What Our Panel Thought
Aroma: “Melon, mint, orange, pine, light caramel, some sherry notes, and some herbal notes. Malty, dark fruit. Comes across a bit heavy-handed.”
Flavor: “Strong caramel malt sweetness pairs well with the West Coast– pine and citrus hops character. The hops have a dry, grassy edge on the finish that comes across a bit rough. Full-bodied, balanced bitterness keeps the sweetness in check.”
Overall: “Creative take on the style. An Old School pale ale—rich caramel malt body with citrus and pine hops that accentuate an underlying fruity quality. The finish is a bit sweet and heavy, and the grassy hops character adds a paper dryness that distracts from the cleaner bitter character.”
What the Brewers Say
“The citrus punch of a big IPA, minus the one-dimensional hops sledgehammer. Several select European and domestic malts round out the edges for a complex, copper-colored brew. Like its namesake ski lift, it’s an insider’s ride to fresh thrills.”
