Here at BrewGeeks, we love homebrew just as much as the next monkey. Sometimes however, it's nice to grab a commercial craft brew just to put the style in perspective.
Tonight this monkey got to do just that!
Tonight this monkey got to do just that!
I'm talking about Green Flash Brewing Company's Palate Wrecker. I don't know if I'd consider myself a "hop head", mostly because I like too many other styles to slap that label on. I certainly love a great imperial IPA! I've had Stone Ruination, Lagunitas Hop Stoopid, Firestone Double Jack, Bell's Hopslam, Dogfish 90, and plenty of others. Nothing prepared me for this beer.
I'd like you to imagine for a second that you are dreaming. Not of oak casks and bananas like I do, but instead, that you are sucking on a pellet hop while running through a field filled with fresh hop bines that extend as far as the eye can see. This beer takes no prisoners.
To put some descriptors to it, the nose was super hoppy leading into citrus and pine. You can definitely smell and taste a few darker malts in there as well which attempt to balance the finish. I got hints of orange, tangerine and maybe peaches along with a little heat throughout. That 9.5% really grabs you.
I'd like you to imagine for a second that you are dreaming. Not of oak casks and bananas like I do, but instead, that you are sucking on a pellet hop while running through a field filled with fresh hop bines that extend as far as the eye can see. This beer takes no prisoners.
To put some descriptors to it, the nose was super hoppy leading into citrus and pine. You can definitely smell and taste a few darker malts in there as well which attempt to balance the finish. I got hints of orange, tangerine and maybe peaches along with a little heat throughout. That 9.5% really grabs you.
As you can see, I didn't fair very well. It's been 45 minutes and my tongue is still tingling. I think this means I'd probably stick to one of these a night...if I had any more!
This monkey is done.
This monkey is done.