Nián Shòu
Ogopogo Brewing

Poured into a Seattle Beer Week pint glass. Pours a lightly hazy, medium golden amber with a fine, two finger white head with great retention and thick lacing. Aroma of caramel malt, citrus hops, orange, grapefruit, a hint of tropical fruit and apricot. Flavor is caramel malt, piney and citrus hops, orange, tangerine, pine needles, light stone fruit and vague tropical fruit; gets spicy and fruit estery into a piney, citrus finish. Medium bodied with light to moderate creaminess. Well, I was not expecting this. For some reason, I've never been really keen on any ale with predominately Southern Hemisphere hops, but this one with Simcoe, Eukanot and Southern Cross hits the bullseye for an interesting hop bill. The main influence is citrus, but there are flavorful, but identifiable suggestions of mixed tropical and stone fruit that intensify through the taste, which gets spicy too. This is very good and one of my favorite new IPAs of this year. Nice moderately creamy body too. Has looks, feel and flavor. I'm impressed. Sadly a California IPA that I may never see again, but it I do, I will grab it. Cool graphics and Nian Shou beast story too.