Aroma: “Moderate fruity peach and orange, with light citrus notes. The nose is a blend of lemon tartness with some spruce/pine-like mint character. Slight earthiness and a note of fresh straw, as well as a medium bread or yeast character.”

Flavor: “Medium spicy and dry flavor up front, with a moderate spruce and mint earthiness that extends well into the finish. Subtle wild notes and slight funk. A biscuit sweetness from the malt, and a medium body. Lightly salted, with low carbonation. A good combination of maltiness and earth tones.”

Overall: “Earthy, with light spices that dominate the flavor, as well as a light sourness and medium sweetness. It’s an unexpected pairing of spruce tips with a tart base beer, and the combination works better than spruce pale ales.”