Author Ganjazilla

Fuelato from Connected California

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Fuelato from Connected California via Connected Bellflower on 9/25/19. THC tested out to 22.95%. Purchased for One whole American Dollar on special. It’s hard for me to do a review on a G but since I got this one on special I figured I’d give it a shot. From what I’ve been told, this is the same cross as Alien Labs Area 41 so I may draw some comparisons here and there between the two as I go. The buds here are a little squished from their journey in the bag which is really a point against bags. I know it might be cost prohibitive to put Gs in jars but I feel like it’s best for preserving the nug/triches overall. The surface is a familiar light green with dark brown hairs coupled with a similar layer of triches that give them a slightly yellowish tint. The buds themselves look more pine tree like as opposed to the shrub like buds found in the Area 41 jar.

Out of the bag, while faint, I do detect a slightly sweet lemon smell. On breaking the nug this sugary sweetness mildly dominates the scent profile with a very faint smell of lemon in the background. On the finger grind the sugary sweetness still takes center stage while that lemon is hanging out in the wings. Breaking it down by hand was a little more difficult than it was with the Area 41, which again, I’m going to pin on being squished in the bag. It also didn’t leave any sort of stickiness on the fingers nor lingering triches. The headchange is solid but nothing like the near one hitter quitter status I experienced with Area 41. I was able to smoke a couple bowls back to back and while it’s heavy, it’s not debilitating, and it does have a feel good euphoric aspect to it. You can function and focus if need be while still feeling that pressure behind the eyes and down into the body. It might be a little too heavy for a wake and bake but I’d say it’s a decent herb for any time of day. That said all things being equal, if it is indeed the same cross as Area 41, I have to give this one to Alien Labs. If not, on it’s own merits it’s a fairly decent herb but one I was glad to get on special and may be hesitant to cop at the full ticket, especially if it comes in a bag.

Area 41 from Alien Labs

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Area 41 from Alien Labs via Connected Bellflower on 9/25/19. THC tested out to 25.89%. Purchased for $80 minus 20% first time patient discount. It seems like every review I’ve read on Area 41 has been overwhelmingly positive so when I saw Connected Bellflower had it on deck for their Grand Opening I figured it was time to jump in and see what’s what. The buds in this batch are beautiful light green shrub like boulders with dark reddish brown hairs that are fairly numerous but nearly go unnoticed at points as they’re camouflaged by a dense layer of triches that give the surface a slightly yellowish hue.

On opening the jar the scent nearly leaps out and bops you on the nose with a gorgeous bouquet of sweet fruits that I’ve come to describe as “that foreign fruit market smell” with just a hint of citrus in the background. On breaking the nug I pick up on a lemony sweetness that really zings the nostrils. Breaking it down by hand it really widens out into an array of citrus scents while it also leaves so many huge triches on your fingers they nearly feel like grains of salt between them. The inhale is smooth and I don’t detect really any sort of a taste but the exhale is something else. Not only is it this delicious lemon fuel but it’s the only herb I can recall that leaves such a strong aftertaste in your mouth. I feel like I was tasting it for a good 2-3 minutes after I’d taken my last rip. The headchange is a real wallop and I can understand why it has such a positive reputation amongst my reviewer buds. After only two rips I found myself absolutely lost in the sauce. Watching TV I started to space out so hard at points that I’d go literally slack jawed and only on snapping back into reality for a few brief moments at a time would I realize it. I’d say it’s good herb to smoke any time you want to get sent straight to space as It does indeed smack like a mack truck. Area 41 really is a fantastic herb and while I would have a hard time paying the normal ticket on the regular I think I’d be down to splurge on it now and then. If I ever find it on sale, I’m definitely going to be there in a heart beat. Fantastic work on this one Alien Labs, you more than killed it on this batch, you murdered it threw it in a ditch and lit it on fire.

GG4 from Nug

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GG4 from Nug via Tropicanna on 9/25/19. THC tested out to 22%. Purchased for $40 plus tax minus 20% first time discount. Nug is a brand that I’ve seen in multiple stores since the dawn of prop 64, so I decided to jump in with what is now considered a classic, Gorilla Glue #4. The nugs in this batch have a flatter and more stretched out look which is similar in appearance to the GG4 I remember getting from Grateful Meds DTLA back in 2014. The surface is a fairly consistent light green with only the occasional dark lilts. Burnt amber pistils appear sporadically in small bunches across the budscape with an ample amount of triches giving it a surprising sheen in direct light.

The nose out of the jar is an earthy musk with just a hint of pine in the background. On the nug break that pine smell gets louder as it’s joined by a bit of lemony sweetness. On the hand breakdown it leaves a nice stickiness on the fingers and I pick up on a lemon cleaner scent with a bit of that earthy must kicking around in the background. The inhale is smooth but surprisingly I didn’t pick up on any flavor on the way in. On the exhale I catch an earthy pine. The heachange is very middle of the road so I’d say the “anytime” label Nug put on the jar is accurate. It doesn’t smack so much as meander its way to an adequate buzz but it’s very complimentary to your current state. If you’re tired, this bud isn’t going to give you energy, and if you’re motivated to take on the day it won’t sap you of that either. For the ticket, it’s an okay buzz and one I wouldn’t mind repeating at some point in the future, but there’s a lot of good quality herb in that range so I’m not exactly jumping at the opportunity to grab it again. That said, I am curious to check out more offerings from Nug as their tickets tend to be reasonable, especially for the quality I found here. Good work Team Nug! I look forward to seeing what I come across from you next.

Crescendo from THC Design

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Crescendo from THC Design via Tropicanna on 9/25/19. THC tested out to 30.84%. Purchased for $40 plus tax minus 20% for first time discount. When I saw THC Design had a sativa floating around testing out to over 30% I knew I had to get my hands on it. While I know THC percentages don’t mean everything, they do mean something, so my interested was extremely piqued. When you open the jar you’re greeted by mass of smaller not so dense buds making the container look extremely full. The surface of the herb is a fairly uniform light green with occasional hints of dark green with rare orange pistils making their way to the top of the tiny nug canopy and a decent amount of triches that slightly change the look and give it this sort of yellowish tinge.

The nose out of the jar is a strong peppery must with a very faint fruitiness in the background. On the nug break you get that pepper smell still but that light fruity sweetness intensifies just a bit. On the finger grind the pepper smell is relegated to the background and you’re just left with that fruity sweetness, but it’s not too intense, it’s very pleasant yet mild in nature. The buds break down well by hand as they have the density of popcorn and will leave a trich film on your fingers afterward. The inhale is smooth and I catch that pepper making itself known again while on the exhale I get a nice earthy musty finish. The headchange is awesome and exactly what I’m looking for when it comes to sativas. It comes on fast and has a nice thwap that you can feel in the front of your forehead and on the top of your eyes but also brings a fantastic clear headed energy that will allow you to happily dive in to any given task at hand. It quickly became my preferred wake and bake smoke and I think that says a lot on its own. THC Design knocked this one out of the park on every level. From the ticket, to the smoke, to the headchange this one ticks all the boxes for a sativa. I’ll definitely be picking up some more soon. Excellent work to the team at THC Design!

Pie Face OG from Ember Valley

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Pie Face OG from Ember Valley via Tropicanna on 9/25/19. THC tested out to 23.39%. Purchased for $55 plus tax minus 20% first time discount. I’ve been aware of Ember Valley for quite some time now. They’re putting out a heavy arsenal of firepower that has impressed a few of my reviewer cohorts so I’m stoked to finally get my hands on some. This batch is extremely dense and there’s barely any give to the squeeze. These tightly packed buds have a beautiful light green landscape that’s accented by rich purple hues and tightly wound auburn pistils that push their way to a surface that’s coated in a light frosting of petite triches.

On opening the jar you’re slapped in the face with a smell that seems to go mute near immediately. It’s honestly a bit of a head scratcher but there is this sweet fruity scent that hits your nose at first that’s quickly relegated to the background as this pleasant rubber smell comes in and takes over. I haven’t smoked a lot of hash, but it’s that new pencil eraser rubber like smell that reminds me of old school hash in Amsterdam. On the nug break that sweetness becomes even more faint and while the rubber smell remains it seems slightly more muted as well. On the hand break down it actually seems to dissipate even more and it’s really hard to gauge the smell, it’s one of the more difficult to nail down scent profiles I’ve come across, but it does leave a nice bit of stickiness on the fingers after you’re done with it. The inhale is smooth has that rubber hashy taste as expected and on the exhale I feel like the rubber taste kind of widens out into this nice deep fuel like finish. As for the headchange, this was honestly one of the heaviest creepers I’ve experienced in recent memory. You can easily burn through back to back bowls but only minutes after that second bowl will you really start to feel the effects of this Pie Face OG. In a group chat with some reviewer pals I described it as feeling “like it sneaks up behind you methodically and puts a rag soaked in slow acting ether over your mouth”. It took me a while to put that sentence together while in grips of this flower’s effects. It was hard to concentrate, hard to spell, hard to even stay awake as the ether like effects took over and sent me to bed pretty much every time. This is fantastic evening strain that’s perfect for obliterating your worries about the real world and helping you get a good nights sleep. This was a great introduction into the world of Ember Valley. I definitely look forward to getting my hands on more of their flower and wouldn’t hesitate to pick up Pie Face OG again when I need something guaranteed to knock me out. Fantastic job to the crew at Ember Valley!

Banana Runtz from Syngery Cannabis

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Banana Runtz from Syngery Cannabis via a generous benefactor that prefer to remain nameless on 9/12/19. Originally picked up at Cookies Melrose. THC tested out to 25.37%. Purchased originally for $50 plus tax. I loved Golden State Banana so I was stoked to be given the opportunity to check out these Banana Runtz. The one big bud I was gifted had a nice solid structure. As you run your eyes across the nug surface it quickly switches back and forth from dark to light green with gangly reddish brown pistils and a generous frosting of triches so numerous at points it’s hard to make out the color at all.

The nose out of the jar is musty and peppery in a way that hit me like the smell of opening a drawer of real wood dresser that’s been untouched in storage for a long time. On busting the nug you get a surprisingly fruity scent and it relegates that mustiness to the background. On the hand grind is where the Runtz really shines through. I pick up on a very sugary sweet candy like scent that leaves a bit of stickiness on my fingers. On the inhale I caught a hint of that pepper and it was a little bit harsh on the throat. On the exhale I got just a bit of musty sweetness. The headchange comes on fast and has a nice smack to it but won’t leave you dazed or couchlocked. It’s a very even keel hybrid that hits you in the eyes but doesn’t make you feel too tired. I’d say it’s a good midday strain that would suit any activity you have going, whether it’s channel surfing or actual surfing, Banana Runtz would make a decent companion. I might pick this up again depending on what else is available as it wasn’t a bad experience but it wasn’t anything too special either. If it were between this and the Golden State Banana I’d gravitate toward the GSB every time. If you find it at a ticket you’re comfortable with I’d say it’s worth a shot if you like what you’ve read on it here. Definitely looking forward to trying more from the team at Synergy Cannabis!

Tropikoolato from Gas Co /5 Points / The Backpack Boyz

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Tropikoolato from Gas Co /5 Points / The Backpack Boyz via a generous benefactor that prefer to remain nameless on 9/12/19. There’s no testing info as it’s from the STREETZ. My benefactor copped this for $50 out the door. This batch consisted of two beefy nugs that could barely make their way out of the bag. The colors on the surface shift from light green to dark purple with dark orange hairs springing up all over the place frosted in a nice coating of tiny triches. Visually it’s very reminiscent of some Mimosa I had not too long ago.

The scent out of the bag is a musty backyard orange that I always relate to the oranges from random orange trees that dot the land here in Orange County. It has a more earthy smell than oranges you pick up from the supermarket. Breaking down the nug, the nose remains predominantly orange, but reveals a bit of spiciness in the background. On the hand grind, I pick on on a surprisingly sweet lemon lime scent with a candy like zing, which coincides with the fruit loaded artwork on the bag itself. You don’t really get any stickiness on the fingers on the breakdown, and while dense, the nugs feel like thick styrofoam when you bust them apart. On the inhale I catch a bit of a spice and on the exhale I get a sense for those musty oranges once again. The headchange comes on quick but doesn’t hit too heavy where it leaves you dazed and incapacitated. It feels more like a sativa leaning hybrid as it has a decent amount of euphoric energy and you have the ability to focus if needed but also comes with a fuzziness that sits just on top of the forehead and sinks right in behind the eyes. It’s definitely a good day time smoke that would work with any sort of weekend activities you might have going. From gaming to hiking to just hanging out and watching a movie, Tropikoolato would make a good chilling companion for any time of day and it won’t put you down for the count. I definitely enjoyed this one on more than one wake and bake. Great work to the folks at GasCo / 5 Points/ Backback Boyz!

Guava Gas from Norcal Nemo

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Guava Gas from Norcal Nemo via Gulf Coast Haze Collective on 9/12/19. Acquired a half for a donation of $210. If you saw my first impressions video then you already know how absolutely stunning this batch of Guava Gas is. The nugs are big beefy light green mountains with the occasional dark green and purple wisps streaking briefly across the surface accented with rare bunches of dark amber pistils and an intense coating of sugar like triches at every layer.

The smell out of the jar is a symphony of scents lead by fruity sweet followed by pine and mint and a bit of must. When you break open a nug it’s so fruity and fresh it brings to mind images of vendors in foreign fruit markets busting open all sorts of colorful juicy fruits that I’ve only seen on the discovery channel. If this is what guava smells like then it’s awesome. When breaking it down by hand you get a smell that I can only describe as a fruity vic’s vapor rub. It’s this very sweet scent that feels like it’s backed by eucalyptus. The inhale is super smooth and has one of the most unique tastes I’ve come across yet. It has this beer like quality, not so much the taste but it feels like there is a rich foamy carbonated sort of flavor, it’s very hard to describe. The exhale comes off as this minty pine, it’s definitely a freshness of some sort but again remains very hard to pin down. The headchange is really fantastic. It hits you with this euphoric feel good energy right up top while at the same time leaving you wholly glassy eyed. Slowly it settles in on your forehead with that fuzzy warm feeling and starts to taper off that energy just a bit. Eventually it seems like it brings the energy back up while still settling further into your body. This is really a fantastic any time smoke, you feel slapped but have energy and can be fully cognizant and focused if need be. Truly fantastic effort Norcal Nemo. You are a master at what you do and I’ll be lucky to get my hands on more of your work.

Tangeray from The Lemonnade

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Tangeray (Lemon Tree x Tangie) from The Lemonnade via Gulfcoast Haze Collective on 9/12/19. THC tested out to 23.29%. Acquired for the donation of $50. I grabbed this on Gulfcoast’s recommendation as I was looking for a new sativa to review and I’m very glad I took him up on it. The champion nug in this batch looked absolutely fantastic. The surface of the bud looks like forest camouflage with the way it switches back and forth from light and dark green with the occasional tiny patch of dark orange hairs popping up sporadically. There’s an impressive coating of triches wrapping it all up and giving the nug a yellowish sort of hue.

The nose off the bag is awesome. It smells like oranges up front but definitely has a different sort of citrus note underlying it all. On the nug break the orange scent amplifies to a point where it comes off almost like the zest of an orange peel itself. On the finger grind that citrus smell stays fairly consistent but I do pick up on a bit of lime chiming in. The inhale is smooth and I catch that orange peel taste on the way in and pick up on more of a general citrus on the way out. The headchange is fantastic and exactly what I hope for when it comes to a sativa. It’s got a nice smack up top but you’ll find yourself clear headed and able to focus on any given task. It brings a good amount of energy with it but doesn’t have that jittery paranoid edge and seems to have a good amount of staying power for a sativa. This is a fantastic strain to wake and bake on and an awesome way to jump start the day. For the ticket, I can see myself picking this one up again no doubt. If you’re a fan of sativas and you find it at a ticket you feel comfortable with I’d say you can’t go wrong. Excellent work to the team at The Lemonnade and thanks again Gulfcoast for the recommendation!