Flower Fields
Burgeon Beer Company

Type: 16-oz. can
Reviewed as: American IPA
Glass: Pure Project 3rd anniversary 14-oz. Teku glass
Price: $4.69
From: Windmill Farms in Del Cerro (San Diego), Calif.
Purchased: March 25, 2022
Consumed: April 1, 2022
Misc.: Canned on March 16, 2022

Grabbed a bunch of There Does Not Exist and Burgeon beers, and a few others on a recent trip to Windmill Farms. Burgeon’s website called this “This 7.1% hoppy tribute to coastal Carlsbad's iconic Flower Fields beckons the spring season with a symphony of Mosaic, Simcoe, and Centennial hops. ⁠Perfectly ripened stone fruit notes blossom alongside hints of citrus zest and a juicy sweetness that makes us think of California clementines. This BeerinBloom delicately balances old school and new school West Coast IPA characteristics, with a noticeable and super clean bitterness that leaves us reaching for more.⁠”

Poured a medium yellow clear color with 1-to-2 fingers of frothy off-white head. Could see a few bubbles coming up along the sides of the glass. Very good watery-to-foggy lacing. Very good retention. (Sight - 4.00)

Smelled Mosaic, floral, mixed berry, mango blossom, red grapefruit, Simcoe, passion fruit, pine and papaya. About as good from the can. (Smell - 4.00)

Taste was not quite as good as the nose. In order got Mosaic, floral, mixed berry, mango blossom, red grapefruit, Simcoe, bitter pine, black pepper, garlic, onion, passion fruit and papaya. (Taste - 3.75)

Medium body. Oily-to-creamy texture. Lively carbonation. Smooth finish. (Feel - 4.25)

Not a bad beer. Grew on me a little bit as it went down. (Overall - 4.00)

3.93 | 88 | B+

Blending of the old school hops with newer variety leads to a whole field of variety. Burgeon Beer Company fuses Simcoe, Mosaic and Centennial for a little something old but a little something new in beer making.

Flower Fields kicks off with a dull chrome color carried inside a moderate haze. With its bubbles popping and its creamy white head building, the scent of citronella and potpourri catches the nose. Sweet with a light toasty character of flaky croissant, mild honey and agave, the early malt impressions are sweet and lightly savory.

As the sweetness fades, the hops control the middle palate with a quick jolt of white grapefruit, orange peel and lime. With a supple tropical contribution, a hint of mango and passionfruit pulls from the orange character and takes the session into a slightly winey direction where blackcurrant, apricot and lemon await. Trending firmly bitter, the late palate is sharp with peppery grasses, pine, black tea and hemp.

Medium bodied and just shy of full dryness or bitterness, the West Coast IPA closes with a linger of sweetness and a lapse in hop dominance that a drier, crisper and more refreshing IPA should have. It lingers with fruit peels, tea and herb into a slightly lemony aftertaste.

Very nice west coast style IPA. As normal, I could go for a bit more bitterness.