
88
Ranked #14,490
Avg:
3.92 | pDev: 10.46%
Reviews:
293
Ratings:
1,793
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 31, 2024
Added:
Apr 18, 2013
Wants:
  67
Gots:
  396
Defender of the intergalactic downtrodden, conqueror of bad beers and long-winded evildoers, Galactica soars with ease from one star system to the next. Her dual-hop staff disperses justice, freedom, and intense hop flavor. Dry hopped with Galaxy Hops, this Double IPA balances a hop profile of light bitterness and notes of tropical fruit, citrus, and pine with a clean malt backbone. Brewed with Galaxy, Citra, El Dorado, and Mandarina hops.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by hopphead31415:
Photo of hopphead31415
Reviewed by hopphead31415 from Virginia

4.15/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
I’ve started trying beers by Clown Shoes one by one and so far they are definitely above average, but not stellar, but then again I have been spoiled by giants such as Ommegang, Great Divide, and Sierra Nevada. This American Double/Imperial IPA weighs in at 8.0% ABV which is on the low end or maybe about average alcohol content for Imperial IPAs

Look-It pours a mildly hazy orange golden amber color with no real head. The lacing is delicate and moist.

Smell-I smell bready yeast and malts with noticeable grapefruit, peach, and apricots. The aroma is not very bitter smelling, but definitely foretells of an enhanced flavor. Let’s see what it tastes like.

Taste-It taste of caramel and bready yeast malts that the nose picked up on, but it is more noticeable than the nose told. Then you get floral and citrus hops that shine through on the tongue obviously and are composed of grapefruit, peach, and apricots. The floral component also has slight clover, but that shows up on the back palate after the medium carbonation fizzles away which is nice timing. The bite of the alcohol is a bit more substantial than I anticipated from a medium level 8% and plays well with the carbonation on the tongue.

Mouthfeel-It is not syrupy which I usually hate, but this one is more of a full-bodied crème type of beer with plenty of hops to give it a well-balanced experience. The coating on the tongue lingers for a long time and is pleasantly bitter but is kissed by peaches and crème, dare I say (LOL!). And lastly, I even feel the fizz after
several moments which is nice.

Overall-This beer started out a bit dull, but quickly turned around into a B+/A- class beer that is able to compete with a large fraction of Imperial IPAs out there, however it isn’t on par with giants such as Rebel Rouser Sam Adams or Rampant IPA by New Belgium. You’ll enjoy this one though. Cheers!
Aug 02, 2015
More User Ratings:
Photo of HOWEverSpence
Reviewed by HOWEverSpence from Michigan

4.63/5  rDev +18.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
My first IPA that I fell in love with. Whenever I travel to the East side of the U.S, I make sure to scope this fine beer out. Well balanced and always refreshing. Top 10 for me.
Jan 31, 2024
 
Rated: 3.93 by Cuervo_PCB from Florida

Sep 17, 2023
 
Rated: 3.92 by dt_gbpackersfan from Missouri

Mar 22, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by FunkyPolak from New Jersey

Nov 26, 2022
Photo of NeroFiddled
Reviewed by NeroFiddled from Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Clown Shoes Beer "Galactica West Coast IPA"
16 fl. oz. can coded "pkg 032 01/31/22 20:23" and sampled on 10/01/22
$4.29 @ Total Wine & More, Cherry Hill, NJ

Notes via stream of consciousness: It's poured a hazy deep golden slash orange colored body beneath a finger's width of rocky off-white foam. The aroma is piney and lightly citrusy over a sweetish and grainy malt base. This smells like a West Coast IPA to me because it's got that piney Chinook aroma to it. Was it always a West Coast IPA? On to the taste... well there it is again, that Chinook pine. I always use kid gloves when I brew with Chinook because if you use too much it can ruin the beer, especially if it's bitter. You get that bitter and piney-resinous thing going on and it just kills your palate. This, however, is nicely balanced. You get the pine but it's not overdone, and you also get the sweetish malt and citrusy hop notes. There's grapefruit, a little orange, and some mango and berries as well as a lot of herbs. What herbs? I'm thinking oregano and sage, and a brush of rosemary. There's a lot of floral character as well, and a note of apple to boot but there's almost always a note of apple in most beers, even in Budweiser. A firm bitterness anchors it and leads it to a dry and bitter conclusion despite the sweetness of the malt upfront. In the mouth it's medium bodied on the fuller side, and crisp with a fine-bubbled carbonation. The head held up OK, but not great, and the lacing was very good but not excellent. In my mind this is a very good example of the West Coast IPA style but perhaps a bit strong at 8% ABV.
Review #8,269
Oct 01, 2022
 
Rated: 3.83 by Duhast500 from Rhode Island

Sep 12, 2022
Photo of JohnniEMc
Reviewed by JohnniEMc from Pennsylvania

4.49/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Research indicates this likely isn't exactly the Galactica IPA, nor the Galactica Imperial IPA, as they have different labels than this pint can. There's good and bad about emptying that can into a clear glass Imperial pint mug. The good is the bright copper-amber color and a head slightly tinted toward that color. The bad was the foaminess of what was a gentle pour, albeit at room temperature. Despite the bright, almost bold color, the brew is close to being translucent. Eventually, the head reduces to a modest level and it sustains. The aroma is a solid one, bringing both malt and piney hops. The taste is maltier than many West Coast styled IPAs. With the growing trend to reduce barley malt from IPAs, this is a welcome characteristic. What it also produces is a body that's vastly smoother and richer than most WCIPAs. Fear not, the malt doesn't make this taste any sweeter than the good ones in this category, which is regarded for the sharp hoppy bite it often provides. If it adds anything to the predominantly piney and resinous hop hit, it adds a layer of earthiness. Some may not like the richer and smoother body, as most West Coast IPAs, even the very good ones, flow a little thinner and lighter. But this is a great example of a Double/Imperial IPA, regardless of the category. The glass lacing is negligible and some of the alcohol makes it into the taste. To date, there is no West Coast IPA category here, so this gets rated as an IPA with a fairly high ABV. The rating is deservedly high, too.
Aug 14, 2022
 
Rated: 3.5 by LoriCrotty from Minnesota

Jun 04, 2022
 
Rated: 3.73 by KT3418 from Colorado

Apr 21, 2022
 
Rated: 3.75 by shigg85 from Japan

Feb 17, 2022
Photo of harrypowers
Reviewed by harrypowers from Massachusetts

3.98/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pours a slightly hazy amber with a foamy white head that ends as filmy lacing.

Smells slightly piney with some citrus.

Tastes of malt and slightly dank hops with some light citrus and melon with the slightest bitter finish.

Medium body and light carbonation. Light clean mouthfeel.

This is nice old school west coast IPA
Jan 16, 2022
 
Rated: 4.04 by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota

Oct 24, 2021
 
Rated: 3.82 by Bogdawg from Massachusetts

Aug 25, 2021
 
Rated: 4.11 by Tcsox from Massachusetts

Aug 25, 2021
 
Rated: 3.77 by PaleAleWalt from New York

Aug 24, 2021
Photo of BrewMaven
Reviewed by BrewMaven from New York

3.87/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Rich near clear amber with a whopping off white head that laces and lasts. I'm getting a whiff of mellow pine through the head. Hefty malt and hops play nice together and offer a fair bit of sweetness to this brew. I'm drinking it on the warmer side of the temp range. Decent medium body and mellow bubbles. Nice!
Aug 18, 2021
 
Rated: 3 by prisdefer from New York

Aug 17, 2021
 
Rated: 4.24 by StonewallSipper from Pennsylvania

Jun 14, 2021
 
Rated: 4 by 322wingedfoot from Pennsylvania

May 09, 2021
Galactica from Clown Shoes
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 1793 ratings