Emperor Fallen Flag
Narrow Gauge Brewing Company

 

 

 

Pours a hazy, bright orange coloration with a small, fluffy head. Smells of light biscuity malt and citrus, tropical and berry hops, with notes of grapefruit, mango and blueberry. Taste is a good balance of light biscuity malt and fruity, juicy, slightly resinous hops, with citrus, tropical and berry notes of grapefruit, mango and blueberry, as well as the merest hint of pine. Finishes with a light bitterness, medium sweetness and some booze, grapefruit and mango lingering in the aftertaste. Soft mouthfeel with a medium body and carbonation.

I found this pretty disappointing to be honest, but maybe that's because it's just over 3 months old and I've had plenty of much better TIPAs and QUIPAs lately, at the same age though. Basically, if your IPAs fall off after just 2 months, I consider that a brewing flaw. In any case, this has all of this typical issues of a not that well-made TIPA to me, being too sweet and boozy, with overripe, not well-defined hops that wash together and a certain chalky, vegetal character as well. I have really enjoyed most of the brews I've had Narrow Gauge so far, but this one falls really flat with me, TIPAs are just hard to pull off and maybe I've forgotten that because I had too many great ones lately.

Look - dense juicy golden, soapy white head, good lacing
Smell - dank citrus, pine, pineapple, citrus pith
Taste - pineapple, mango, tangerine, pine, citrus pith
Feel - heavy body, moderate carbonation
Overall - Citra, Mosaic and Columbus hops. Such a delicious combo. Strong dank citrus scent. Dank citrus flavors of pineapple, mango, pine, tangerine and some citrus pith on the end. Hints of alcohol with a candiesque sugar note. Freaking excellent beer that is best paired with Lunatic-Liar-Lord by Exodus. Enjoy the intensity!

 

 

Pours an opaque orange with a bright hue to it. Head is two fingers of off-white foam. Aroma is big time orange zest, grapefruit, mandarin orange, and tangerine. It has a light hop bite behind, but is otherwise steadfast on tropical fruit. That bite helps emphasis the alcohol content in this beer - it's packing a lot of weight. Flavor profile is orange zest, tangerine, clementines, and rindy grapefruit and mango. The flavor profile stays more centered on tropical fruits than the nose, although there is some late hop bite that seeps through as the tropical fruits fade. Mouth feel is plush, laying a down comforter over the tongue. Some late silt sits on the tongue as the beer bubbles settle down. Thickness is medium-thick. Overall, this one is absolutely jammed full of tropical fruits, and despite being a little hot around the edges, remains smooth. It doesn't quite show off it's 10% ABV, instead opting to whisper it each sip.

Served in a 15.5oz Speigalau tulip from a 16oz can.

2 days after swearing off hazy IPAs and here I am - but a hazy TIPA...16 ounces split two ways.
Pours a milky hazy apricot with a finger of foamy white head that makes little effort to hang around but laces nicely.
Aroma of ripe citrus, orange, mango, tropical fruit with notes of pine, floral hops and a bit of dankness.
Tastes of sweet citrus, tropical fruit juice, floral hop, mildly earthy with hint of pine and a subtle bitterness that pleasantly rides in back.
Medium mouthfeel - exceptionally smooth, soft juiciness and I would not have guessed 10% - 8 ounces was easy to knock back. Simple and delicious.

 

 

Canned three weeks ago.

Beautiful mango puree looking body in the glass with a finger of solid white head produced with moderate pour. Decent retention and lacing given the ABV and the amount of hops that are in here. Aromas are big on the citrus and tropical fruits -- perhaps not the most complex but very noticeable -- and the flavors largely follow the nose. Pleasant floral sweetness offsets the heavy hopping without being syrupy. Medium+ mouthfeel, medium carb. Restrained bitterness and quite drinkable. My first from Narrow Gauge and I'm a fan

87/100

poured from a 16oz can into a snifter. pours a turbid orange with soapy white head. citrusy orange and lemon with some underlying dank pine. as it warms there is a noticeable alcohol presence. plenty of citrus flavors as well as a slightly bitter pine taste on the finish. again, a warming alcohol presence once warmed up a bit. slick, oily and full mouthfeel rounds out an intense but satisfying drinking experience. this one does the fallen flag family proud.

 

 

 

Straw yellow in color with a massively hazy complexion. There’s a fingernail of dishwater white on top. Heavy lacing is present. The aroma is of pungent citrus and green vegetables. I’m tasting an aggressive amount of green vegetables, citrus, and earthy hops. The mouth is very smooth for the massive ABV.