Green Flash West Coast IPA

I've been hearing good things about Green Flash's West Coast IPA for quite some time now, so when I got the chance to try it on tap, I jumped at the opportunity.  My husband, who loves IPAs, was with me, so he got a chance to try it, too.  We've enjoyed Green Flash's Le Freak and Palate Wrecker, and I think it's safe to say we'll be buying a case of West Coast IPA in the near future:

Vittles:
American IPA
7.3% abv
95 IBUs

Appearance: 8/10
It's a lovely burnt-orange/amber color.  It was served with a thin off-white head that fell quickly, so that was a little disappointing.

Aroma: 24/25
This is a very aromatic beer, and what I smell bold and assertive resinous, piney, citrusy (grapefruit?), floral, and fruity notes.  And did I mention pine?  Cause there's a lot of that delicious pine aroma -- it's probably the most prominent of the hop scents.  There is also a subtle malt backbone that is unobtrusive but nicely balances the hoppiness.  I can only imagine what this IPA would smell like as fresh as it can get.  Yum!

Taste: 37/40
The hops flavors mirror the aromas very nicely, but there's more complexity in the taste than there was in the nose.  The hop characteristics are very prominent and strong, especially the pine and resin flavors.  It's a good thing I was in the mood for a solid hop bomb!  The malt background matches well with the hops flavors but doesn't get in the way.  What kind of surprised me is that for all the strong and pungent hops, it really isn't a very bitter brew.  The aftertaste is moderately bitter, mainly piney, and has good linger.

Mouthfeel: 8/10
Medium-bodied, slightly syrupy, with a dry finish.  The moderate levels of carbonation add a bit of texture on the tongue but don't bring any sting.

Style: 5/5
It's a damn good example of the kinds of flavors and aromas you should expect from an American IPA.  I really wish I could taste this stuff fresh.  Maybe I'll add that to my bucket list.

Drinkability: 8/10
At 7.3% abv, it's hard to have more than 1-2 of these at a time, but the flavors are so strong that it coats your palate for quite a long time afterwards.  It certainly doesn't taste like a 7.3% beer, since the flavor focus is on the hops, not the alcohol, and that makes it a bit more drinkable.

Overall: 90/100
This is a great beer, and I'm glad I got a chance to try it on tap.  I think if I had gotten it in a bottle, it might've sat around longer than it should, resulting in a weaker hop presence when I finally cracked it open.  Fresh is really the way to go for a top-notch IPA.

Cheers!