X-IPA (Extreme)
Flossmoor Station Restaurant & Brewery

X-IPA (Extreme)X-IPA (Extreme)
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From:
Flossmoor Station Restaurant & Brewery
 
Illinois, United States
Style:
Imperial IPA
ABV:
8%
Score:
92
Avg:
4.17 | pDev: 9.11%
Reviews:
46
Ratings:
51
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Dec 24, 2015
Added:
Oct 04, 2004
Wants:
  9
Gots:
  0
Black wax.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by jjayjaye:
Photo of jjayjaye
Reviewed by jjayjaye from New York

4.15/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Review 08/07/08 - Brewer's Whim Series - Batch #1. Flossmoor Beer Blog - IPA Wax Color Code -Black - X-IPA

Comparing this one - the original - Black - to "Pretty Big IPA". X-IPA poured slightly darker, than orange-peach, with with less head and lacing. The smell wasn't as aggressive and lacked the same killer hop character. The taste is a little smoky and less hoppy. The mouth feel is smooth and creamy. An overall good drinker.
Jan 04, 2009
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.75 by jrob21 from North Carolina

Dec 24, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by spycow from Illinois

Dec 05, 2014
Photo of joe1510
Reviewed by joe1510 from Illinois

4.21/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
22oz Wax Capped Bomber
$7.99
Flossmoor Station

Black waxed top

Picked this up at the brewery a couple days after the release. X-Ipa pours a slightly hazed deep golden with a bit of an orange hue. A few large carbonation bubbles rise to the dense two finger dirty white head. The head leaves some really great thick spider webbed lacing on its way down and has good sticking power. This is a good looking IPA without a doubt.

My nose is greeted by a heavy handed dose of bitter grapefruit and some other citrus I can't quite put my finger on. Piney hop oils and a decent amount of resin are in there as well to play the supporting role. I can't help but smell some blonde tobacco leaves as well, soft and inviting all over the top of mild caramel and biscuity malts. The hops are the showcase here and while they're not huge and bold they are very well integrated.

The flavor follows the nose very closely. There's bitter grapefruit upfront along with the mystery citrus. The soft tobacco comes through mid-palate and fades off as the pine and resinous hops come through. A dash of caramel way in back morphs into the biscuity malts on the swallow. X-IPA is a very good IPA with layers of hop complexity.

The mouthfeel is heavenly smooth and creamy. The carbonation is on the lower side of the spectrum and lets this beer really work its magic. There's a growing bitterness on the finish that works its way up to moderately bitter over time.

X-IPA is highly drinkable and a hard one to put down after that first tip of the glass. I've had the opportunity to drink this on tap a few times and the bottle is right on with the tap version.

Another great brew from the guys at Flossmoor. They never fail to amaze me with the quality of their brews. I'm anxious to pick up the newest release in their IPA series (Pretty Big IPA) and will look forward to the next release of X-IPA.

Reviewed: 4/26/08
Aug 19, 2013
 
Rated: 4.5 by birdsellam from Indiana

Feb 16, 2012
 
Rated: 4.5 by brandoman63 from Illinois

Nov 30, 2011
Photo of corby112
Reviewed by corby112 from Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
From notes:

Bomber courtesy of d0b. Thanks a lot Dave!

Pours a cloudy dark orange color with a one finger white foam head that slowly fades into a lasting ring. Streaks of soapy lacing left behind.

Floral hop aroma with lots of sweet citrus and earthy pine character along with a pale malt presence. Hints of orange peel, pineapple and grapefruit balanced by grassy pine and biscuit.

Chewy full body with lots of sweet citrus hop flavor that's countered by a dry, bitter pine flavor and pale malt backbone. Lots of citrus rind, mango and grapefruit but the piny bitterness prevents it from becoming overly sweet. Decent bitterness throughout with some biscuit malt and faint alcohol balancing things out. Reall well made and easy to drink.
Nov 29, 2011
 
Rated: 5 by thebouch01 from Pennsylvania

Nov 15, 2011
Photo of SPLITGRIN
Reviewed by SPLITGRIN from Kentucky

4.42/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Black wax.

Body is a dark yeasty amber tone with thousands of pin head size bubbles clinging to the glass. Head is a creamy tan that reaches about two inch's before quickly fading to a rocky island of a skim. Hop profile on the nose is sweet with sappy citrus marmalade. Then you pick up some piney notes that include maybe a hint of raw dill. With first sip the hops on this one are just so dynamic with notes of creamy citrus, peach jelly, and mellon like fruit tones. The piney notes build up on the back of the tongue as you swallow. The initial sweetness is very well balanced by a consistant but very smooth bitter feel. The bitter feel really builds as yo continue to drink and creates a sharply bitter mouthfeel. This is a wonderfully drinkable and truely dynamic IPA.
Aug 08, 2009
Photo of Overlord
Reviewed by Overlord from California

4.2/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Thanks Tattorso!

Pours a burnished amber-orange. Large, white foamy and lacy head.

Smells great, with some tropical notes such as mango and pineapple, orange, and juicy white grapefruit. No pine or bitter tones in aroma.

Sadly, the flavor doesn't quite live up to the smell. It's good, but a bit one-note with grapefruit and an earthy, herbal aftertaste. None of the complexity of the aroma makes it to the beer. The aftertaste is slightly offputting.

Good mouthfeel, and a good beer.
Jun 27, 2009
Photo of Reagan1984
Reviewed by Reagan1984 from Massachusetts

4.35/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Thanks to Masterski for providing this in trade. Excellent trader!

Pours with a simple finger plus of head that hangs for a moment, then vanishes.. The beer is a slightly hazy amber color which really appears copper in color. No carbonation is visible. Some streaks of lacing cling.

Aroma is rather bright. Floral at first a bit of citrus, but mostly pine.

Very nice DPA. Balance is key here. Hops fall more on the pine side for me. Nice smooth malt character. You do sense the alcohol. The bitterness lingers nicely and you can feel the hop oils. My 2nd Flossmoor product and both have been very good.

Fairly bold mouth feel and again some hop oils detected. Mild carbonation.

Nicely drinkable and a great beer to kick back with and enjoy...

Well done!
Jun 05, 2009
Photo of Maction
Reviewed by Maction from Illinois

4.09/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: Almost completely opaque, a swampy orange-ish brown, showing a small, 2 cm foam head that quickly collapses into a film.

S: Smell is pretty boozy, with apparent alcohol, honey and citrus, baking sugar cookies, and pine.

T: Flavor starts with bitter, piney hops, moves to French bread malts, creamy in the middle, and a bitter but not drying finish.

M: Mouthfeel is heavy, but not thick, with a slippery coating on the cheeks.

D: Intense, but very drinkable beer, I had no problem pouring through the bomber rapidly.

Notes: Without any ABV info on the bottle, I assumed that this was much higher than 8%. The alcohol is a little too pronounced in the nose and taste for me, considering.
Jun 01, 2009
Photo of nickd717
Reviewed by nickd717 from California

3.92/5  rDev -6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
So I asked my dentist for advice awhile ago, and he said "Flossmoor" (or was it "floss more?"). Anyway I figured I'd take his advice and trade for some (thanks mrkanable!).

A - Bomber topped with black wax, with nice gold lettering. Pours a cloudy golden-amber with an off-white head.

S - Citrusy hops and sweet malt on the aroma.

T - Lots of Amarillo hops, highly citrusy, balanced with sweet caramel malt. Amarillo is one of my favorites so I'm a fan.

M - Nice medium-full body with average carbonation.

D - Very. I can down hops all day so I'd rate the drinkability high.
May 27, 2009
Photo of SpecialK088
Reviewed by SpecialK088 from Missouri

3.48/5  rDev -16.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
Poured from a bottle into a pint glass

Very cloudy copper 2 finger head that lingers about 1/2 finger. Looks like apple cider.

Hops alcohol and malt all seem to be about equal in the nose

Flavor starts out the same as the nose but the middle is pretty hoppy and the finish is real boozy. Malt sweetness is very subtle.

Good mouthfeel almost silky smooth Near heavy body.

To many IPA's for me to want this one on a regualr basis but I'm glad i got to try it.
May 23, 2009
Photo of naterock
Reviewed by naterock from Missouri

3.83/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
poured into a pint glass, cloudy brownish copper with a thin off-white head.

smells floral and sweet with an alcohol burn. Vanilla and some yeast.

Tastes overly boozy at first but gives way to a powerful malt sweetness and a citrusy hop bitterness in the end.

Mouth is oily and moderately carbonated, Drinks slow but smooth and easy. Kinda different for a DIPA but good nonetheless
May 23, 2009
Photo of wagenvolks
Reviewed by wagenvolks from Texas

4.27/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Many thanks (again) to JDV for hosting his kick-ass birthday tasting and supplying the kick-ass brew lineup! 22oz bomber into a tasting glass.

Pours a cloudy, peach-amber haze with a well-retained cap of light khaki head. Decent lacing left behind by the larger bubbles at the edges. Aroma is rife with mandarin orange & grapefruit zest from the hops, and a heavy presence of sweet, sugary caramel from the malts.

Flavor is as sweet as the aroma suggested. Caramel & honey malts lay down a solid backbone that blends nicely with a gentle, resinous hop note. Not much bitterness, but TONS of hop flavor. Interesting, especially given the IIPA style. Mouthfeel is creamy and smooth, with a near perfect carbonation level to the medium body. All in all, I found Flossmoor's X-IPA to be very drinkable, if but a bit on the sweet side. Still, the smoothness and excellent hop usage make for a tasty brew that I'd be happy to encounter again.
May 23, 2009
Photo of blackie
Reviewed by blackie from Oregon

4.12/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
a: opaquely hazy medium-amber in color, average smattering of tan head, looks nice enough

s: tropical hops with undertones of pine on a sweet, thick caramel body - rustic and grainy, some mild buttered biscuit, good stuff

m: full slick body and a light carbonation

t: chewy caramel grain body carries a massive dose of tropical fruit hop flavor, sweet caramel fizzles out to leave a bitter finish

d: just fine, a high-quality dipa

black-waxed bomber from the fuhrer of filth
May 22, 2009
Photo of errantnight
Reviewed by errantnight from District of Columbia

4.24/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
This surprise wedding present from Joe1510 helped pull me out of my BA quasi-hiatus (damn you, now I've wasted time today posting when I should be writing!). What a beer.

Pours a ruddy caramel, lightly hazy with barely a half a finger of head.

Aroma is an awesome explosion of peach and grapefruit forward madness, backed by hints of toffee sweetness and toast.

On the palate this is well balanced, an extremely easy, clean bitterness, a bit forward on some of the melanoidin notes that comes through very toffee-like filling in around what is still essentially a hop forward experience. Grapefruit and citrus and a bit of resin come through more than peach, here.

Mouthfeel is spot on... I thought the perceived light carbonation here would be a pitfall, but it's great on the mouth, nice lift without being prickly, smooth and drinkable.

I just couldn't stop drinking this in long, smooth pulls. Really enjoyed it. Flossmoor knows them some IPA goodness.
May 14, 2009
Photo of dukedevil0
Reviewed by dukedevil0 from Illinois

4.2/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Picked up a bomber from Whole Foods Northalsted in Chicago, IL.

A: Pours a dark orangy tint of amber with a finger of white colored head that settles down to remnants of froth and lacing left on the glass.

S: Grapefuit and citrus HOP overload in my nose for sure, but overload in a good way because I like it! Some caramel notes...this is one of the best smelling DIPAs I've ever had, smells like beer candy if there ever was such a thing

T: Similar to the smell but a lot more of a malt presence in the flavor; grapefruit, citrus, bitter hops, and major sweet malt bite...it's good, but if only the flavor was just like the smell! The more I drink the more the malt flavor seems to mellow on my tongue though which is good to me.

M: A very full bodied beer that's just below creamy, this loads up my palate for sure though.

D: Alcohol flavor isn't really much of an issue so that helps, but the malt bite that I don't typically go for in my DIPAs takes this a notch down in the desire to drink more category.
May 10, 2009
Photo of russpowell
Reviewed by russpowell from Arkansas

4.5/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Got this from joe1510, thanks Joe!!

Pours a hazed caramel with a pinky of sand colored head. Clears over time, very good head retention & above average lacing

S: Grapefruit, leafy & herbal hops, pineyness creeps in as this warms.

T: Pineapple, sweet oranges, herbal hops & bread fruit, pine nuts & dryness up front. A riot of tropical fruits continues as this warms with some pine, caramel & a touch of toffee lurking, plus a whisper of booze & dryness. Finishes with pink grapefruit, tangerines, dryness, pine & herbal hops, caramel & a touch of booze & astringency that really works

MF: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation & fantastic balance. Stickyness & WARMING SENSATION creeps in as this warms, almost pulls a 4.5

I could drink this all night, or until I pass out! One of the best DIPAs I've had in a long-long time!
May 03, 2009
X-IPA (Extreme) from Flossmoor Station Restaurant & Brewery
Beer rating: 92 out of 100 with 51 ratings