A Pale Mosaic

Hops dominate the aroma with a big citrusy, primarily grapefruit, nose backed by some earthiness and spice. The hops are slightly dank and grassy, but not at all unpleasant. Malts contribute to the nose also, mostly as a sweet aroma with a hint of light caramel or cooked sugar complexity. The color is a golden-straw with some moderate haze. A light, but persistent, head of fine, white bubbles clings to the edges of the glass and is sprinkled across the surface. The flavor mimics the aroma closely with intense hop characteristics dominated by wet-hop grassiness and a woody herbal character. The hops are not harsh, but nearly so. The malt is noticeable, but only in a supporting role to the hops with some generic malt sweetness. The body is medium-full, and the carbonation is strong, giving some carbonic bite to help temper the fullness. This is a very modern version of the American IPA that makes use of newer hop varietals with more herbal and earthy characteristics. The balance is decidedly towards the hops. If this is your preference in IPAs, I would not pass this one by as this is well-made, clean, and without any real flaws.