Stumbling Man
Ethereal Brewing

Unfortunately bold but fortunately delicious, the allure of Ethereal Brewing's draws those who imbibe to drink a little quicker, and maybe one more too many.

Thus Stumbling Man comes beckoning with a deep honey amber color and a standard hoppy haze. A firm crown of froth proceeds a full and fruity scent, drenched in caramel and honey, balanced with a spicy blend of pine and alcohol. And the promises of caramel and honey lead the charge on the tongue along with a complement of nuttiness and toast for a striking malt resemblance to granola.

With its imperial strength comes and imperial balance from malt as the sweetness is slow to fade. The growing hops combat the stubborn sweetness with a honey dipped taste of oranges, red grapefruit, peach, apricot, mango and papaya. Its high fruit flavor eventually invites a late palate of bitter resins to finally offset the sweetness with a host of gripping pine, grassiness and spicy herbs.

Full bodied for IPA, the extended sweetness keeps the palate sweet and rounded despite the strong charge of hops that usually ensure dryness, drinkability and refreshment. This sipper of an IPA allows the hops to eventually win out along with a heated boozy prickle of vodka that seems to exacerbate the bitterness even more into an aftertaste of muddled fruit peel and pith.