Sun Dog
Tonewood Brewing - Barrington

I first had this beer during its first run last January. It was perfect. Blew me away. Tonight, I drink it out of a Tonewood snifter 2 weeks after the canned-on date & it's almost as good as it was the first time I tasted it.
Look: It's an appealing, clear DIPA... A deep, rich honey color.
Smell: Smells of sweet mango + hops.
Taste: Damn. Boozy? Sure. But not overwhelmingly. I would guess this was 7.5% (not 9%). Tastes like mango & pineapple topped with some generous gobs of honey but well balanced by the hop bitterness. Pine resin is kind of a given with west coasty IPA's (which I would consider this to be) but it is really pleasant when paired with all this tropical fruit.
Feel: Not overly carbonated but definitely a lively pour into the glass. Not a thin beer when it comes to body. Definitely pleasant & full.
Overall: Yup. Tonewood is great.

It's a delightful beginning, as two twelve ounce cans were emptied entirely into a clear glass liter mug. Even at room temperature, so little head was produced, it was both surprising and delightful. Modern American IPAs rarely pour this cleanly. The modest just-off-white head was short-lived, but that's preferable to excessive foam. Its aroma is of bready malt, sharply piney hops and even some alcohol. The appearance is commercial lager-like; lightly golden-amber, bright and rather translucent. It tastes a little fuller than it looks like it might, unfortunately much of it gets overwhelmed by the ethanol. Even knowing this has a potent ABV, the alcohol is a bit distracting at the beginning. It arguments the sweetness upfront and helps to bitter and dry out the finish, so it's not all bad. There's no glass lacing to be seen, but the body is better than the look. Behind the alcohol is a pleasant balance of hops and malt, with just enough sweetness and hoppiness. Overall, this is good enough, just a little short in flavor and body for a brew carrying a 9% ABV.

 

On tap.

A - Pours a nice medium gold that's slightly hazy and has a dense bright white, creamy layer of foam resting on top with light carbonation.

S - Aroma is zesty and fruity with a healthy nose of tangerine and citrus.

T - Fruity, herbally, tangerine, some spiciness, and ends with a balanced bitterness without knocking out that lingering, tangerine citrus goodness.

M - Big medium body with gentle prickly carbonation on the tongue.

O - This is pretty fantastic and hats off to Tonewood, they nailed this one. Recommended.

Pours honey laden gold, opaque and cloudy; white head that is thick and sticky, good retention but no lace trailing behind it.

Wow, the nose on this is so vibrant, one of those that jumps out of the can and glass; I could smell this all day…it is full of zesty citrus, pine needle brightness, and this super pleasant fruit medley; its like reminiscent of Hawaiian Punch but its fresh and real smelling, its also blended so well in the foreground of the aforementioned citrus and pine, the aroma is truly remarkable.

Taste is big and in your face; really nice malt presence, with some honey quality, leads right into really well balanced mix of light tropical character with some berry notes; finishing classic with orange citrus character and bright pine.

Body has some heft, expected at its abv, but it goes down so dangerously smooth; its got heft but then, silky smooth carbonation, no lingering malt or sweetness with a lively bitterness that lingers nicely; the abv is there but I’ve had beer well below this one show more, the 9 % is super well hidden given; relatively speaking that is.

Pours a clear amber color with a nice head and lacing
Aroma has tropical and citrus hints
Taste has a balanced tropical and citrus flavor
A medium bodied well carbonated beer
A good IPA