Sixth Fiddle Ekuanot
West Sixth Brewing Company

More earthy than floral, the "Second Fiddle" IPA takes on an equinox attitude. But now listed as "Ekuanot" hops, West Sixth's riff on their own IPA is a throwback to the west coast with premiere bitterness and a strong botanical flare.

Pale and burnish gold, a slight orange glow permeates a hazy appearance. Its foamy white cap casts off a pungent blend of green tea, pine, citrus and fresh grassiness fills the nose while a supple sweetness of thin caramel and honey align on the front of the tongue like graham cracker.

As the ale unfolds on the middle palate, the hops awaken and the malt sweetness rapidly retreats. What's left is an earthy taste of grass clippings, grapefruit and orange peels, verbena, sassafras, chive and geranium. As the bitterness slowly grips the gullet, the taste turns nearly peppery with green tea, freshly muddled pine needles and a fragrant, stemmy woodiness of cedar and lemongrass.

Medium bodied and trending dry, the beer is throawback to the IPA of yesteryear when bitterness reigns supreme, naked somewhat in its grassy, leafy, peppery and pleasantly astringent form. The dankness of hemp, straw and hay swirl about the finish as a long and bitter linger of hop leaves persist.