Rudy's Kung Fu Grip
Nodding Head Brewery

Beer Geek Stats
From:
Nodding Head Brewery
 
Pennsylvania, United States
Style:
American Strong Ale
ABV:
11%
Score:
Needs more ratings
Avg:
3.8 | pDev: 17.11%
Reviews:
8
Ratings:
9
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Feb 20, 2014
Added:
Mar 19, 2004
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  0
Although this beer was originally developed and brewed by Brandon Greenwood, Gordon Grubb has brought it back into existance on a rotating basis. I have therefore unretired it in the database.
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Recent ratings and reviews.
 
Rated: 4.25 by DustinSWB from Florida

Feb 20, 2014
Photo of LilBeerDoctor
Reviewed by LilBeerDoctor from New York

2.86/5  rDev -24.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
On tap at the brewpub. Pours a deep amber with a very small head. Aroma of melon rind, yeast, spices. Flavor is very sweet and melony, not very good and kind of odd. This is one of those poorly brewed Belgians and it should be avoided.
6/4/5/3/12 (3.0/5)
Jan 11, 2009
Photo of tempest
Reviewed by tempest from New York

3.18/5  rDev -16.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Well, it hides the alcohol well, it's smooth, and it's not offensive in any way, but this beer just falls flat for me. It's appropriately thick for 11% abv with Belgian spice and candy flavors, but there's nothing going on with hops or malt really. It's like the beer got Belgian yeast character and nothing else.
Jan 28, 2008
Photo of woodychandler
Reviewed by woodychandler from Pennsylvania

4.46/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
This was served in a cocktail glass due to its relatively high ABV and began with a thin, medium-tan head with little retention. The color was a slightly cloudy deep amber. The nose was at once fruity, malty, and musty, but mostly sweet smelling with notes of plum and cherry. The mouthfeel was full, thick and with a slight amount of alcohol heat. Warming, the fruitiness became much more prevalent, especially the overripe canteloupe on the extreme finish. I am so glad that this has returned.
Mar 20, 2007
Photo of RBorsato
Reviewed by RBorsato from Virginia

4.75/5  rDev +25%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Tasted On-Tap 03/08/06 at the Nodding Head brewpub.

Dark deep red/mahogany in color with a decent beige head which leaves nice lacing. Well carbonated. Prominent Belgian yeasty and dark fruited aroma and flavor. Some plum and raisin fruit character with spicy phenols - possibly all from the alcohol since I doubt any spices were added. Full bodied and warming with a decent but not overly strong alcohol finish.

A very nice Belgian Strong Dark Ale. Maybe they changed the style since brewing it last time ??!

Per NHB menu: Belgian Style Ale. 11% ABV.
May 10, 2006
Photo of IrishRedRock
Reviewed by IrishRedRock from Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Well Rudy's Kung Fu Grip is back on tap at Nodding Head, and judging from prior reviews it may be a bit different, because it was friggin' excellent. Very much a ringer for Troegs Mad Elf, though fuller bodied, less sweet and the booze is hidden better. Same ABV as the Elf too (11%).

Pours a deep dark red with a fluffy cream puff head. Fruity aroma, cherries and booze are notable. Flavor is akin to black cherry vanilla ice cream with a wheat malty goodness draped in plum skins. No alcohol burn whatsoever, but will put you on your ass after 2 (at which point I said, "no! no more! It's delicious but I can't! Water please."
So that about sums up it's drinkability. Good but potent. Lovely, light carbonation gives nice balance to it's mild ester sweetness and strength. Certainly one worth trying, and I noticed quite a few people were doing just that. A fine creation from Nodding Head.
Feb 11, 2006
Photo of aracauna
Reviewed by aracauna from Georgia

3.36/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
This is a pretty, dark prune-juice mahagony color. The flavor is a bit sugary and the Belgian yeast profile is low. There is a bit of over-ripe fruit in there, though. This is a very timid attempt at a Belgian strong, but not really that bad of beer.
Jun 07, 2004
Photo of PSUDREW
Reviewed by PSUDREW from Pennsylvania

3.07/5  rDev -19.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a dark ruddy brown color, with light head.
Very sweet smell, the dance under the nose.
The overdominant tast was that of fruit esters. More specifically, of a plums raisin mix. An intersting mix, but not one that I am overly impressed with. . not a bad representation of any belgian style, but something to seek out, it is not.
Apr 26, 2004
Photo of gueuzegeek
Reviewed by gueuzegeek from New Jersey

4/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This beer was a surprise served at the philly "book and the cook" vegan dinner at NH. I heard a story about how it got it's name, but do not recall it well enough to repeat it directly, all I can say is it had to do with the brewer getting attacked by (I believe) a friend's bird named Rudy, who held on with a "Kung-Fu" Grip! About the beer...It was a very nice clear red color, and it was poured via a pitcher from the tap to a wine glass, but I did notice, when poured properly by one of the servers, it did have a nice fluffy head that seemed to linger a bit. There was a nice pleasant sweet aroma to it, which carried through to the taste. I do not know the ABV, however, I would hazard a guess of 9-10%. It was not apparent at first, however, as the beer warmed a bit more, there was a bit of an alcohol bite to it, but I still can say, even with that, the taste was nice and sweet, but not clawingly so in anyway. There were some pleasant spicy undertones to the beer as well. It was definitely well balanced to me. Since this was a special brew that was presented as a surprise addition to the dinner, so I do not know if it will be available again.
Mar 19, 2004
Rudy's Kung Fu Grip from Nodding Head Brewery
Beer rating: 3.8 out of 5 with 9 ratings