Firestone Walker Luponic Distortion (Revolution No. 003)

Beer Name: Luponic Distortion Revolution No. 003
Brewery: Firestone Walker Brewing Co. (Paso Robles, CA)
ABV: 5.9%
How sold: Six-packs (12 oz. bottles and 12 oz. cans); on draft
Where bought: Total Wine & More (Vancouver, WA)
Price: $1.79 for 12 oz. single

Date Bottled: September 13, 2016
Date Purchased: November 5, 2016
Date Opened/Drank: November 12, 2016
IBUs: 59

When brewed? Limited-time beer. Part of its Rotating Hop Series, an ever-evolving mix of experimental hops and will be remixed every 90 days. This is Revolution No. 003 (the third mix), available from September 2016 through November 2016. Learn more here!

Where distributed: Firestone Walker distributes to several states. Find out if Firestone Walker is found in your area (dark grey is where the beers are found!)

What's on the Website: "The lead hip in Revolution 003 is a new German variety that Brewmaster Matt Brynildson first encountered in its experimental infancy while traveling through the Hallertau region during the hop harvest three years ago. 'I fell in love with it then, and I've been following its development ever since,' he says. 'It's just loaded with this juicy mandarin orange character that is so distinctively German, unlike anything you could grow here in the states.' Luponic Distortion Revolution 003 offers a mandarin orange and ripe peach character with ample supporting notes of citrus, stone fruit and pineapple. The overall profile is round and juicy, leaning heavily on ripe fruits with minimal dank or piney edges." Read more here!

REVIEW:

Appearance (5%): Poured clear golden into a pint glass, frothy white head, some lacing. 4.5/5

Smell (25%): Very balanced attack of floral, pineapple, orange, and trace malt. 4.5/5

Taste (40%): Follows the nose almost exactly. Flavor lasts all the way through the aftertaste. Great flavor here, considering it is 5.9%. Very enjoyable. I would love at least two of these during the game. 4.5/5

Mouthfeel (10%): Medium-light body, significant carbonation. Refreshing, juicy, a bit of bitterness. 4.5/5

Overall (20%): An excellent IPA. In my book, right on par with the Revolution 001. While I was not as big a fan of the Revolution 002, Firestone bounced back strong in the fall with their third edition. Again, looking forward to seeing the next beer in the series! 4.5/5

Final Weighted Rating: 4.5/5