<i>Bottled. </i> Clear amber. Fairly strong lychee aroma. Dryish with clean mouthfeel and fairly light body. Notes of melon, medium bitterness. A predominantly hop aromatic very drinkable IPA.

Slightly hazy amber. Massive hop aroma is very much bursting with fruity notes. The body is pretty light for style, as is the maltiness, leaving this an ode to hops, which again take on a fairly fruity character, but lack the bold, bright quality I enjoyed so much in the aroma.

<b>Date:</b> 05/20/2006<br /> <b>Mode:</b> Bottle<br /> <b>Source:</b> Tasting, Noog II<br /> <br /> dark yellow, big sweet pine aroma, thin body, light sweet malt flavor balanced by lots of bitterness, <br /> <br /> <b>Aroma:</b> 6/10; <b>Appearance:</b> 6/10; <b>Flavor:</b> 7/10; <b>Palate:</b> 6/10; <b>Overall:</b> 13/20<br /> <b>Rating:</b> 3.2/5.0<br /><b>Drinkability:</b> 7/10<br /> <b>Score:</b> **+/4<br />

On tap at O’Briens, listed as "Batch 1500 Imperial Pale": Pours a transparent deep copper orange with a nicely lacing thin white head. Fresh, dry, grassy, piney and well-hopped aroma has some toasty, dry, breadiness. Body starts full, caramel and toffee earthy sweet with some English tasting hops. Finishes dry, sticky and crisp with lots of semi-floral bitterness. Reminiscent of Stone 7th Anniversary, but could use a bit more sweetness.

Bottle… Mostly clear, deeply golden/amber ale with a mid-sized, frothy, white head that never quite disappears. Leaves thick, creamy lacework on the glass. Earthy, citrusy, piney nose with an undertone of biscuit. Medium-bodied with an acerbic mouthfeel and tickling carbonation. The flavor is of biscuit malt buried under a ton of tannic, earthy hop intensity. Lengthy, bitter, arid finish.