The Swill: Union Jack IPA
The Still: Firestone Walker Brewing Company
Paso Robles, California
http://www.firestonewalker.com
The Drill: India Pale Ale, 12oz bottle, 7.5% ABV
The Spill: The Union Jack pours a buttery gold with a slightly off-white head. An intense, floral, hop aroma hits the nose immediately, and prepares the drinker for the taste. Hoppy and floral, the body is all IPA, with a sharp, clean finish and just a touch of buttery malt at the end. Nothing out of the ordinary for an IPA, but well-crafted nonetheless.
Says Bill: This beer has a flavor aspect that I like to call "soapy." It sounds weird, but I'll try to explain: the clean aroma of the alcohol, fused with the perfume from the hops, creates both a taste and olfactory sensation that reminds me sort of Ivory soap. It's a little astringent, and it often turns folks off, but it's something that can easily become an acquired taste, hence the plethora of hop heads out there. Next time you try a pale ale or an IPA, see if you can't pick out what I'm talking about, and share your thoughts. Maybe there's a better descriptor out there that I haven't thought of yet.
Refill?: I'm not saying it'll remove stains, but a few might flush out your plumbing pretty nicely: 3 taps out of 5.