Full Contact is Elysian’s bigger, bolder take on the hazy IPA, and the name fits. At 8.8% it is firmly in imperial territory, but it drinks with a sneaky smoothness that makes the alcohol easy to underestimate. Respect it, and enjoy it.

The basics

• Brewery: Elysian Brewing Co. (Seattle, WA)
• Style: Imperial Hazy IPA
• ABV: 8.8%
• IBU: 60

What to expect

Full Contact pours a medium straw gold with a soft, semi-translucent haze and a fluffy white head. The hop bill is Centennial, Simcoe, and Strata, and they deliver a fruit-forward punch: tangerine and grapefruit up front, honeydew melon and peach behind that, with floral and lightly resinous aromas weaving through.

The mouthfeel is medium-bodied, juicy, and a little creamy, which is where the beer’s sneaky character comes from. The bitterness stays subtle for an imperial IPA, letting the fruit do the talking, and the finish leans into gentle earthy hop notes with a whisper of something like cream soda. It is a rich beer that never feels boozy, which is either a feature or a warning depending on your evening plans.

Our rating

8.9/10

Rated by Alex (8.9), one of his highest scores, and deserved. If you like your IPAs big, fruity, and smooth, Full Contact delivers the full experience the name promises.