Style: IPA

ABV: 5.9 IBU: 59.0

96/100

Aroma:	11
Appearance:	3
Flavor:	20
Mouthfeel:	4

Firestone Walker Luponic Distortion No. 009

What the brewers say

“Revolution No. 009 is a showcase for five ‘public-domain’ hops from the United States and Germany, offering a fresh twist on some not-so-familiar favorites.”

What our panel thought

Aroma: “Soft fruity hoppiness, orange, hints of apple with an underlying grainy Pils malt character. Reminiscent of a hoppy pale lager. The retronasal presents a touch of lime and grass.”

Flavor: “Burst of hops up front. Clean toasted malt character plays supporting role for pine, orange, pineapple hops notes. Just the right amount of bitter, medium mineral finish, very dry.”

Overall: “On the lighter side of the category (think session IPA or pale ale), but very pleasant, clean, and well- balanced. A refreshing beer that isn’t thin and watery, but isn’t overwhelming and palate-wrecking either. Great hot-weather beer. The crispness made this a very welcoming session beer.”

What our editors thought

Review printed in: The Annual IPA Issue (August-September 2018) (View All Issues)

Print Shelf Talker

How We Review

REVIEWS FOR YOU >

Firestone Walker Brewing Company Luponic Distortion 006

__Aroma:__ “Wonderful subtle rose petals and herbal hops up front with orange notes sneaking in and fading to pleasant tangerine, tropical notes, and pine on the finish. Clean, bright, pleasant.” __Flavor:__ “Well balanced and hops-forward, appropriate for style. Malt is simple and clean with a light touch of toast. Bitterness is forward and lingers, inviting the next sip. Hops flavor is complex: grapefruit, orange, and a really subtle tangerine come through up front. Finishes with a blend of base malt and tropical fruit. Nice pillow-like mouthfeel that dries out nicely.” __Overall:__ “Super tasty, well-executed IPA with restrained bitterness, but the hops flavor shines through with some big citrus notes and a floral note. Hops dominate this beer, of course, but the cracker malt note really helps balance. Mouthfeel is fantastic!”

Firestone Walker Pivo Pilsner

Floral, citrus-like, orange-Creamsicle nose. Hops flavor lingers throughout on a thin body. Medium to medium-dry finish brings it all together.

Firestone Walker Luponic Distortion 012

A classic West Coast IPA–lovers IPA. The dank, vegetal, and piney aromas of onion, green pepper, and spruce tips carry through to the flavor and integrate well. The malt profile is noticeable, but not sweet, giving the beer enough body to stand up to the assertive hops notes yet retaining a supportive role. The finish is dry and bitter but pleasantly mouth-coating.

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.