Sierra Nevada Brewing Company – Flipside Red IPA 2014

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company – Flipside Red IPA 2014

Red IPA
BJCP Style: American IPA
ABV: 6.2%
IBU: 60
Bottled
Best By Date: 12/26/14
Tasting on: 9/26/14
Glass: Craft Pint

Aroma: Hops dominate the aroma with overtones of grapefruit and hints of pineapple and dried papaya, along with a slight soapiness, although I would not consider it an off flavor.  A slight sweetness in the undertones. 9/10

Appearance: Dark orange with hues of red and brown.  The head is a very light tan and there is good clarity throughout. 10/10

Flavor: Subdued hops in the beginning lead into a surprisingly dry, malty middle, before the driness and bitterness seem to all but disappear in the ending. The grapefruit tones of the aroma make a return in the aftertaste to cap everything off. There is a very balanced, baseline bitterness throughout the beer. 19/20

Mouthfeel: Medium-heavy with balanced carbonation. 8/10

Overall Impression: A hoppy beer that is well-balanced by a dry maltiness in the first half before the bitterness of the hops overshadow the malt in the second half. The beer hints at sweetness throughout, but mainly lets the hops and malt reign over this enjoyable fall seasonal. 47/50

Final Score: 93%