First sip is very, very surprisingly smooth. With as much hops as I was smelling, I expected a hop hammer on the tongue like a Hop Hunter IPA, but this one gets a distinct pine hit and combines it with a more mellow kind of caramel malt. I can't overstress that the pine hops are the focal point, but the bitterness is cut down in its prime by the malt that is very well balanced.
In a swig, tip-in is strangely bready with a light carbonation fringe. There is sweet orange nestled in there nicely like a kitten snuggling up to its mother. The middle prances in with pine malt and fresh biscuit and toffee. This thing is really kicking it very well. The finish leads with a bit of a carbonation sting, then the pine hops and caramel trail off into the distance. The whole taste manages to be mild and characterful at the same time - a hard balance to pull off.
Bottom Line: Jeepers, that's a very good beer.
4.5/5