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Green Flash Grand Cru
Green Flash Brewing Co.
- From:
- Green Flash Brewing Co.
- California, United States
- Style:
- Belgian Dark Strong Ale
- ABV:
- 9.1%
- Score:
- 85
- Avg:
- 3.78 | pDev: 11.9%
- Reviews:
- 178
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- Mar 19, 2021
- Added:
- Mar 03, 2008
- Wants:
- 13
- Gots:
- 34
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by RoyalT:
Reviewed by RoyalT from Michigan
2.75/5 rDev -27.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
2.75/5 rDev -27.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
Appearance - This was a rather unattractive mud-brown in color with a disappointingly modest head.
Smell - I like the playful yeast in the nose but the malts are too burnt, not a good burn like caramelized onions sticking on the bottom of your oven-roasted baby potatoes but more like that idiot at work who leaves his multi-grain bread in the toaster 30 seconds too long. Also conspicuously absent is any sort of fruity sweetness, a hallmark of the true Grand Cru.
Taste - Thankfully the burnt flavor is hardly noticeable at the taste, so that's definitely a plus. Again though the lack of a deep, dark fruit flavor leaves me wondering how they expect this effort to stand up to others readily available.
Mouthfeel - This was the low point of the ale for me. The overly-toasted malts contributed a harsh bitterness to the finish and this ale lacked the classic fluffy carbonation found in better efforts of the style.
Sinkability - It's not often I dump a 9% ale down the sink, but now that I think about it maybe that is why I did it. You can't down too many more beers after a strong bomber like this and I just didn't want to waste my alcohol intake on something so lacking in quality and appeal. Probably one of the worst Grand Crus that I've ever had.
Jan 24, 2009Smell - I like the playful yeast in the nose but the malts are too burnt, not a good burn like caramelized onions sticking on the bottom of your oven-roasted baby potatoes but more like that idiot at work who leaves his multi-grain bread in the toaster 30 seconds too long. Also conspicuously absent is any sort of fruity sweetness, a hallmark of the true Grand Cru.
Taste - Thankfully the burnt flavor is hardly noticeable at the taste, so that's definitely a plus. Again though the lack of a deep, dark fruit flavor leaves me wondering how they expect this effort to stand up to others readily available.
Mouthfeel - This was the low point of the ale for me. The overly-toasted malts contributed a harsh bitterness to the finish and this ale lacked the classic fluffy carbonation found in better efforts of the style.
Sinkability - It's not often I dump a 9% ale down the sink, but now that I think about it maybe that is why I did it. You can't down too many more beers after a strong bomber like this and I just didn't want to waste my alcohol intake on something so lacking in quality and appeal. Probably one of the worst Grand Crus that I've ever had.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway
3.72/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.72/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Bottle, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 9.1%. Very dark brown colour, creamy beige head. Strong malty sweetish aroma, loads of caramel, molasses and brown kandij sugar, hints of spices. Warming mouthfeel. The flavour is sweet (but not too sweet) and malty, notes of caramel and spices, balanced by moderate hops. Drinkable and decent.
Mar 19, 2021Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois
3.59/5 rDev -5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.59/5 rDev -5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
See through purple hue.
Off-white head; spotty lacing.
Nose of strawberry, black licorice & candle wax! Super odd.
Medium mouthfeel.
This tastes like strawberry candle wax. Odd; drinkable but slightly off-putting.
Apr 01, 2019Off-white head; spotty lacing.
Nose of strawberry, black licorice & candle wax! Super odd.
Medium mouthfeel.
This tastes like strawberry candle wax. Odd; drinkable but slightly off-putting.
Reviewed by descobar from Florida
3.55/5 rDev -6.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.55/5 rDev -6.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
vintage 2012
Smell: figs and plums and dark candy sugar that spells lots of sweetness up front. some bold vinous notes and yeast derived spicy notes.
Look: pours brown with a 1/2 " thick tan head with minimal retention. the ale is hazy, almost muddy. no lacing was observed in my snifter.
Taste: toffee, dark fruits and candy sugar is all over this giving it more than medium sweetness. the attempt at balance comes from significant bitterness that produces very assertive astringency. I begin to detect some stale malt notes to show a bit of negative aging.
Feel: this is a full bodied ale, with rich, sticky, almost chewy texture. the carbonation is moderate to high and the astringency that blasts the palate could almost be called intense.
Overall: starting to show signs that its had its better days (maybe a year or year and a half ago). although, I could see lots of people still enjoying this if they are craving for a high abv, complex and full flavored Belgian styled ale that is on the intense side.
Apr 12, 2017Smell: figs and plums and dark candy sugar that spells lots of sweetness up front. some bold vinous notes and yeast derived spicy notes.
Look: pours brown with a 1/2 " thick tan head with minimal retention. the ale is hazy, almost muddy. no lacing was observed in my snifter.
Taste: toffee, dark fruits and candy sugar is all over this giving it more than medium sweetness. the attempt at balance comes from significant bitterness that produces very assertive astringency. I begin to detect some stale malt notes to show a bit of negative aging.
Feel: this is a full bodied ale, with rich, sticky, almost chewy texture. the carbonation is moderate to high and the astringency that blasts the palate could almost be called intense.
Overall: starting to show signs that its had its better days (maybe a year or year and a half ago). although, I could see lots of people still enjoying this if they are craving for a high abv, complex and full flavored Belgian styled ale that is on the intense side.
Reviewed by imonhiatus from New Jersey
3.41/5 rDev -9.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.41/5 rDev -9.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
vintage bottle, 2013? watery purple, fairly oxidized. not a great brew. not bad, just not great. lacks the body and vibe of the authentic Belgian classics. didn't age that gracefully.
Oct 26, 2015Reviewed by Cylinsier from Pennsylvania
4.3/5 rDev +13.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.3/5 rDev +13.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
12 oz from 2013
Pours a cloudy reddish brown, light tan head retains as a film.
Smells of apple, pecan, walnut, fig, cherry, and brown sugar malt.
Tastes of bready malts, apples, toffee, pecan and brown sugar.
Full body with tingly carbonation on the roof of the mouth.
Fantastic brew, lots of flavor and aroma. Very rich and chewy. Definitely worth a try, lots to like here.
Sep 18, 2015Pours a cloudy reddish brown, light tan head retains as a film.
Smells of apple, pecan, walnut, fig, cherry, and brown sugar malt.
Tastes of bready malts, apples, toffee, pecan and brown sugar.
Full body with tingly carbonation on the roof of the mouth.
Fantastic brew, lots of flavor and aroma. Very rich and chewy. Definitely worth a try, lots to like here.
Green Flash Grand Cru from Green Flash Brewing Co.
Beer rating:
85 out of
100 with
452 ratings
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