Kraken
Ninkasi Brewing Company

ninkasi's best imo

had it at the tasting bar in the sampler and liked it so much i had to have a pint of it even though i was driving.

good looking clear amber color.

this beer smells like sticking your nose in a hop bag. citrusy, earthy (like freshly dug up dirt), dank, piny, wonderfulness.

taste is delicious and surprisingly balanced. it smells like hops are going to be dominant but they have to compete with the light, caramelly maltiness and in the end they finish together in an aftertaste of citrus fruits and northwest pine.

good mouthfeel and pretty damn drinkable for 8%

i would probably label this an ipa if i were doing the naming of this beer

A: Advertised as a Summer Strong Ale this beer poured a amber color with good carbonation and a nice white head

S: SOme pine, floral and a caramel scent

T: Piney hops, caramel malt and a slight bittnerness but the middle was boring

M: A nice hoppy, refreshingness with a booze kick

D: OK

On tap at Apex Bar in Portland Oregon. Bartender didn't know the style so we were guessing, and guessed all wrong: maibock, double IPA... Maybe we had broken palates tonight but I think it says something about this beer. Pours a dark copper/amber with a foamy white head that remains in small form for the duration. Nose is pine hops, wheat, and caramel. Flavor up front is more pine hops. The second act is the problem, what a mess. Caramel, photoreacted hop flavors, very unpleasant. Finishes with a really long and excellent wheat, yeast, and grain ride. This beer is all over the place and needs some fine tuning, but was a nice drink.

Kraken is a red amber with a thin, fluffy off-white head that leaves good lacing. Caramel malt aromas mix with light citrus hops. The caramel and grapefruit make an interesting balalnce with just a hint of roasted malt in the overall sweet alcohol finish. Mouthfeel is smooth and a bit silky with just the right carbonation.

Grapefruit and caramel sounds weird but it works in a great way. Great texture in the beer doesn't give way to the normal lingering grapefruit bitterness but instead is taken over by the roasted malts and alcohol. A great strong ale they will hopefully fine tune to their liking and bottle someday.