Lotus Sultana
Winding Path Brewing Co / Wyndridge Farm Brewing

16oz can into a pint glass. Canned 9/22/23, so 4 months old.

Slightly hazy pale amber body. Small white head fizzles away quite quickly, specks of lacing. Aroma is a massive pineapple hit with a side of orange. On tasting, the pineapple is strongest, with a hint of orange creamsicle as described on the can. A faint bitterness as well as some warming. The finish is warming and fruity, but there is a light coating on the tip of the tongue. Overall, never heard of either of these hop varieties, so nice to have tried this one.

Poured into a narrow imperial pint glass: color is straw gold, hazy/opaque but not dense/murky, head is off white and presents 1 finger thick, head lingers with solid top and provides some spotty lacing on the glass sides.

Smell is mixed fruits, citric heavy, lighter grass, malt is honey, notes of candied sweetness.

Taste is hop and fruity forward, notes of citrus, tangerine, earth, stone fruit, berries, malt is honey and toast, candy like sweetness, maybe the ABV is hidden or presenting as this extra sweetness.

Mouthfeel is low carbonation, moderate/strong sweetness, moderate bitterness.

Overall - this presents as a hazy/NEIPA in look and taste, aroma is subdued, but it all seems muddled as I drink it.

The label describes this as a double IPA, which probably makes it a Beer Advocate category Imperial IPA, considering its ABV. Times what they are, judgement is that to empty a pint can, a clear glass liter mug will be needed to contain all the foam. Good call, as foam there was. But it receded quickly, leaving almost no lacing, nor head. The liquid is apricot-amber with a mid-level sheen. It's rather opaque. Starchy hops yield the now typical fruit reference for the nose, but in a low dose. In this case it's tropical, like mango. Drinking it starts with a soft mouthfeel and a mild fruit-like sweetness, maybe cherry. There's very little hoppy bitterness for contrast, but in this case, that's OK. This drinks very smoothly, never too heavy and with a well hidden ABV. it's hoppy enough to the taste, without ever becoming bitter, a characteristic that will be appreciated by some consumers and loathed by some true hop lovers. For the flavor and alcohol this delivers, this is a great find. Another in the alcohol contributing to, not distracting from the overall taste category. Enjoyable, but certainly not among the greats. Against better judgment, it's time for another.