Many years ago (2007) I experience what is to this day, one of my favorite IPAs. The beer came from Firestone Walker in Paso Robles, CA and the beer was called Union Jack IPA. That beer was one of several beers at the time, that really shaped and formed my love for hoppy beers and it is a beer and brewery that I’ve followed (and enjoyed) ever since.
In Nov 2019, I was lucky enough to interview Firestone Walker Brewmaster Matt Brynildson, and I knew then that he shared the love of all things hoppy in beers and that we’d be in for some IPA treats in the future from Matt. Jump forward to today and I can’t tell you how excited I was to get my hands on some new Firestone Walker Hopnosis IPA.
If you’re not familiar with this beer, you soon will be. Hopnosis IPA is brewed with Mosaic Cryo Hops pellets and double dry-hopped with Idaho 7 & Nelson hop varieties from new Zealand and the Pacific Northwest; so the hop force is strong with this beer….and according to Matt, “Hopnosis represents everything we’ve learned about hopping techniques over the years, all rolled into one beer,” said Brewmaster Matt Brynildson. “This is our ultimate new-school expression of the West Coast IPA. This is where the West Coast style is headed,” Brynildson said. “Aromatic hops and new hopping techniques are driving the future. On top of that, Cryo Hops® are opening up fresh possibilities. Now you can get all of the ‘oomph’ of hop saturation that you want from a West Coast IPA, but with less of that classic bitterness, more of these new-age hop flavors, and a whole new level of balance and drinkability.”
Of course I can’t wat to try this beer…so off we go…
Firestone Walker Hopnosis IPA
ABV: 6.7%
IBU: 55
Style: IPA
Packaging: 12oz cans
Appearance: Clear yellow golden
Aroma: Mango, passion fruit, apricot & resinous pine
Mouthfeel: Medium light
Taste: Tropical fruits, sticky mango, sharp citrus and earthy dank hops
Overall: Hopnosis IPA is simply a very good IPA and a great way to reimagine a modern day west coast IPA. It has all of the earthy resinous piney hops late in each sip with all of the sticky tropical fruits, mango and citrus up front making for a great beer with a distinctive hoppy combination of flavors. Overall the beer felt really fresh and clean and the flavors on-board from the cryo and regular hops make for a really enjoyable IPA experience.
Firestone Walker Hopnosis IPA is available now in 12oz canned six and twelve packs as well as 19.2oz cans and of course on draft…so get out there and try it for yourself. And when you do try it, be sure to let us know what YOU think.
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