What: Blended Imperial IPA or "hoppy ale" as per the can; 8% ABV [blend of 3 separate IPAs]

How we had it: Out of a can into a Lord Hobo tulip snifter within one week of packaging

What we saw: Bright and opaque orange with a one finger white foamy head. Head quickly dissipates to a light layer of foam over top and a nice thick ring around the border of the glass which remains throughout. Beautiful lacing on glass as well. Really inviting beer to see in a glass and great head retention.

What we Smelled: An interesting combination of tropical fruit and pine. A faint bready sweetness trails behind the pronounced resinous hop character of this beer balancing the aroma. The hop profile presents ripe pineapple, mango, earth, and pine, with grapefruit becoming more present as the beer warms.

What we tasted: An immediate attack of hops. A pleasant bitterness lingers on the tongue but does not overwhelm the palate - but this is a hoppy beer! The tropical fruit first noticed on the nose follows suit up front of palate with the bitterness coming next. A really nice malt presence holds up the hops and balances the flavor and bitterness of the hops. In our opinion, this malt backbone is crucial to the balanced nature of the beer. The malt backbone of the beer, accomplished by blending three of Lord Hobo's IPAs, allows the hops to shine while maintaining a flavorful vehicle for the bitterness and resinous nature of the 8 hops found in the beer. At 8%, the ABV lends to the body of the beer but is not more than a faint character in the flavor profile which adds some more complexity to the beer. Again, as the beer warms, the tropical fruit character gives way to the grapefruit which becomes the dominant flavor.

What we thought: From start to finish this beer displays balance and purpose. It's a wonderfully crafted blend of three IPAs, blended to achieve that balance. Along with that balance, the beer lends itself to the dinner table more so than most IPAs. If you're looking for an IPA that is nothing more than a hop soda, this is not your beer - but if you're looking for a creative, balanced, and complex interpretation of the style this is a winner. It's more than just hops and we appreciate it's reliance upon a proper and well crafted malt backbone. Boom Sauce would go fantastic with heavily spiced foods, jerk seasoning, or Indian food (think hot tandoori chicken). It's a unique interpretation of the style drawing influence from the staple west coast IPAs which brought the style to the forefront in the first place. It is definitely its own beer. Try it fresh and let it warm just a bit to allow the complexity of the beer shine.