Style: IPA (American)

ABV: 7.0

91/100

Aroma:	12
Appearance:	3
Flavor:	17
Mouthfeel:	4

BKS Artisan Ales Current Past (Blue Label)

What the brewers say

“West Coast–style IPA dry-hopped with Mosaic, Chinook, and Nelson Sauvin.”

What our panel thought

“Punchy from the get-go. Nose is a strong blend of hop pellets, Lemonheads, white grapes. The flavor is similar but with less dimension. Biscuit malt flavors are a canvas for fruity/piney/slightly herbaceous hops. Firm and satisfying bitterness. Leans sweet, with a full mouthfeel.”

What our editors thought

“Big, funky passion-fruit nose with some intriguing phenolic undercurrents. Sparkling, funky, bitter note at the front of the sip resolves into sweaty fruit that scrubs quickly.”

Review printed in: IPA: Bold, Cold & Controlled (Spring 2023) (View All Issues)

Print Shelf Talker

How We Review

REVIEWS FOR YOU >

BKS Artisan Ales Meyer Kölsch-Style Ale

“Floral, herbal, citrus-hop bouquet on the nose. More floral, potpourri hop flavors dominate. A Champagne-like impression on the tongue. Dialed-back bitterness lets the hop flavor shine. Crisp finish, with a hint of light grain, a touch of yeast acidity. A creative, modern take on the style.”

BKS Artisan Ales Chur Thing

“Sticky and dank slap you up front, but as you sit with it, papaya and mango are there, too. Velvety mouthfeel and a touch of sweetness work well with the beautifully constructed hop profile.”

BKS Artisan Ales Galactic Escapism

“Lemon-tangerine aroma; hints of pepper-like spice, green onion, touch of pine. OJ-forward sweetness in the sip fades to reveal pepper, garlic, pine, light woodiness. Mouthfeel lacks softness to round the rough edges. Finish is a bit disjointed and nondescriptly bittersweet.”

FRESH BEERS >

The best new craft beers available in a beer store near you. Sponsored content.

New Belgium Dominga Grapefruit

New Belgium wood cellar blender Lauren Limbach was gifted a new foeder that she aptly named Dominga—a play on the Spanish word for Sunday. She first created a mimosa-inspired golden sour called “Dominga: Goddess of Brunch.” Now we are excited to introduce the cocktail-inspired version, Dominga Grapefruit Paloma. Inspired by the classic cocktail of Mexico, Dominga packs a refreshing combo of bright grapefruit and lime flavors, along with agave and a pinch of salt.

Firestone Walker Oaktoberfest

Oaktoberfest is our oak-inspired homage to the great German tradition of Oktoberfest. We go the extra mile of maturing this beer in French oak barrels to create an amazingly smooth mouthfeel. The result is a classic German festbier with a hint of West Coast hoppiness. Grab your stein, don your lederhosen, and enjoy!

Firestone Walker Parabola ’24

Parabola is always a beast of a beer, with intense flavors of black cherry, dark chocolate, vanilla, and roast coffee—yet each annual release also bears its own subtle imprint. For this latest edition, we aged the beer for a year in 12-year Elijah Craig barrels. These coveted bourbon barrels imparted signature notes of charred oak, caramel, and cinnamon, taking the Parabola experience to new heights. Pour some out in your favorite snifter; behold the impossibly opaque color as you allow it to warm up a bit; and then let the dark magic of Parabola stun your palate with its unrivaled flavor and complexity.

Sierra Nevada Cosmic Little Thing Hazy Double IPA

For the latest in the Hazy IPA series, ride Sierra Nevada’s interstellar wave of tropical flavor in this Cosmic Little Thing, a hazy nebula glowing with Comet, Strata, and Helios hops for notes of citrus, berries, and lychee. Head into orbit with this 8 percent ABV hazy double IPA before the next Hazy IPA rotator hits. Look for Cosmic Little Thing in six-packs and 19.2 oz singles.

Firestone Walker Cosmic Crusher Juicy Imperial IPA

Out-of-this-world flavor that packs a punch—take a journey with Cosmic Crusher. “Cosmic Crusher is our crazy adventure into the realm of imperial juicy IPAs,” says brewmaster Matt Brynildson. Cosmic Crusher is built around two ultra-tropical hops—Galaxy and Strata. The result is a level of flavor, aroma, and mouthfeel that can only materialize at high strength, crossing the line into a whole new cosmos of punchy mango and pineapple character. SKUs available: 12 oz six-pack cans, 19.2 oz single serve, and Mind Haze Variety Pack.

Firestone Walker Luponic Distortion

Luponic Distortion is the Firestone Walker trailblazer that continues to break the rules, back for the first time since 2021. The classic Luponic Distortion base recipe returns with an all-new hop blend to deliver a fresh blast from the past. Brewed with a secret blend of new-age hops, the 2024 edition of Luponic Distortion turns up the volume with mind-bending flavors of lychee, peach, nectarine, and strawberry. Available exclusively in the Beer Before Glory IPA Mixed Pack.