Udderly Hoppy
Ethereal Brewing

At first pour I thought something was wrong. Color is off compared to most IPAs. Dark, almost green/brown. Head is tinged as well. Nose is slightly hoppy as is taste. Not superb, but not horrible either.

Stopping one fruit addition shy of "smoothie" IPA, the Ethereal team of brewers are intent on creaming things up in the brewhouse. Adept at hoppy beer making, they infuse an imperial IPA with lactose for a beer that's udderly hoppy!

I'm sorry, I couldn't resist. And either could the brewers as their Udderly Hoppy ale pours with a creamy golden amber color and cast in a fine hoppy haze. Rich aromas of citrus, tropical herbs and grassy herbs waft about with a slight candy sweet scent. Caramel, honey and a mild toasted sweetness coats the tongue ahead of the hops that come alive on the middle palate.

As the sweetness begins to dissolve, the hops bring a ripe, fresh and radiant taste of orange, lemon, lime and grapefruit for a true citronella character with a hint of mango and apricot underneath. Lactose milk sugars bring in a candied taste late and keep hints of candied citrus alive on the late palate. Trending bittersweet, the hops trend spicy and vegetal with parsley, lemon verbena, sassafras, pine resins and fresh grass clippings.

Medium bodied and drying beautifully on the palate, the beer tightens its grip for a bitter trending taste with high refreshment, drinkability and crispness to quench the thirst and numb the mind at the same time. A long linger of fruit peels and tea-like herbs extend long and lean in aftertaste.