Extremely pale straw yellow beer, a touch hazy, with a soda-like appearance. Candied ginger aroma, spicy and herbal, with suggestions of cardamom and lilacs. Thin and crisp in the mouth, with some unpleasant tannins up front. Compared to the aroma, the ginger character is very tame in the flavor, while a lemony bitterness puckers things up just a bit.

Light pale malt sweetness, while the wildflower honey used is well-attenuated, leaving behind a pleasing floral note and slight remnants of raw honey. Hints of cardamom, with a lingering raw and semi-astringent pith, husky and wheat-like character in the finish. The tannins throughout the beer, especially in the finish, took a lot away from allowing the subtleties of the brew to shine. Interesting, but not refreshing or overly drinkable.

The 22-ounce brown bomber pours with a thickness and leaves three fingers of stodgy head. A head that does not want to move. Slightly hazy reddish-amber color. Spicy herbal hops with suggestions of wintergreen, pine sap and grapefruit rind. Some alcoholic fruity esters, rum, cane sugar and toasted malt in the nose as well. So damn smooth and creamy, with a sumptuously full body. Light brown sugar on the palate, then a fume of well-placed alcohol, and then the hops show up bitter as ever, but not a sharp bitterness or astringency. Big tobacco, citrus rind, pine sap and mint flavor from the hops stick to the taste buds for a while. Lots of malt behind the hops; toasted bread, caramel and yeast dough come to mind. A bit fruity with pineapple, papaya and ripe mango. Sting of alcohol in the end with a bittersweet finish.