An Imperial India Pale Ale from central New York. I didn't look closely when I bought this bomber for $8.99 at Party Source on the last trip south to the land of the salt potato. So, it is a happy me that gets a first try at a new to me CNY brewery and happy to say it's pretty fine.

I don't crave hop bombs so I was happy to see this was 8% and not 11% or 13%. It has a lovely malt bed upon which to lay down and think about things as you work through the bottle - plenty of pale malt bread crust and graininess with a wee bit of yellow plum and apple. But it is the way the hops roll out over the malt that we are looking for in an IIPA. We ask ourselves what the hops are up to. Not much bitterness in the back, not hacking gag, meaning the finish is malty at the back of the throat. It is all up front in two distinct ways: moderate astringent min-wax hot hopping at the arc of the mouth's roof as well as a gentler weedier hoppiness around the cheeks. It makes for a very well structured experience this fine orange amber ale under thin white foam and froth. The aroma is like a candy store that crashed into a florist but not overly so.

One lone and erroneous BAer gave a "C" review as of the date of this review. He's entitled to his opinion and we have to respect his understanding of his own palate. Then we have to agree he is just plain wrong.