The color is very clear yellow-heavy amber. With a thick white head that slowly retracts itself while leaving a weighty webwork of remnant along the side of the glass. The aroma is hops and more hops. There is a bit of lemon there with it, but the hops are nice and stable - they don't bite at you with their aroma like some of the overly hop-heavy beers I've had might. I am really looking forward to drinking this beer.First sip is a pretty good one. The hops are flavorful without being overwhelming - just like the smell had indicated. In fact, the malt adds a certain amount of sweetness that really rounds out the flavor. I'm surprised that a beer with so much hops is so good with just a sip; normally, a complex beer is no good when the trip through the tastebuds is so brief, but this could actually be a good sipping IPA. For best results, though, let's try a swig.
Tip-in is floral hops and light carbonation. The hops are subtle, and they only gently kiss the tongue on the way through. The hops mingle with the malt as the middle arrives, and a light citrus can be tasted clinging to the outsides. As the finish starts, a bitter comes, but it never takes hold. Instead, the sweet drowns it out almost immediately. Instead, the floral hops are allowed to give a parting shot of taste without significant bitterness.
Bottom Line: It is a fine example of a West Coast IPA, and it really is the best of what that type of beer brings. The different kinds of hops allow the flavor to come through without the bad side effects.
4.0/5
