I picked this one up at C's Farm Market in Oswego a few months ago but this is no beer for the heat and the sweat: 101 IBU and 9% so it is safe to say this is a big hop bomb. I noticed that Stonch has said goodbye to his pub's summer ale. But that also means hello to other things. Like big hop bombs.

A wall of orange marmalade, freesia and marigold slams into my ofactories when I pour a measure. Bright glowing orange ale under a rich cream rim and froth. In the mouth, a bit like taking a spray of Pledge furniture polish straight into the mouth but that quickly passes. Big body with a burn of black pepper, a burn of boozy heat and a burn of essence of basil meet jalapeno. But also sweet cream from the malty background - kumquat with maybe pear - upon which these heats are placed before they get stapled on your tongue. The brewery calls it quaffable but I would recommend buffering yourself with a half a dozen antacids if that was your plan. But even with that, there is a silky softness along with all that fire. Compelling more than a quaffer.

Plenty of respect from the BAers, though complaints of overdoing the hops are there, too.