Pours a beautiful orange amber with a slight haze and a stream of bubbles rushing up the center to meat a creamy head of off white foam that lasts and leaves rings of lace. Gorgeous!
Nose is sweet lemon peel with a bit of tart grapefruit. A touch of sweetness form malt and some hefty pine. A bit of spice tickles the nose and then as the beer warms it develops a sweeter fruit scent that is lightly tropical.
Taste is crisp dry and piney. The fruits are juicy and a bit sweet. The malt is a dry cracker and the pine is healthy and green.
The mouthfeel is soft and creamy. The finish leaves some of that pine resin on the tongue and the back of the throat while the malt sweetness comes to you one last time. The fruits did fizzle a bit on the back end but it was still darn good. The pine is a steady constant even in the finish and the hops bitter is outstanding.
It’s good enough for an IPA but there was enough flavor in this that it fits very well. Leaves you with a bit of tart fanfare and lovely lingering aftertaste.
Thanks Kerry for the chance to try this beer.
3.8
Welcome to the PGA beer rating system: one beer “Don’t bother.” Two: Eh, if someone gives it to you, drink. Three: very good, go ahead and seek it out, but be aware there is at least one problem. Four: seek it out. Five: pretty much “perfecto.”
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Maria Devan lives in Ithaca, NY and is frequent reviewer of beer and a beer lover deluxe.