Ginger Big Eye

This beer pours a brilliant, deep gold color with a large, cream-colored head of tiny bubbles that persists the whole time. The initial aroma is piney, with malt notes that are like toasty bread crusts. A mild ginger aroma and slight notes of garlic (probably a hop characteristic), along with background floral and tropical fruit (mango, kiwi) character emanate from the glass. The first sip brings those same bread crust and toast notes along with the piney hops, a slight ginger burn, and late, muted fresh ginger notes that waft back up through your sinuses. Substantial bitterness leads into a distinctly dry finish. Although the underlying IPA is really nice on its own, the ginger characters seems to clash with the piney hops (maybe a more floral or tropical fruit hop would be a better match), and the ginger in both the aroma and flavor could be increased for a more singular ginger beer experience. Still, this is an interesting, spicy beer that would go well with sushi.