Lupulunatic
White Flame Brewing Co.

 

 

 

Lupulunatic 6-24-18
White Flame Brewing Co.
pint can ($3.45 at Copper Vine) Bell's nonic pint
7.5% abv
Big Juicy IPA

A- A normal pour creates 1/2 finger, khaki head that drops to a spotty film. The body is a clean copper with moderate-heavy carbonation. Decent stick is left on the glass. Crazy can art of a dude in a straight jacket.

S- Mostly grapefruit and tropical hops at first. There's a lighter, doughy and brown sugar malt presence. Warmth brings more balance as the malts are exaggerated and a little herbal/spicy side comes out from the hops.

T- Pretty balanced between grapefruit hops and doughy and caramel malts, moreso than the aroma suggests. Clean finish. Some warmth brings a gently alcohol warmth.

M- Full body. Bone dry finish. Slightest warmth.

O- A nicely balanced IPA that straddles the line between a big standard offering and a modest double. Drinkable, while packing a punch.

A-3.5 S- 4 T-3.75 M-4 O-3.75

 

16 ounce can into tulip glass; no can dating, but is a recent new release. Pours slightly hazy deep orange/amber/light copper color with a 2 finger dense and rocky cream colored head with fantastic retention, that reduces to a large cap that lasts the whole glass. Thick soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Fantastic appearance. Aromas of big tangerine, lemon, grapefruit, peach, pear, pineapple, apricot, passion fruit, papaya, mango, melon, guava, berry, citrus zest, light pepper/pine, caramel, toasted bread, herbal, and floral/grassy earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of citrus/fruity/tropical hops and moderate dark/bready malt notes; with great strength. Taste of big tangerine, lemon, grapefruit, peach, pear, pineapple, apricot, passion fruit, papaya, mango, melon, guava, berry, citrus zest, light pepper/pine, caramel, toasted bread, herbal, and floral/grassy earthiness. Light-moderate pine, citrus peel, herbal, grassy, spicy bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of tangerine, lemon, grapefruit, peach, pear, pineapple, apricot, passion fruit, papaya, mango, melon, guava, berry, citrus zest, light pepper/pine, caramel, toasted bread, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness on the finish for a while. Great complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/tropical hops and moderate dark/bready malt flavors; with an awesome malt/bitterness balance, and zero astringent hop flavors after the finish. Light-moderate increasing dryness from bitterness. Medium carbonation and medium-plus body; with a very smooth, moderately creamy/bready/sticky, and lightly resinous/rindy balanced mouthfeel that is great. Zero warming alcohol for 7.5%. Overall this is an excellent IPA. All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/tropical hops and moderate dark/bready malt flavors; very smooth and easy to drink with the modestly bitter/drying finish, never aggressive. Extremely juicy and light dank hop complexity; nice dark/bready malt backbone, with minimal residual sweetness. Very Midwest style IPA on the malts. Cascade, Citra, and Mosaic hops. A very enjoyable offering, loved the hop profile as expected.