Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery Sparklepuff Galaxy Starfighter, Defender of the Universe – Triple IPA at 10.2% ABV | 34 IBU (C$4.81 at Collective, 473 ml, packaged on 12-Jul-2021, acquired 3-Sep-2021, reviewed 11-Sep-2021)
Appearance: clear particulate-laden pale gold with three fingers of loose pale yellow head, good retention, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: mild, stone fruit, citrus zest, pale malt. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (7/10) Palate: medium slick body, moderate carbonation, lingering warming finish. (3/5)
I’ve had this style enough times that I grudgingly capitulate to it being a style – but I still don’t like it. That’s not to say I don’t like high ABV’s, or for that matter, getting drunk: I like both very much, and reject modern attempts to demonize either. (And, for that matter, I also have to acknowledge this brewery as being one of my first introductions to the entire concept of craft beer, a debt which I can in truth never repay.) Not only that, the brewer web site specifies the hop schedule with sufficient precision that one might actually be able to reproduce it, were one so inclined: Simcoe, Idaho-7, Three Dry Hop Additions (Fermentation Days 4, 8 & 12) Simcoe, Idaho 7, Vic Secret. That being said, this really still is a bit twee – if that can be said about a street urchin who would cheerfully crack you on the head and steal your wallet. Despite its enthusiastic (and wayward urchin encouraging) ABV, the aroma is relatively restrained, which doesn’t particularly impress me. I mean, yeah, I’d have another, if only because I’m half off my ass on the first. (14/20)
This will be my 5,055th unique Untappd check-in.
7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
