The Kernel India Pale Ale Double Citra

Brewed by The Kernel
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
London, England

Serve in Shaker, Snifter

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(draught) pours a slightly hazy golden colour with a frothy white head. aroma of kiwi and lime peel, light caramel, gooseberries, milk chocolate and strawberries. flavour is mostly herbal hops and tropical fruit, quite sweet, with noticeable alcohol, a hint of cooked vegetables and a light-bitter finish. heavy-bodied with average carbonation.

Is this the best IPA ever? Possibly. I’ll do my rating and see how it stacks up. The nose first - full of juicy citrus - lots of orange, some papaya, a glimpse of peppery spruce, more orange (this time the zest). The pour is that of a bottle conditioned beer - who cares? The flavour brings a tear to the eye - balanced, fruity and fat with hoppy goodness. Fresh, dripping mango, a little kiwifruit, lemon and lime juice, and all given balance with a spicy underpinning piney bitterness as if a christmas tree has been stir fried in orange juice. A gentle astringency serves to remind you of the whopping alcohol content - although nothing else does. I’m looking at those numbers and I’m thinking yes, this is the best IPA ever. Frankly, it’s amazing. Well done Kernel. Now do a Nelson Sauvin DIPA, and my Westy triple rating may well be under threat!

On tap @CBC13. Cloudy orange with white head. Nice hoppy aroma with tropical fruits and a caramel backbone. Flavor has a bit of sweet malt and lots of fruity hops with moderate bitterness. Not overly massive hop-shock-bitter

Keg at the euston tap. Cloudy light Orange, scum thin white head. Bit juicy fruit Orange lemon aroma. Really fresh. Chalky lemon rind. Spritzy carb, dry finish. Aggressive clean bitterness. Very good indeed.

160513. Bottle at home. Pours clear copper with a nice head. Aroma fruity hops, urinal cake. Bitter taste with a hint of alcohol. Very nice overall. Not Bad.

330ml bottle [9.7% abv]. Cloudy golden colour with small to average, creamy, half-way lasting, minimally lacing, white head. Superb and intense citrusy hop aroma with a herbal touch, pine, grapefruit, mango, tangerine, orange peel. Taste is minimally bitter hoppy, excellent fruity notes of mango, peach, grapefruit, some pine, a herbal touch; long lasting finish with a sweet, spicy, minimally peppery carrot note, well hidden alcohol (except for its agency). A fruit bomb with astonishing easiness. Wow!

Draught at CBC 2013. Cloudy yellow - white head. Cactus, citra, sweetness, knækbrød, bitterness, fruity, light to medium malty, pine needle notes, citrus, peel.

Draft. An unclear golden beer with a yellowish head. The aroma has notes of lemons, hops, and straw. The flavor is sweet with notes of lemons, straw, malt, and hops, leading to a bitter finish.

[5/4/13] Draught at Copenhagen Beer Celebration 2013. Cloudy orange. Wonderful hoppy aroma full of tropical fruits. Flavor has a bit of sweet malt and lots of fruity hops with moderate bitterness. Medium-bodied. Very good stuff.

CBC. Hazy golden with a white head. Aroma is sweet, malty and very hoppy - fruity. Flavor is quite sweet and rather bitter. Dry and rather bitter finish. 040513