India Pale Ale Cascade Stella
The Kernel Brewery

A 330ml bottle with a BB of Feb 2013 (bottled Oct 2012), so it's a little out of date. I should've checked before buying. Hopped with Cascade and Stella.

Poured into a Delirium chalice. Bottle conditioned. A hazy golden-amber hue with fine sediment and medium carbonation. Produces a large head of creamy white foam with decent retention; this slowly reduces to a frothy surface layer. Some lacing. Aroma of fruity hops with notes of melon, white grape, orange peel, lime, citrus, grass/hay and mild herbs. This is underpinned by hints of caramel malt and earthy yeast.

Tastes of fruity aromatic hops with an intense bitter finish. Notes of orange peel, grapefruit, citrus, white grape, melon, faint tropical fruits, earthy yeast, grass, mild caramel and stewed hops. A slight hint of funk in the background. Well-attenuated, with a strident bitterness upon swallowing. The alcohol is well hidden. Mouthfeel is smooth, dry, tingly and lightly spicy, with pleasant carbonation and lovely body. Quite astringent, with an aftertaste of bitter aromatic hops, stewed leaves and earthy yeast.

Nice, plenty of hop notes to tantalise the palate. The bottle being out of date doesn't seem to have harmed the flavour too much. Looks great, with a juicy hop aroma. The flavour is good as well; just a whisper of blue cheese funk lurking underneath. Satisfying body. Another quality brew from Kernel - these guys really know what they're doing. Well worth sampling if you come across it.