Project Dank - Jupiter Edition
La Cumbre Brewing Co.

In a little over the span of a month I had this on tap at the brewpub and across a four pack spaced out about a week apart. I’m sipping my final can and appreciating what a great beer this is. The pour still looks incredible, a glowing gold-yellow with impressive head retention. The nose still conveys an expressive, impressive aroma that lives up to its name—dank, sticky, green—as does the sip. The moderate bitterness and drying finish make up for what little malt is there. Fantastic brew.

 

this is nice, cool that they are packaging different versions and acknowledging them as such now, i had no idea, but these guys are a regional king of hops and i was stoked to get to drink on this one! i would not say its anywhere near as compelling as the original i had a bunch of times many years ago, but even then it used to rotate some, did it not? im not sure this is at peak freshness, but its still real identifiable as krush hops, which i can always smell across the room, one of the most recognizable varietals to me now, delicious and captivating every time, here with layers of white and green grapes, diesel fuel, and a little bit of that catty thing mosaic often brings, no mosaic in this though, citra and ekuanot with the krush, a fine combination as buzzing in the flavor as it is in the aroma, bold in the absence of a fuller grain profile but not at all out of balance. this is brassy colored, lighter bodied, neither clear nor hazy, with enough minerality to seem almost a tad metallic as it warms, but its also packed with juicy orange and grapefruit and lemongrass, sauvignon blanc and a high thiol thing going on, and then enough bitterness to have some snap despite a little residual sugar. these hops are dancing on the palate, vibrant and playful, approachable for being this bold too i reckon, melon and lemon, orange peel and mango, summery all the way. good carbonation, this moves well and drinks easy, would love to catch it a little closer to ideal freshness, but its lovely anyway, and it has me frothing to try the other named variants of this, cool that they turned it into a little series, this is weedy and highly aromatic and i think is an awesome expression of krush with a fine supporting cast of hops. nice.

 

The beer is a light gold color. A one-inch white head persists. Small amount of lace.
Aroma of grapefruit and pine resin.
Pine resin early in the taste, late grapefruit biscuit background.
Slick in the mouth.

Pours a soft, straw yellow hue, appears a sharp, clear light gold color in the glass; very dense carbonation with fine bubbles; densely sudsy and thick head, white, long-lasting, with stringy fingers of foam clinging to the glass. Wonderful smell of pine resin, grapefruit, red berries and honeydew melon. Incredibly balanced and complex flavors; soft, biscuit-like backbone infused with dominant yet balanced hop bitterness; subdued, mellow sweetness; notes of dried herbs like thyme and sage. Medium bodied; soft and pillowy on the palate; delicate dryness and low-key prickliness with each sip.

This is likely one of the best renditions of Project Dank that I've experienced. Complex and refined.

ABV: 7.5%; pouring temperature: 44.6 ℉; canning info: CO 03/05/25 BB 06/03/25
Source; local purchase (Weber Street Liquors)