Wasted Weekend
Melvin Brewing

super unique beer here, a watermelon kolsch that is pretty robustly hopped, centennial and anchovy, way cool! i like how drinkable this is, a clean kolsch at the center of this is a nice place to start, and this hits crushable and refreshing but also curious and contemplation worthy, good to see some innovation from melvin, things have felt a bit stagnant there of late. the draft pour is blonde and clear and unassuming without any real pink from the fruit, short white head, great carbonation. the nose is juicy watermelon in its natural form, even a little hop bitterness casting a watermelon rind note, light white florals, kolsch yeast apparent, subtle european grain too, a little sweetness, and a compatible citrusy dry hop that actually drives attention back to the watermelon, summery and interesting, and recognizable as a kolsch despite the fruit. the flavor is nice, good balance with the fruit and the base beer, watermelon is fresh and real, juicy and pulpy and honest, no flavorings here, delicious. good minerality and biscuity malt work well as a backdrop for the watermelon, and i like what the hops bring too, a little compatible bitterness but also some neat grassy and lemony suggestions, white grapefruit and green grape too, all in service of the watermelon. lighter in body but not without some malt texture and smoothness, upbeat carbonation is right on for this, and the finish is clean for how sneakily complex this is earlier on, very drinkable, especially for a fruit beer, impressively composed. fun stuff for high summer, neat combination of fruit and base style, excellent execution.