Sap Stories: Chapter 1 by Arches Brewing is an American IPA and is being evaluated as an American IPA (category 21A from the 2021 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines). American IPAs are hop-forward beers typically expressing American or new-world hop characters that are most typically citrusy, piney or resiny in character.

Sap Stories: Chapter 1 pours amber in color with good clarity and a small, off-white head. The aroma is of moderately citrusy and resiny hops well balanced by a moderate biscuit and toffee maltiness. The flavor is of moderate biscuity malt with an evenly balanced resiny hopiness. The beer finishes with an appropriately moderately strong bitterness with a lingering moderate biscuity malt and resiny hop note.

Sap Stories: Chapter 1 is a solid IPA but with a peculiar flavor profile. The malt is very biscuity where typically caramel or toasted malt flavors are expected. Also, the balance between the malt and hops are almost even where typically IPAs have a hop flavor that is more prominent. Regardless, Sap Stories: Chapter 1 is a solid beer.