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Perfect? That's what you're going with? You know how hard it is to get a perfect score? The last IPA to do it was a years ago, as I write this. The one before that was almost a year previous. These perfect scores are hard to come by for any beer, and I think Belgian Ales are the closest thing to perfect that I get here most of the time. But, I get it; you want to set your sights high and even a miss will be excellent. Well, I can't fault you for that.
The golden beer is quite clear through the middle, and the white head will leave lacing as it goes down to a good half inch of bubbles that remains on the beer, even after I let it settle a while (and get bit by a mosquito). The aroma is grains, tropical fruits, and even some citrus. There's a lot going on in there, and that kind of scares me. Simple is easier to make perfect.
First sip is bitter, tart, and kind of bland. It reminds me of a little yapping dog that is all kinds of fury with very little substance. I wanted to taste the fruits. I think I can convince myself that there were grains and oats in the malt that was under the bitterness, but I'm only fooling myself. The sip isn't the way to go - although I have been fooled before, and I took a second sip to dispel the incorrect notions. But, a second sip is kind of cheating, and I will move from sip to gulp.
Tip-in is quite subtle with orange and tangerine on the fringes of oats with a slight intrusion of carbonation. The middle is expressive with carbonation sizzling the roof of the mouth while fruit skins and some pine join grains underneath it all. The finish is bitter and a little tart as fruit esters head to the trail off.
Bottom Line: When you call it "Perfect," it really should be.
2.75/5
