Wow, I didn't think I'd ever have this beer again. This use to be my absolute favorite at the Gasthaus, but I haven't seen it there for quite some time. Needless to say, I was very excited when a strolled past this at the store this evening. Let's see if it lives up to all my hype.
It pours nice dark golden color that teeters on the edge of being a light amber. It seems very lively, but almost no head was produced and what does form quickly drains. Solid alcohol lacing throughout. Perfectly clear. A very strong yeast aroma blends well with some woody and pine hops. Definitely getting some strong citrus character, pretty lemony, and some very sweet, candy-like malt. It's a very sharp aroma and definitely demands attention.
The first thing I notice from the taste is a strong wood character to the hops that you don't really expect from an IPA. It has a very noticeable astringent hop bitterness that evolves into a lingering spice. It's incredibly sweet; not too much noticeable malt flavor, just sweet. It actually all blends together pretty well.
This beer is about how I remember it, and it's still great. This is very unique for an IPA, though, and really doesn't fit too many of the guidelines for the style. From a marketing standpoint, however, I guess it works well enough.
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