What the Fuggle
Crux Fermentation Project

this is cool stuff, a rare but needed showcase of the old english fuggle hop, nobody really seems to use it like this, so i found this beer to be sort of original, simple as it is. i also think its cool that its a lager and not a pale ale or anything, no expectations of bitterness, crystal malt balance, or particular dry hop plans, it just comes in as something drinkable, but also new and different. as always with crux, the quality is high, i like the lager yeast have some taste here, and i love how crisp and light this is. the hops could pass as something much more modern and trendy in this context, things like lemongrass and verbena and holy basil and such pop from it, its fresh as can be, still with some old grassy vegetal elements, but so well used here, and i think fresher and more isolated than we usually see it, so it comes across as something new and unique. this has long been mostly a bittering hop, but its great here in a different setting, and i think it climaxes really late in the flavor, so the hops max out almost after the swallow, standing close to along at this stage. very clean fermentation, its dry and tidy, but i can still taste the yeast. on top of that, there is a crackery and earthy pils type malt thing that keeps the beer balanced without anything really english on the grain side. high carbonation too, really great texture, and this beer went down really fast. not sure how much of this they made, i have not seen it around really, but this is one i would add to their full time can lineup if it was up to me. i needed this kind of hoppy but not at all bitter lager for pounding this summer, and crux really delivered with this brew! neat use of the often overlooked (by american brewers) fuggle hop!