Bling Universe
Union Craft Brewing Company

Positive initial impression from the appearance: bright gold body large white head and good lacing. Moderately sweet malt aroma touched with citrus. Taste shifts a bit toward a hoppier version of a traditional pils showcasing a herbal, spicy character. Crisp, dry, bitter aftertaste. Medium bodied nicely carbonated mouthfeel. Probably will not confuse it with a more common German pils but that could be the brewers point. Here's hoping Union makes it a year round offering.

Pretty big in body, ABV and west coast hops.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Poured from the can into a Speigelau IPA glass, or is that a Libbey Pilsener? Ack I am torn, but alas it is IPL so the Spiegelau gets the go.

Woah this is a looker pushing all the right buttons for me. Clear bodied with an excellent amber bronze color, looks like a classic West Coast IPA, with some fast middle linear rising carbonation. Absolutely frothy forming big but in control head out of the can. Bleach white, with a thick mix of fine and swiss cheese like retention.

Real vibrant and wonderful nose. Floral light touches with a faint dank and more so candy gum drop sweetness that permeates. Mouthwatering aroma comes off this that makes me drool. Clean but a bit thick aromatics and real punchy. I am digging this a lot can't wait to taste it.

Palate really takes off. Juicy fruity ipa flavor and like body. Rich supportive malt base has a hint of caramel, to balance out the wonderful hop dominant flavors. A gum drop candy sweetness and mild almost pils malt? herbal hop bitterness play with each other making this incredible mint candy like flavor. Chewy body as well, hints barely a hair light mouthfeel.

I can barely tell this is a lager, only some possible pils malt and maybe some herbal traditional hop gives it away, but there is more to this that brings this beer into stellar IPA like territory. This is by far the best beer I've had from Union that also includes the stellar collab Yonder Cities with DC Brau. But this one is all their own. Stellar beer, they need to make more of this but alas who knows if they ever will.

 

 

 

12 oz can, date on bottom, a few weeks old

pours clear, light golden yellow in color, white head. aroma is hoppy- a mix of floral, grassy, a touch of citrus. taste is similar, very mild grainy malt component. starts a little sweet with a drier finish. thinner bodied.

12oz can into an IPA glass

Look: Pours a clear light amber bordering orange. a white, one-finger head with good retention leaves lacing down the glass.
Smell: Aromas of light malt sweetness mix with a mix of floral and ever so slightly piney hop.
Taste: Just like the nose, light malt and slightly piney hops with a floral finish.
Feel: Medium body with good carbonation, small bubbles.
Overall: Very refreshing IPL, great balance of flavor. Was surprised to see the ABV is almost 7% considering how easy it goes down.