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Kuka - Blonde
Andean Brewing Company / Nap Time Liquid Creation
- 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:
- 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.
Reviewed by NeroFiddled from Pennsylvania
3.79/5 rDev +15.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
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, 201712 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.
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
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, 2015Rated by Z-man from Michigan
4.06/5 rDev +23.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
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, 2015Rated 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
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, 2015Reviewed by seedyone from New York
3.75/5 rDev +14%
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
Kuka - Blonde from Andean Brewing Company / Nap Time Liquid Creation
Beer rating:
77 out of
100 with
58 ratings
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