Ithaca Flower Power Appreciation

Easily a top-3 IPA for me. Love this stuff!

 

That's good news, but from the location, it sounds like your purchases have come from retailers serviced by High Grade's northern location - "The other distributorship services Morris, Sussex, Warren and sections of Passaic Counties and is located in Randolph, New Jersey."

That's not to say that their main S. Brunswick location hasn't also gotten more Flower Power, just that I haven't found it in any of the southern Middlesex retailers I frequent. Cranbury BuyRite, for one, hasn't had Flower Power for years (altho' there have been suggestions of a conflict between the two companies when talking to HG employees).

 

Flower Power is a knockout when it's young. Such a big tropical presence in the hops. If you exclude all the Vermont hammers, I'd say Flower Power is the best single IPA on the right coast.

I had a growler of Flower Power brought to me from the brewery from a keg that was filled the same day. It was ridiculously good.

 

Thanks for the tip. I had never heard of Halftime, so I googled it. Looks like a great idea. The availability of beer by internet/mail order could drive me to the poorhouse.

 

Have you been to Canal's in Lawrence? or Wegman's? Pretty sure I've seen some there recently but I haven't checked bottle dates.

 

Love FP. It seems each time I drink it, I get different flavors. My past batch hit me with a ton of pineapple. I never got that much pineapple before.

 

Yup. They have a surprisingly high number of the Beers of Fame if you're into that sort of thing.

 

Served it at my wedding and it was a big hit. It is my favorite widely available IPA. When it is extremely fresh, it is one of the best IPA's out there.

 

Had a bunch this summer up at Cornell. Damn good. Top 5 for me.

 

Flower Power is my favorite widely available fresh IPA. my friends love it to, and they are no where near as into craft beer as I am.

 

I just had some on tap at DeCicco's in brewster NY on monday and it was so fresh, really one of the best single IPA's out there. My buddy i was with was having it for the first time and he sailed through 2 glasses of it in 10 minutes, after shopping for some beers to bring back to CT he ended up buying a growler of it.....CHEERS

 

Flower Power is definitely special. I remember when it used to be a 8% abv summer seasonal, thankfully they made it a year-round brew. It's funny because I remember in 2009 it had over 200 reviews, but it had ZERO buzz and a lower score (still good). In 2009, I remember starting a Flower Power thread, and there were basically crickets, lol. Out of left field, it became one of the more popular example of the styles. I think they've gone through a couple recipe changes over the years, obviously for the better. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong..

 

Lot 23 IPA from Evolution Brewing is very close to FP in taste.

 

I've heard that it's somewhat different when you get it fresh from the brewery, like it's comparatively unfiltered or something—is there any truth to that? I've had it from the bottle, on tap, and have been to the brewery but never consumed it on premise or had a growler filled on premise, either.

For whatever reason, I find it relatively difficult to find fresh-fresh FP in central NY. Do they use bottled-on dates exclusively, now?

Last complaint: I just wish they'd make Thirteen year-round. What an astounding fucking brew.

 

Agreed. We get plenty of it in OH and it's solid. Not in the same league as White Rajah or Head Hunter, but more of a rival to Columbus IPA. Very enjoyable beer.

 

I love FP too, but can never find it. It is so scarce.

 

Except for the stupid label, I love FP as well. I'm fortunate that the local bottle shop where I used to live in PA almost always has it fresh. I find myself bringing back a couple of 6'ers every time I go home for a visit.

It may not be better, but I've recently rebuilt my love for Victory Hop Wallop. It beat out Ranger, Torpedo, and Loose Cannon as my new "house" ipa.

 

Fresh Hop Wallop is a very, very underappreciated beer.

 

Picked up a case at super buy rite last week in Jersey City. My buddy and I couldn't get over the fact that the "bottled" date on the case was exactly one week prior.

 

Every now and then they offer an unfiltered version at the brewery from what I hear, but mine was standard issue. It's just that, when you get it super super fresh, this beer absolutely reeks like tropical fruits and citrus. It's unbelievable.

They use a ticked-month on the side of the label. I believe they go out 3 months.