Ikelos
Ascension Brewing Company

16 ounce can into tulip glass, canned in 7/2019. Pours opaquely hazy deep golden amber, light orange/green color with a 1-2 finger dense and rocky off white head with fantastic retention, that reduces to a large cap that lasts. Thick foamy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Fantastic appearance. Aromas of big mandarin orange juice, red grapefruit, lemon, lime, peach, pear, pineapple, passion fruit, red apple, mango, melon, blueberry, gooseberry, white grape/wine, wood, onion, mint, peppercorn, pine, wheat, cracker, biscuit dough, light honey/toast, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of citrus/fruity/tropical/fairly earthy hops and bready malt notes; with big strength. Taste of huge mandarin orange juice, red grapefruit, lemon, lime, peach, pear, pineapple, passion fruit, red apple, mango, melon, blueberry, gooseberry, white grape/wine, wood, onion, mint, peppercorn, pine, wheat, cracker, biscuit dough, light honey/toast, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness. Mild pine, citrus peel/zest, herbal, floral, woody, grassy, spicy bitterness on the finish. Lingering notes of mandarin orange juice, red grapefruit, lemon, lime, peach, pear, pineapple, passion fruit, red apple, mango, melon, blueberry, gooseberry, white grape/wine, wood, onion, mint, peppercorn, pine, wheat, cracker, biscuit dough, light honey/toast, and herbal/floral/grassy earthiness on the finish for a while. Incredible complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/tropical/fairly earthy hops and bready malt flavors; with a great malt/bitterness balance, and no cloying/astringent flavors after the finish. Lightly increasing dryness from lingering bitterness. Medium carbonation and medium-plus body; with a very smooth, creamy/silky/bready/grainy, lightly sticky, and slightly resinous/rindy mouthfeel that is fantastic. Minimal warming alcohol for 7.2%. Overall this is an incredible NEIPA. All around fantastic complexity, robustness, and balance of citrus/fruity/tropical/fairly earthy hops and bready malt flavors; very smooth and easy to drink with the mildly bitter/resinous/drying finish; amazingly soft feel. Amazing Mosaic, Vic Secret, and Nelson profile. Extremely juicy, vibrant, and fairly dank/earthy hops; with a perfectly balanced wheat/oat/malt backbone. Light residual sweetness with lingering resin dryness. A highly enjoyable offering, and amazing spot on style example. One of their best ones yet.