Kuka - Blonde
Andean Brewing Company / Nap Time Liquid Creation

Kuka - BlondeKuka - Blonde
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Andean Brewing Company / Nap Time Liquid Creation
 
New York, United States
Style:
Belgian Blonde Ale
ABV:
6.5%
Score:
77
Avg:
3.29 | pDev: 15.81%
Reviews:
11
Ratings:
58
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jun 08, 2017
Added:
May 21, 2013
Wants:
  0
Gots:
  14
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Photo of NeroFiddled
Reviewed by NeroFiddled from Pennsylvania

3.79/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Andean Brewing Co. "Kuka Belgian Blonde"
12 fl. oz. brown glass bottle without freshness dating
$2.49 @ Total Wine & More, Cherry Hill, NJ

Notes via stream of consciousness: Wow, I thought I was buying an actual Belgian ale, and I was excited that the Belgians were stepping up their game and introducing new beers but alas, this is from New York. It does say that it's "brewed with maca root", so at least that's something. It's poured a hazy yellow-gold, exactly what you'd expect of the style, and the short head of bright white has dropped down to a standard collar and whispy surface covering leaving only short 'mountains' of lace rising from the surface of the beer along the edge of the glass. Looking into the base of the bottle I can see that there's a good deal of yeast sedimented there, not sure if that's for better or worse but I'll hope for 'better'. The aroma is a little spicy, I think I'm picking up coriander, and fruity... hmm, I'm not really sure, perhaps apple and berries, and maybe a hint of lemon or some other citrus rind. The flavor is really quite different, although now I'm sure I'm getting lemon. There's a kind of caramelish breadiness, and something woody or tea-like that I'm guessing is coming from the maca root. It lingers bitterly in the finish, although the beer isn't really that bitter. It's tannic, or astringent. And that sharper fruitines of red berries and apple isn't there, just the lemon and some banana which is OK, I get it, it's from the yeast and just in the aroma but the change from expecting it to not finding it is kind of weird. I hope this isn't sounding bad though, I'd doubt that most imbibers would find it unusual because, really, it is very much just a basic Belgian-style blonde ale. Hmm, I just can't get past that earthy, spicy, almost pungent thing at the end, although I'm now tasting more of the fruitiness that I was missing, some plum and perhaps peach. Pretty malty overall. It's kind of sweetish but then it mostly dries in the end as the malt erodes and that bitterness rises. Medium bodied with a fine-bubbled, slightly moderate carbonation that leaves it a touch creamy. In the end I think that the maca root might have been a bad idea, but I understand it's the Andean brewing company and that's their thing. I can't really recommend this one. It doesn't fit the style well, and the maca root hasn't helped it, and in fact, hinders it.
Jun 08, 2017
 
Rated: 3.63 by Redscot from New York

May 24, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by AmitC from New York

Feb 25, 2017
 
Rated: 3.16 by Jstarr2517 from Connecticut

Aug 12, 2016
 
Rated: 3.17 by eire from Alaska

Mar 19, 2016
Photo of breardon1776
Reviewed by breardon1776 from New York

2.93/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.25
Not pale or blonde. Pours decent head and strong lacing. Drinks heavy with feel and flavor closer to an IPA. I do like texture, flavor profile and drinkability however gave it lower scores because didn't meet normal characteristics. I would drink again though.
Oct 20, 2015
 
Rated: 3.3 by Pav5069 from Pennsylvania

Aug 16, 2015
 
Rated: 2.49 by DerekE4750 from New York

Aug 03, 2015
 
Rated: 2.9 by Homebrew from Connecticut

Jul 04, 2015
 
Rated: 3.43 by Geobus from Massachusetts

Jun 16, 2015
Photo of Z-man
Rated by Z-man from Michigan

4.06/5  rDev +23.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
As long as you aren't expecting a true Blonde, this is good. A bit heavier with good flavor.
Mar 09, 2015
Photo of frankwoj
Rated by frankwoj from Pennsylvania

2.03/5  rDev -38.3%
look: 2.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 1.75 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.75
Not a true Blonde Ale. Don't bother
Feb 21, 2015
 
Rated: 3.62 by jrand2621 from Connecticut

Dec 29, 2014
 
Rated: 4.76 by DJreegs

Dec 12, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by Kelp from New Hampshire

Nov 08, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by Tiernan from Texas

Oct 05, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by rorjets from Connecticut

Sep 23, 2014
Photo of seedyone
Reviewed by seedyone from New York

3.75/5  rDev +14%
01/30/14 On tap at Rattle n Hum, NYC. If this is a 'blonde' someone switched the bottles at the salon. It's much nearer a red or a strong ale. Enjoyable if you put aside the expectation of the lightness of being that blonde infers. Haters are gonna' hate but open up & try one.
Sep 11, 2014
 
Rated: 2.5 by probert from New York

Sep 01, 2014
 
Rated: 3.2 by Dewback4 from Pennsylvania

Sep 01, 2014
Kuka - Blonde from Andean Brewing Company / Nap Time Liquid Creation
Beer rating: 77 out of 100 with 58 ratings