Duclaw eXile X-5 Sorachi Ace IPA

I picked up a bottle of Duclaw eXile X-5 Sorachi Ace IPA while at the release party at Al’s of Hampden. The beer pours a golden color with a frothy white head that recedes rapidly and leaves a nice lacing on the glass. The aroma consists of lemon, caramel, wheat, hop funk, and sorachi ace. The taste is spicy and bitter with lots of pepper, sorachi ace, and lemon on the front end. You can detect that there is a caramel and wheat background, but it never comes to the front, as the spiciness takes over this beer. The finish is dry and champagne-like, which is quite enjoyable. The alcohol content is 6.0% ABV. I loved this beer and can’t rave enough about it. It was similar to blending a farmhouse ale with an IPA, giving you hoppy and spicy all in one beer.