I Knew That Years Ago
Green Cheek Beer Company

2/6/25 Batch! Piney tropical hoppy, Simcoe hoppy, Mosaic-dank, and a piney-citrus dank nose on this one! Taste follows with a clean and very dry, piney hoppy bitter swallow. As it warms, that piney/crisp/dry combo on the makes for an old-school bitter bite on the backend. This hides the big ABV very well, but I wish it leaned more into hop expression instead of generic bitterness.

 

Type: 16-oz. can
Reviewed as: American Double / Imperial IPA
Glass: Pure Project 14-oz. Teku glass
Price: $16.50 for a variety Green Cheek 4-pack
From: Blind Lady Ale House in Normal Heights (San Diego), Calif.
Purchased: July 29, 2020
Consumed: July 31, 2020
Misc.: Canned on June 4, 2020

Picked this up at Blind Lady Ale House with three other Green Cheek beers for a variety 4-pack price of $16.50. Facebook post for this beer read, “California DIPA w/ Strata & Mosaic 9.2% abv. Son: Look, Dad, I'm not looking for another diatribe about how awesome clear beer is, but can you tell me what we've got here? Dad: Well, it's clear and bitter, and doesn't use any crystal malt so the hops shine like crazy! Smells like ripe cantoloupe, fresh spun cotton candy, and those little white gummy bears that you love so much. It's got a full hoppy bitterness that hits from the initial sip, and a dab of hop resin that lingers into the clean finish. Son: I don't get it. Dad: You never will.”

Poured a medium yellow clear color with 1-to-2 fingers of off-white frothy-to-fizzy head, which dissipated quickly. Could see some bubbles creeping up along the sides of the glass. Decent watery lacing. Bad retention. (Sight - 3.25)

Damn. First thought on the smell was Mosaic, followed by a healthy dose of Strata. These two hops work well together. Also got floral, cotton candy, grapefruit, passion fruit, bubblegum, rose blossom, guava and mango. Not as good out of the can, although it added some earthy malt. (Smell - 4.25)

Taste followed the nose for the most part. Man. This really wanted to be world-class, but something was holding it back. In order got Strata, Mosaic, grapefruit, passion fruit, cotton candy, bubblegum, rose blossom, gummi bears, guava and mango. Got better each sip. That 9.2 pct. was well hidden. (Taste - 4.25)

Medium body. Soft carbonation. Oily texture. Smooth, floraly finish. (Feel - 4.25)

Damn. This one grew on me a lot. Initially that it was off, but just kept getting better. Just an excellent DIPA. (Overall - 4.25)

4.19 | 93 | A-

Pours a clear amber with dissipating foam in the Duvel tulip. Adequate carbonation on the tongue and a light body. Hot with alcohol, dry finish, but moderate bitterness. Modest aroma of straw and green papaya, The malt is plain and definitely not sweet. Tastes of tangerine peel with dry white wine.

Very dry with an aftertaste of mineral and something like blueberry. This is at least thoroughly drinkable, unlike the two other GC beers I've tried. Another vote for West Coast IPAs vs. East. From the 16 oz can purchased from Blind Lady.

Green Cheek has been cool enough. Like, they are always invited to the party, but rarely are they the life of it. That said, all of a sudden we are delighted with a surprise. Because not only is I Knew That Years ago the life of the party, they were the special guest. Yes, they are the super hottie popping out of the cake on grandpa’s birthday. And you know what? I hope that grandpa makes it to 100.

Peace.

 

Had this at the DIPA fest on February 8, 2020.

Pours a good golden color with 2/3" white head and respectable professional grade clarity. Nice ample dry hopping, sure Mosaic is everywhere for good reason, but Mosaic paired with Strata is something you don't come across too often. Was good here. Had that tropical week humid dank feel most Mosaics have, but also diversified that a bit without straying far, both known for their weed + tropical fruit feels, but also with a dab of old school grapefruit.

Taste is much the same, Strata seems to give a firm bitterness like Simcoe, but with more flavor and less dryness. But the beer was a dry back end one, nice dehydrated 2 row malt feels from it. Its a west coast ipa with all kinds of lush proprietary hops. Hides the alcohol amazingly well, kinda scary this is 9% with it being so crushable. Green Cheek is very impressive with their hoppy beers, I see no reason to elevate Monkish in their area above them, they both seem to put out dank ass hoppy beers from the small handful I've had.