Described as an experimental IPA made with Mosaic and Centennial hops, this beer presents a clear golden color with a thin white head which leaves nice lacing on the glass. The mosaic hops deliver a pleasing pungent aroma that invites the first sip which presents flavors of citrus and a juicy dank hop candy flavor that I associate with the so called “Vermont Style IPA.” This style is defined over and against “East Coast IPA” and “West Coast IPA.” East Coast IPA, as the story goes, balances overtly sweet malts with overtly bitter kettle hops, not too much hop aroma and flavor, and a more amber color. West Coast IPAs, tend to be golden in color with an emphasis on the late addition of large amounts piney and resinous hops—beers made this way have low key malts with pronounced hop flavor and aroma with a dry bitter finish. Vermont style IPA keep the golden color but push hop additions still later in order to deliver great hop flavor and aroma, but with less bitterness allowing balance to occur between the hops and the malt. The Vermont style is associated with hard to get brews made by breweries like Fiddlehead, The Alchemist, and Hill Farmstead —beer fans flock to Vermont for these beers. This experiment at Old First Ward has created a Vermont IPA in Western NY. No need to drive to VT when you can drive to the Ward, right?