Firestone Walker Luponic Distortion (Revolution No. 004)

Beer Name: Luponic Distortion Revolution No. 004
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: Saraveza (Portland, OR)
Price: $2.00 for 12 oz. single

Date Bottled: December 21, 2016
Date Purchased: February 26, 2017
Date Opened/Drank: March 5, 2017
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. 004 (the fourth mix), available from November 2016 through February 2017. 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: "Four South African hops take the lead in Revolution 004. Two are experimental hops with pronounced tropical fruit qualities, along with distinct white grape and floral notes. The third hop presents a lively passion fruit character, while the fourth is more classically noble in profile. Revolution 004 is a departure from the more citrusy stone fruit personality of Revolution 003, but as always you will sense common threads. And once again, all of these bold fruit aromas and flavors are derived wholly from pure hops." Read more here!

REVIEW:

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

Smell (25%): Tropical (stone fruit, pine, and citrus), with floral. 4/5

Taste (40%): Much more floral and (at least to me) slight yeasty malt I would find more in an English IPA or Belgian IPA. The citrus and tropical come in more from the middle of the drinking experience through the aftertaste. 3.5/5

Mouthfeel (10%): Medium-light body, good carbonation. Refreshing. 4.25/5

Overall (20%): An average to good IPA. Firestone was correct; they definitely departed from the Revolution No. 003 style and presented one that I frankly was largely indifferent to. I did like the citrus nature it took on after the initial flavor wave. Not sure if drinking this 74 days after bottling affected the experience in any meaningful way. I quickly moved on after tasting this one, though. 3.5/5

Final Weighted Rating: 3.75/5