The Conquistador
Ethereal Brewing

You just can't resist the haze. And when a pile of El Dorado hops and a copious amount of oats fall in your lap, you make a single source, New England styled IPA with gravity and gusto. That's what Ethereal Brewing does here.

Pale, yolky gold, the beer has the matte finish of vanilla cake batter before crowning with a frothy, lacy lather. Bright aromas of tropical, herb, citrus and melon flavors swoon the senses along with a mellow cereal scent. And its that suggestion of creamy grains that bring a honey, candied, doughy and pastry-like sweetness to the front of the tongue.

But it's the El Dorado hops that spring to life as the ale crosses the middle palate, hosting a blend of honeydew, papaya, guava, orange and lime all in a mellow, sherbet-like taste. Despite its floral upstart and its juicy, fruity center, the ale hops develop into a spicy and dryly resinous bitterness as the sensation of green tea, sassafras and lime peels linger on the late palate.

Medium bodied and creamy, the oat influence is rounded, smooth and keep the hops balanced and somewhat tamed. A malty dry finish comes with the spicy, sprucy bitterness, and with a medium long aftertaste of fruit peels, herbal teas and peppery grasses.