Firestone Walker Luponic Distortion (Revolution No. 005)

Beer Name: Luponic Distortion Revolution No. 005
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: $1.99 for 12 oz. single

Date Canned: February 9, 2017
Date Purchased: April 1, 2017
Date Drank: April 1, 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. 005 (the fifth mix), available from February 2017 through May 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: "Revolution No. 005 is driven by a mix of five different hop varieties, led by an emerging American cultivar from the Yakima region. Together, these hops deliver a complex spectrum of ripe tropical fruit aromas with notes of guava, mango, pineapple, orange, blackberry, green tea and Meyer lemon. In true Luponic Distortion fashion, bitterness is moderate but snappy, with a balance of light malty-bready sweetness and a soft mouthfeel." Read more here!

REVIEW:

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

Smell (25%): Tropical grapefruit, pine, slight malt. 4/5

Taste (40%): Slight hoppy and light tropical/pine to start. More citrusy at the end. Good, but typical of a session-style IPA; seeking a bit more punch and flavor at the end of the day. 3.75/5

Mouthfeel (10%): Medium-light body, good carbonation. Slightly dry on the tongue. 4.25/5

Overall (20%): A good IPA. I liked that Luponic Distortion returned to a more tropical experience this time around. Still, it didn't blow me away or greatly impress me. If anything, it reaffirmed my love for slightly stronger, more flavorful IPAs, and any session-style IPAs that can leave me with a big grin on my face are the exception to the rule. 3.75/5

Final Weighted Rating: 3.9/5