5

Appearance - 4 | Aroma - 5 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 5

Draught pint at Sunset Grill on 4/27/06
Small beige head quickly recedes to cover/ring and then nothing, with no lacing. Lightly hazy body is orange-red with a light maroon-copper tint. No bubbles rise.
Smells very bitter. Heavy, lightly juicy citrus, dry floral hops and some mild pine resin. Toasty malt, very minimal sugars and light crystal dryness keep things very dry, vaporous and just too thin. No alcohol, and though the hops are noticeable, they arent fruity, lively or overly aromatic. It just seems bogged down by water and light minerals.
The flavor is just hopped water. Crystal malt dryness and light toastiness, with a near 100% attenuation and too much water all combine to produce a hop tea-like liquid, that just dosent have the sweetness and oomph to go the distance. Though as it warms, it makes a strong bid for a well-hopped, balanced ipa, gaining some flavor and even a touch of caramel maltiness to create some texture and sweetness. There’s some light candy and orange zest, but ultimately, it’s just too lean, watery and dulled by what has to be a hard water problem in Stowe. Because Shaun is an amazingly talented brewer and his beers are incredible fresh, but they just seem to have a life of only a few weeks. No doubt Axilla’s sample was as good as he reports, but I have to call it as I see it. This keg was freshly tapped at the bar.