Part of the deconstructed 12 pack. Pours a deep amber color with a frothy white head that sticks around for a bit before impaling itself to the sides of the glass. Smells sweet, floral and fruity. Apricots and citrus mixed with hints of bread and caramel. Taste is sweet and malty with a buttery and herbal bitterness that survives long after each sip. I know it sounds weird but try it and you will see what I mean. Fairly dry finish with that long lingering harsh. Medium body and level of carbonation. I will go out on a limb and say that this will be my least favorite beer from the 12 pack. I am glad Sam Adams made this 12 pack its so frikin geeky I love it, but this beer not so much.

Copper glow that looks exactly the same as the Ahtanum varietal asisde from the head which is noticeably larger on this version and leaves a nice lace. Aroma of earth, caramel, flowers and a bit of perfume, way less deep and powerful than the Ahtanum and seemingly lower in Alpha Acids (although, I’m sure this is true). Medium-bodied; Malty and caramel flavours come out the most with the grassy and earthy hops kind of a secondary note - crazy for an IPA, but in general this is much more milder than the Ahtanum. Aftertaste is earthy and malty with a bit of caramel and a hint of dryness - very mild for sure. Overall, a drinkable IPA at most, this version I thought was the least of the three others that I’ve sampled thus far (Zeus, Hallertau, Ahtanum), and I’d take most other IPAs over this for sure. I sampled this twelve ounce bottle purchased from the Beer Baron in Livonia, Michigan on 30-April-2011 sampled at home in Washington on 17-May-2011 in a vertical tasting with the East Kent IPA from Sam Adams - both bottles were US$1.99 each. Of the two, I didn’t like this as much, but it’s much more ’drinkable’ by non-IPA beer likers as the hops are seemingly more diluted and not as strong, compared to the malt.

First thing I notice about this beer is that its "mellow bitterness" is relative. Seems pretty assertive to me, instantly bittering the beer with a strong herbal bite, only to back off slowly into a fruity, malt-heavy middle. The finish is long and dry, persistent and lingering. The floral notes come through in the aftertaste, giving an interesting soapy twist to the fade. Not a great IPA, but an interesting one.

Pours clear deep amber into a Sam glass. Bright white head with good retention recedes to skim surface leaving spot lacing. Sweet caramel corn aromas. Sweet caramel turning quickly to sour nuts and bitter resin.

Certainly the least assertively bitter of the six, which means there is not much to balance those sweet, bready malts - the hops and an earthy stone fruit kind of character - a bit oily - some off vegetal and buttery notes in the back that I have not noticed in the others - even messier than the regular latitude 48.

Bottle from the Arden BevMo in Sacramento, CA. Pours copper with a creamy off-white head. Aromas of floral and fruit over a slightly roasted caramel. Med body. Flavor is indeed apricot with a little earthiness. Floral disappeared. Finishes quite dry and bitter. CA today - UK tomorrow. More EKG fer sure. Oh, and this is a really nice beer.

Bottle. Pours with a completely clear orange to copper colored body with a medium sized off-white head that leaves decent lacing and has good retention. Aromas of spicy, floral and herbaceous hops. Slightly dank, peppery, earthy, woodsy. A light dry pepperyness and fresh cut weeds. Malt bill behind is slightly bready, biscuity. Minimal esters. Flavors are pretty dry. Hop flavors of dry apricot, balsa wood, earthy, herbal and lightly floral. Slightly sweet bready malt profile. Feels like there is a bit more throat grabbing bitterness (high cohumulone) than the Hallertau (watch me be off on the high co hop comment). Slightly more bitter balanced and feels a touch dryer than the Hallertau version. No fermentation character, minimal fruit. Medium to lively carbonation. Somewhat dry, lightly creamy. No astringencies. Not quite as refined as the Hallertau version.

bottle pours light amber with a medium frothy tan head. Aroma is grassy with light citrus notes and a floral honey note. Flavor is very sweet, sweet breads, lightly nutty with sweet floral hops finishing with again what tastes like honey. This is missing the hop bite you associate with an IPA, but it’s still got plenty of flavor and is mighty refreshing.