London Brick (collaboration Red Rye Ale) - The Kernel Brewery

jazzyjeff13

United Kingdom (England)

3.79/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A 330ml bottle with a BB of Feb 2013 (bottled Aug 2012). Acquired a little while back from Trembling Madness in York. Apparently this is the result of a collaboration between no fewer than 5 breweries in or near London. Sounds creative....

Poured into a Delirium chalice. Bottle condtioned. A very hazy marmalade-amber hue that darkens as the yeast permeates the liquid. I did my best to leave the lees in the bottle, but didn't totally succeed. Yields a large head of creamy off-white foam that lasts for a few minutes before reducing to a surface layer. Aroma of intensely juicy hops: grapefruit, orange peel, citrus and white fruits. This is underpinned by notes of caramel malt, mild grain, spicy rye, faint brown sugar, earthy yeast and stewed hops. There is a whiff of blue cheese funk lurking in the background (probably from the yeast dregs), which is vaguely unpleasant.

Tastes of exceptionally fruity hops with a powerful bitter finish. Notes of grapefruit, citrus, peel, white fruits, caramel malt, rye, earthy yeast and stewed hops. A distinct hint of funkiness/mould in the background. Spicy and dry, with a strident bitterness upon swallowing. Mouthfeel is smooth and tingly, with a pleasant hoppy prickliness on the palate. Lovely body, but feels a tad flat and undercarbonated. Rather astringent, with an aftertaste of juicy hop notes, yeast, caramel malt and a whiff of funk.

Nice, and certainly one for the hopheads. They must have crammed the mash full of hops. Looks a bit murky after pouring, but the smell is fantastic and the flavour is solid as well. Plenty of fruity notes in the aroma/taste. Body is good but carbonation could be improved. The only downside is the lurking yeasty funk - it's a bit too blue cheese-like for my tastes and detracts from the brew. Other than that, no complaints. Another impressive effort from Kernal (et al.) and well worth sampling if you come across it.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 23:57:54 | More by jazzyjeff13

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

3.48/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

330ml Bottle (conditioned): best before 8th feb 2013. Poured carefully into a 'Specale PALM' badged tulip @ home on 7th Dec 2012.

The beer had a full, deep creamy textured head of biege foam/bubbles: below sat a cloudy/hazy/murky body of dirty reddy brown body of beer.

Huge floral hop aroma and taste: this is one hop monster for a UK brew. Some fruity notes stood out (Pink Grapefruit, other Citrus semi-sour flavours and some red berries): giving it a different and interesting taste compared to most UK brewed beers.

The alcohol was just about hidden by the hops but not completely, will not pretend I loved the beer but I'm glad I bought it: as this brewery is making a name for it's self down in London and I wanted to see what all the fuss was about.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2012 21:09:21 | More by BlackHaddock