Lulo Galactico Telefantastico
5 Rabbit Cerveceria

Reviewed from (long-standing) notes. Opened at Caffe Italia in Riverview. Poured from a 750mL bottle into a Cycle Brewing goblet.

A: Hazy and light gold, medium visible carbonation. A couple fingers of white fluffy head with good retention on top.

S: Biscuit malts, citrus and tropical fruit hops. Not a huge aroma...but I am in an Italian restaurant.

T: Citrus, oranges and tropical fruit from the hops, and a fruit flavor I can't quite place - almost mango - I'll guess it's lulo fruit. A solid biscuit malt backbone is here as well, but it doesn't overwhelm. Finishes with the fruity sweetness and hop bitterness in a nice balance.

M: Medium body, carbonation sensation on the low side, and the alcohol presence is well-hidden.

O: Worth a try, and enjoyable. I wouldn't go out of my way for it again, but wouldn't refuse a pour somewhere.

750 ml bottle, no bottled on date. One of 2 bottles i recently saw on the local bottle store shelf. Come to find it's a bit past it's prime, but i digress. 8.00% abv. "Big IPA with Lulo fruit & Galaxy hops".

Poured into a Duvel tulip snifter.

A - Golden orange pour with some hues of brown; soft airy fluffy off-white head that leaves good sticky spotty lacing. Appears aptly carbonated. Looks good for what it is.

S - Aroma seems to have grown a bit sweetened from malts & from time in the bottle. Bready, doughy, & yeasty. Soft notes of pungent citrus from the Lulo fruit. The higher abv is somewhat apparent; lightly fumey, it feels like a higher alcohol content than it actually is. Smells "high gravity" with vinous tones - notes of citrus peel, pineapple, white wine, & grape.

T - Taste has lots of restrained citrus. The age is a bit apparent. Lots of big sweetened bready malt / grain, plus the higher abv gives it a sort of Belgian / Golden Ale type feel to it. Big flavors of lemon, orange, citrus rind.

F - Feel is medium-full. Sweet; definitely feels like the malt has come out more due to some age. Crisp carb; semi-thickish, pulpy, juicy, pungent.

Overall, a nice "Big IPA" from 5 Rabbit, though i wonder what it was like when it was truly fresh. As it is now, it has changed a bit, the flavors have all steeped a bit. A very nice use of Lulo fruit; i look forward to seeing more of this in beer.

5 Rabbit Cerveceria Lulo Galactico Telefantastico -----3.5/5

 

 

 

 

 

I'm a huge beer nerd...typically this beer wouldn't do it for me. That said, if you haven't been to Colombia, and you've never had Lulo juice after a night of tequila and Aguila....you wouldn't get it. If ya have, this beer is mutha trucking spot on.

NO DATE FOUND ON BOTTLE*
appearance 4.25
Besides the nice lacing, the color reminds me of some awful energy drink. It’s sort of a vibrant deep orange color.

smell 3.75
The hops seem a bit subdued. I couldn’t find a date on the bottle and believe I may have purchased a fairly old 750ml bottle of IPA per recommendation at Historic Casanova Liquor in Hudson, WI. Citrusy and tropical.

taste 4.0
The palate follows the nose and we’re left with a muted hop profile. Orange juice bomb. Sunny D-esque. I think 3/4 of the bottle may be going down the drain.

mouthfeel 4.75
The one bright spot. Not too sticky, carbonation’s spot on and its not too hot at 8% abv.

overall 4.25
Underwhelming. One of the least remarkable Imperial IPAs I’ve ever consumed. If my wife doesn’t like it, it’s a drain pour. I regretfully can’t justify drinking 750mls of a high alcohol beer that I’m not that crazy about anymore. Maybe when I was in my 20s.
*I believe this was a fairly dated bottle, for what it’s worth.

 

 

Very balanced, nice favors just enough hops so you know they are there