7000 Steps to High Hrothgar
Canton Brew Works

16 ounce can into tulip glass; no can dating. Pours slightly hazy medium orange/amber color with a 1 finger dense and rocky off white head with fantastic retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lasts. Thick soapy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Fantastic appearance. Aromas of big red grapefruit, tangerine, orange juice, lemon, peach, pineapple, apricot, passion fruit, mango, melon, citrus peel/rind, wood, light peppercorn, pine, caramel, toasted biscuit, herbal, and floral/grassy earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of citrus/fruity/tropical/earthy hops and moderate dark/bready malt notes; with great strength. Taste of huge red grapefruit, tangerine, orange juice, lemon, peach, pineapple, apricot, passion fruit, mango, melon, citrus peel/rind, wood, light peppercorn, pine, caramel, toasted biscuit, herbal, and floral/grassy earthiness. Light-moderate pine, citrus peel/rind, herbal, floral, woody, grassy, peppery bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of red grapefruit, tangerine, orange juice, lemon, peach, pineapple, apricot, passion fruit, mango, melon, citrus peel/rind, wood, peppercorn, pine, caramel, toasted biscuit, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness on the finish for a while. Incredible complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/tropical/earthy hops and moderate dark/bready malt flavors; with a great malt/bitterness balance, and no cloying/astringent flavors after the finish. Light-moderate increasing dryness from lingering bitterness. Medium carbonation and medium-full body; with a very smooth, creamy/bready/sticky, and lightly resinous/rindy balanced mouthfeel that is great. Minimal warming alcohol for 8.6%. Overall this is a fantastic DIPA. All around outstanding complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/tropical/earthy hops and moderate dark/bready malt flavors; very smooth and dangerously easy to drink for the big ABV with the modestly bitter/resinous/drying finish, not aggressive. Feels like Columbus/Centennial mostly, with some Simcoe. Very juicy and fairly dank/earthy hop complexity; great dark/bready malt backbone, mild residual sweetness with lingering resin dryness. A highly enjoyable offering, and amazing classic tasting style example.