Cloud Candy (Kohatu)
Ethereal Brewing

Today's forecast calls for a hundred percent chance of haze, at least for those at Ethereal Brewing. As a fog of hops drift across the beerscape, the allure of Kohatu hops slathered onto a New England styled IPA becomes a cloud of tropical and sprucy candy for the tastebuds of area wide hop heads.

Pouring with the foggy gaze of freshly whipped egg beaters, the turbid Cloud Candy Kohatu carries a creamy white crown upon a pastel yellow base. A host of tropical fruit with citrus carries a slightly cereal and citronella scent into a bouquet of fresh pine and botanical gin. Cereal sweetness provides a oat driven, malty buffer on the tongue with the slight savory taste of honey and dough leading the way.

As the middle palate opens up, the recession of malt is gradual while the growth of hops brings a tasty force of pineapple, papaya and mango along with a citrusy zest of lemon and grapefruit. As the bitterness sets in, the tastebuds are enlivened by a true piney, grassy and botanical balance to take an edge off of the lingering sweetness without rivaling the established fruit or aromatic rewards of the ale. Its smooth late palate invites a botanical taste of gin with sassafras, cedar and spruce to close.

Medium bodied throughout, the efforts of the spicy hop resins and pastry malts balance each other beautifully while allowing the strong fruit impressions of Kohatu hops to lead the way. An nearly El Dorado-like candied hop character brings hints of pine to a slightly extended finish and a medium long aftertaste.