This is a beer I have been growing very fond of. Sampled from a 12 oz brown bottle this beer poured a dark caramel color with a medium sized light brown head. The aroma is sweet fruity hops and a vague fruit cocktail scent. The mouthfeel is thick. The beer is heavily sweet and very fruity with a nice malt presence and strong hop flavor. My only complaint is that the beer is so incredibly sweet that finishing the bottle can sometimes be tough.

750mL bottled 1/7/2004 Striking color immediately noticeable as it is being poured. One of the deepest, brightest and most appealing mixes of burnished copper, fiery orange and brilliant gold that I’ve seen in a beer. Large amounts of beige head that lasts to the end of the beer and creates ample lacing. Huge amount of sediment left over, creating a good amount of haziness in the beer. Aroma continues to impress; a juicy, fruity, light citrus hops flavor is just bursting out of the glass. Not overly dry or bitter, but has sweet orange liqueur notes, candied peaches, ruby red grapefruits and behind all this lurks a perfect amount of rich, classic caramel malt. Flavor, as I know have expected, is fantastic as well. Begins with juicy hops, light orange and grapefruit notes, but flavorful as opposed to just astringent or bitter. Caramel malt is perfectly wedded to the hops, with a light chewiness. Finishes medium-dry with caramel/toffee and light herbal/grass notes. Candied orange notes linger on the palate. Carbonation is perfect, that is to say, it has a light bubbly effect on the palate that keeps the beer lively and deceptively light, though the body is medium-full with no traces of thinning. Sadly, after the beer had warmed and breathed, there were distinct notes of raw alcohol in both the aroma and flavor, which did bother my experience somewhat. Had it not been for that, this might very well have been a 5. And I don’t even like IPAs that much!

2002 vintage shared with Bucknaked 4/30/2005. Aroma is still very hoppy, though the caramel has taken over quite a bit. There are still some dry, lightly bitter tangerine notes. Flavor has gone a quite down the hill, too much oxidation it seems, which I thought it odd, being only 3 years old and in a large bottle. Cardboardy somewhat, dry and chewy yeast presence, with some muddled caramel and sugar flavors. Not much in the way of hops left, though it isnt really BAD aside from the oxidation. 8/5/6/4/15 Above rating is an average of the two.

Sampled at From The Vine beer tasting Jan 14th, 2005: Pours a murky, surprisingly bright orange color with a medium light beige head. Thin lacing. Satisfying aroma of citrusy hops and spice. Medium-bodied with a pretty strong hops profile, along with grapefruit and a perfect amount of malt balance. Alcohol is well-hidden. The finish is nicely bitter and clean, making this beer a great surprise.