White Oak Jai Alai

◎ Appearance

Pale golden amber with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent white head that clings to the glass as you drink. Carbonation is lively and well-integrated, creating a steady stream of small bubbles from the base. The color reflects the oak aging without darkening into deeper amber territory, maintaining the brightness characteristic of the base IPA.

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with pronounced white oak and vanilla notes, layered over a pronounced tropical fruit character from the Azacca and Simcoe hops—think mango, pineapple, and passionfruit. Beneath these lie subtle cedar and toasted wood undertones from the barrel aging, with a hint of coconut that softens the spice. The oak integration is seamless rather than aggressive, allowing the citrus character from Cascade and Comet to emerge as a bright counterpoint.

◐ Taste

Entry is full-bodied and structured, with prominent oak and vanilla sweetness meeting a wave of tropical and stone fruit flavors. Mid-palate shows good balance between the creamy oak influence and the herbal, resinous hop bitterness; the beer feels clean and well-defined rather than syrupy. Finish dries progressively, with lingering bitterness (60 IBUs) cutting through the residual vanilla and wood spice, leaving a pleasant astringency on the palate.

◑ Finish

The aftertaste is medium-length, fading from wood spice and vanilla into a dry, slightly bitter conclusion. The oak and coconut linger subtly beneath the final hop expression, creating a satisfying and memorable exit.