Pale Death

Have you ever had a beer where, upon smelling it, your eyes go wide and you say to yourself, "Monster Hops!" Well, for me, this was one of those beers. The hop aroma is off the charts with big, dank, earthy, citrus and spicy hop aromas. There is also a strong yeast spiciness that is very phenolic/clove-like. Some malt sweetness and mixed fruit aroma sneaks past the hops and yeast aromas as well making the nose on this beer exceptionally complex. It has a light gold color, excellent clarity and a persistent white head. The flavor mimics the aroma well: earthy, spicy and dank hop flavors with some citrus, a fruity blend from the ferment and enough alcohol that it lends a nutty edge to the taste. The phenol flavor is also quite prominent, not just clove, but also hinting towards a slight burnt plastic character that is the only detractor. The finish is slightly sweet from residual malts or sugars that balance the big character of this beer well. The mouthfeel is moderately light with a definite alcohol warming and a pretty good carbonic bite from high carbonation in the finish. The phenolics are a bit extreme and off-putting on an otherwise exceptional, distinctive Belgian IPA. If you like bold beers with bold aromas and flavors, this is one to add to your list.