Rakau Showers
Noble Ale Works

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Poured bottle drink before 7/14/14 into New Belgium globe

A-Pours a hazy yellow with a thin off-white head. Bits of lace.

S-Awesome herbal hoppy citrusy spicy zesty hop aroma.

T-Tastes of citrus lemon, pine, grapefruit and cantilope. Spicy zest.

M-Medium to bigger body, smooth lighter carbonation, more dry finish.

O-First time having just rakua, very interesting single hop showcase, but it doesn’t taste too unusual for me since it has that resiny pine taste. It reminded me of a better version of Tasmanian IPA but way better

 

Hazy golden orange body that supports a small half finger head of white foam. Retention on the head is absolutely terrible and fails to leave so much as a mark of lasting lace. There is a ring of white on the edge but nothing else.

Noble Ale Works have nailed this DIPA malt bill, typical unassuming and bready aroma that clears the way for all the hops. Quite pungent and strong aroma overall, fruit punch, pineapple, alot of sappy pine and some bright herbs perhaps some thyme and delicate rosemary.

Juicy and spicy profile, the malt is slightly bready and adds a mild honey sweetness that is in perfect balance. The hops are quite unique I would say that there is some artificial Hawaiian Punch flavor on the forefront that then gets over taken by sappy pine and garden herbs that provide a spicy and almost powdery kick. Not very bitter on the finish leaving a dusting of grass, pine and herbs.

Quite clean, easy body despite the ABV and smooth carbonation that is more than enough to stir up the interesting flavors here. Bitterness is quelled and muted by a powdery finish that is a bit lacking in drying.

A new hop variety for me, the malt base on this beer is ideal and the alcohol is kept so hidden that I will keep gushing about it as long as this series goes on. The Rakau hops have a strong aroma but the pungency and heavy cooking herbal aroma makes me think this is for a saison rather than an IPA. The fruit punch presence is something memorable.