Driftwood Brewing, located in Victoria, BC has a very limited distribution area. As such, I was given this beer from a friend who just returned from the province. Fat Tug is a 7% alcohol by volume, 80 IBU India Pale Ale. Not only am I extremely excited to try this as it is a much hyped beer from a brewery I’ve never had anything from, but this is also my 800th beer. I’m excited to crack this one open.

The pour is a light brownish orange with a light yellowish white head full of tiny, tiny bubbles. A thick ring of lacing is left on the glass after my first gulp. A few bubbles cascade upwards in the body.The head slowly died to a thin, densely packed finger of off white foam. The nose is sweet and fruity with a resinous hopped up aroma and a light caramel malt. A bunch of grapefruit and piney notes atop a bit of a sweet apricot and tropical fruit with a whif of alcohol and resinous hops. In the middle I get a sweet, slightly pined note with a bit of a brown sugar and toffee malt. The finish has a resinous smack and slick, sticky mouthfeel. A bit of alcohol in the aftertaste with a mild grapefruit tang. A lingering hop bitterness stays on well past swallowing. Overall, this is a fantastic IPA; sticky, resinous, bitter and sweet. Fat Tug manages to drink less than 80 IBU’s whilst still adding the resinous smack of sticky hops to overall libation. Cheers!

Grade: A