It’s my usual Wednesday night out for a beer but no one is available. I guess there’s too much going on during the holiday season.

On a cold evening, I made the 10-minute walk to Sapwood Cellars for a quick one. For a cold Wednesday 2 weeks before Christmas, there was a good crowd in the tasting room.

My target was a half pour of Hop Gem. In a word, wow! This IPA explodes with flavor in unexpected ways. The first few sips reminded me of pineapple juice but less cloying. I mentioned the unique pineapple flavor to Spencer, the Sapwood’s taproom manager. He said that’s the Sultana hops, well known for its pineapple flavor.

This well-balanced NEIPA is bursting with tropical fruit flavors. It’s soft, juicy, a real standout at Sapwood. I look forward to my next one.

Cheers!

Warren