So in our little group of beer enthusiasts we like to call Honest Craft Beer Reviews, we’ve had a debate going on since early August. That’s because early August seems to be the time fall beers start to hit the shelves these days, and the consensus is that that is just too early. Perhaps picking up on that sentiment, enter Chico, California’s Sierra Nevada brewing company with their Flipside Red IPA.
Sierra Nevada describes Flipside as a beer for the “in-between-season”, the time of year that late summer starts to recede into early fall. It features the amber malts so beloved in fall, but also the fruity hoppiness of a good summer IPA. In many ways, it reminds me of a beer that I enjoyed back in January, Sierra Nevada Beer Camp #88: Hop Secret 644 Red Wheat IPA.
That beer was an exclusive to Taco Mac, and somewhat on the same idea as Flipside, though not identical as it used some different hops and was stronger in alcohol content.
Sierra Nevada Flipside Red IPA is made with caramel, wheat, chocolate, and two-row pale malts. It is hopped with magnums for bittering (early addition) and Centennial, Simcoe, and Citra hops for finishing. The beer has an alcohol content of 6.2% by volume and 60 IBUs. I paid $8.99 for a six-pack.
Sierra Nevada Flipside Red IPA pours to a, well, red color, ruby red to be exact, with a thick creamy head formation and an absolutely delicious nose packed with juicy-fruit tropical fruit notes. Taking a sip, the beer has a delightful chewy stewed-malt character up front, with slightly nutty malt accents quickly following. The hops come roaring in with a passion-fruit like aroma and flavor, grapefruit and a bit of resin and then a sharp, biting bitterness in the finish. This beer is just packed with fruit, and I love the way that the sweet red malts work with the sharp dry hops, too.
Flipside Red IPA is just an amazing beer, one of the best beers I’ve tasted all year. These days, people seem to talk about the Stones and Dogfish heads and Alchemists and Brew Dogs of the beer world, but I’ll match Sierra Nevada against any of them, any time. Try a Flipside Red IPA and see if you don’t agree with me.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft