I can taste a touch of chocolate and I guess there is some hint of cranberry but the overall product lacks substance. I feel like if any of the elements were amped up a bit more this would make for a better brew. As it stands, the beer still comes on with good character, especially on cask with an aroma of cacao and the lightest little fruity sourness which comes from the cranberry. I avoided buying the 750 ml bottle of this forever because it was so overpriced at the lcbo ($11) and finally found it on cask at Castro’s Lounge.

(355mL bottle from the LCBO) Served cool. Pours a clear pale gold with a thin, ephemeral white head. Quite substantial hops aromas - particularly tropical fruit (passion fruit sticks out), some citrus notes, grassy, crisp, mild grains. Taste is hop-forward, citrus notes dominate with some herbal notes, simple sweet malts with mild graininess give a little creaminess reminiscent of some tropical fruit to an otherwise crisp beer. Finish is fairly dry and bitter but not as strong as some IPAs. Quite quenching and acidic overall, relatively light body with moderate carbonation which could be lower. Nothing crazy here but a flavourful, refreshing and eminently drinkable IPA from a local brewery.

500ml can, found somewhere in the cold climes of Ottawa. Hey, I’m from further north, so all the cold-weather paranoia really doesn’t mean much to me. Minus eight? Shorts and sleeves weather!! I think this one is a four for appearance, the head is good and the body is a solid dark brown-burgundy hue. The aroma is all simple malts, nothing exciting. The flavour is much the same - malty flavours all over the place, watery finish. No complexity, no enticing mouthfeel. A shame, really - this could have (and -should- have) been much better.

Modest head, copper-brown body with medium carbonation. Aroma of malt, nuts, wood. Flavour is a good mix between malt and citrus notes. Decent balance, slightly wet finish. Just all right, and one big problem - it’s lacking the "creaminess" I’d expect from something that calls itself a cream ale. Eh?

Sampled at the DC Local Tasting a 750ml fliptop bottle pours an oily, opaque black with a pinkish, tan head. Nice nose, crackers, toasted brown bread, malty, light coffee. Cranberry comes through more in the flavor with some light tartness, malty, toasted bread, licorice, molasses. Full bodied, sweet finish.

Sampled at the DC Local Tasting pours a hazy, light brown with some spitty white head. Sweet, malty nost, light citrus. Flavor is also malty, a little soap, brown sugar, some citrus. Medium bodied, dry finish.

Bottle. Pretty much black, beige head. Aroma of chocolate covered raspberry bob-bons. Taste is smooth chocolate soda and cranberries. Nice.

Bottle. Bright amber color, medium off white head. Aroma of caramel and flowers. Taste is bitter caramel and pine. OK.