Fall IPA
Faction Brewing

 

Poured from 16oz can into my Bell’s tulip. Canned 9/9/24.

Appearance: pale golden hue with just a tiny dash of haze and a thick head of frothy ivory foam.

Smell: slightly sweet malt with an earthy, slightly herbal hop aroma. Definitely a classic WCIPA, though a bit tilted toward the sweet/malty end of the spectrum for my taste.

Taste: sweet and earthy, like the aroma, but with an added grapefruit rind element that sort of ties it all together. Not bad at all.

Mouthfeel: medium body with a good carbonation and creaminess.

Overall: I’d like the aroma more if the citrus element came through a little better, otherwise this is a totally cromulent West Coast IPA.

WOW this beer is superb. Nose was nice and piney with some citrus. Taste was also nice and piney with citrus. Love the feel and bitterness. Well done Faction!

Thanks again to SkunkDrool for the bottomless box he sent my way. Have to save at least one for election night as intended. 16 oz. can born exactly two months ago.

The pour is a clouded yellow with a nose to match. Haven’t smelled yellow? Go to Sherwin Williams.

Faction IPA is all sharp edges. Bitterness rools this roost with an old-school malt backbone that keeps it under control. There’s an almost cracker like note to the yeast & the hops lend minimal flavors of peach, pine, & dankness to the finish. Crisp & rather delightful to sip upon.

Very good & vastly superior to the last Faction IPA I attempted to ingest.

 

 

 

 

 

Really unimpressed after seeing the ratings on here for this beer. Coming from the East Coast it is clear you cannot look at the avg. and think it will be on our with other beers across the country. To put this in the same class as new England's gbot, bells two hearted, the worst tree house, captains daughter, trillium, etc etc hurts my soul. Those are all roughly 4.3 avg here. California had the best iPas but it's not remotely close any more...and no don't say Pliny, it's so far behind tree house, Lawson's, trillium, and the alchemist, its not funny.

Now for my review. Smells like it tastes. Crisp, clean, clear, mostly piney notes with a little citrus. No real alcohol flavor, as it's not high abv. Smooth, refreshing, but there isn't much going on here. Standard run of the mill ipa. I'd take a sculpin, racer x, or any lagunitas any day of the week over this.

 

On tap at Whole Foods Blossom Hill in San Jose, CA.
Pours a golden/dark yellow with a thin head.
Smell is mild and reminiscent of orange peel and citrus.
The hops are evident on taste but very well balanced. This brew is light on its feet, which is a good thing.
Overall this is a terrific beer. Hop heads may find it wanting but I find the balance to be exquisite.

 

This pours a warm tan color.
As it opens I get a sharply defined orange peel aroma off the bat with some lightly caramel malt aroma.
It's lightly drying with a cinnamon hint? Along with some grassy catty onion notes, mellow and subdued under the citrus peel. Tasty.