For a while there were rumblings in the beer world, mostly locally, about the arrival of a British IPA that was unlike many of its kind. After hearing many mixed reviews, I figured that I’d have to try this thing myself and see what all the fuss, or lack thereof, was all about.

A thin layer of soapy bubbles form on top of this hazy, orange and copper-colored beer. Floral hop notes take over the nose, which intertwine with the aroma of sweet, bready malt that displays a soft hint of caramel. The smell alone is absolutely delicious, and if the taste is anything close, I’d say we’ve got a winner.

The well-appointed label mentions that the beer employs “five of the US Pacific Northwest’s most citrus-flavored, aromatic whole cone hops” in addition to English floor malts, implying that this is a hybrid-style India Pale Ale. Although, I’ll say that I’m not getting much of the citrusy flavors here, and I love that. Instead, there is a fruity, floral hop presence that doesn’t slay the palate with bitterness, and it lets the introduction and middle take on a juicy character.

The balance of this one cannot be understated. At just the right moment, the hops enter the picture toward the finish to balance out the sweetness of the malt up front, and never overpower. While I can taste a muted citrus note, it’s way in the background, and to me that’s superb. It’s almost like a wet-hop harvest beer: keep the aromatics and the floral character, but use minimal bitterness for balance. Also, the carbonation doesn’t get in the way, adding an appropriate amount of bubbles but letting the smooth texture take precedence.

As the beer finishes, it washes out cleanly, leaving a calm, delicious aftertaste that fades evenly. To me, this is the benchmark for the word “drinkable.” I doubt hopheads would be a huge fan of this beer, but if you’re anything like me, you’ll love the aforementioned qualities it possesses and will want to grab a second one.