Our Tastes-- Flipside Red IPA

Just picked up this new "seasonal" offering from Sierra Nevada and even the label for Flipside is cool. Color is as it states, a very amber ruby with a nose of earthy citrus hops. Using Magnum as bittering and Simcoe, Citra and Centennial (thanks Hop Union) to finish gives this one the instant paper towel NOT Kleenex of hop noses! I can't seem to get over the "dirty" nose on this one, it really sets this beer apart. The lattice is very nice, but then again Sierra doesn't play patty cakes on their hoppy beers either. This is a departure from the norm on rotating seasonal palates in that the wheat, two-row base can't be appreciated like many of the marzen/okfest malt bill beers and the hop profile attempts to hold back the sun from the inevitable pass into the Southern hemisphere. Now, mind you I have a black IPA in the fermenter and my next brew is Reinke's, where eventually stout mouth will appear and it'll be all heavy malt till spring like a slumbering bear, but this keeps my palate on the light bite for now. 6.2%abv, I hope you enjoyed it Dr. Caldwell, should take your mind off of the brown stain up to your elbow;)