Kiwi Krush
902 Brewing Co.

 

902 Brewing Co. "Kiwi Krush"
16 fl. oz. can without production codes or freshness dating
"Brewed by KUKA Beer Blauvelt, NY for 902 Brewing Company, Hudson County, NJ
$3.49 @ Roger Wilco, Pennsauken, NJ

Notes via stream of consciousness: So this is a "NZ Style India Pale Ale"? I'll assume that's a New England style IPA done with hops from New Zealend but I really have no idea. Ah, yes, there it is on the label, Pacifica and Wakatu hops. It's cloudy, that's for sure, and yellow-orange in color. It looks like a glass of orange juice. The head is a finger-thick cap of fluffy bright white foam. It's right on for a New England style IPA. The aroma is lightly citrusy with orange, and floral and delicately spicy. It's not a bold hop aroma but it's definitely noticeable. It's kind of mellow, and welcoming. On to the flavor... some nice, sweetish malt acts as a base for the hops to shine. I'm getting the orange, a little bit of apple, perhaps from the yeast, and floral and gently earthy and spicy notes. A very firm bitterness balances it (the label lists 50 IBUs although it seems more like 40 to me), and the spiciness of the hops helps to dry it in the finish. Interesting! I don't think I've ever encountered this combination of hops before. It's almost as if you mixed Hallertauer Mittelfruh with some Mandarina Bavaria and something a bit more floral. Nice. In the mouth it's light-medium in body, ore perhaps the other way around, medium-light, and gently crisp and then smooth across the palate. I like it! And I'm curious as to what it would be like if it had been done as a standard IPA. Worth trying.
Review# 6,234

 

16 oz. can poured into snifter
(courtesy of @TongoRad)

L: murky pale yellow, like pineapple juice, very light shade of yellow (SRM 2); pushes up about a finger of white foam; no sticking or lacing but keeps a bright collar of white foam; looks like it might clear over time

S: earthy fruit peels, grapefruit peel; as it warms a tropical fruit aroma pokes out, starfruit or pear ... perhaps a pinch of kiwi ... never as sweet as mango and always understated; just a pinch of something tart or farmhouse sour in the background, but when I say pinch I mean the tiniest of notes, for it's not actually sour ... just that little hint of the tart farmhouse aroma, perhaps just a little extra yeast

T: like the nose, starts off quite earthy, almost like a farmhouse ale ... tangy if not tart ... and quickly the malt backbone comes forward, some biscuity sweetness though very light; light tropical fruit flavor shows up as it warms, perhaps kiwi ... super light and a bit hard to pick up but teasingly tasty

F: medium-thick, really fills out when the carbonation sets in, and slightly ale slick; still, it's not too heavy ... in fact, it has a cool way of starting off light and almost watery then settling into a solid midweight; well-made brew

O: pretty cool beer and big points to the brewer for delivering a slightly different spin on the style; not overly hoppy but also not a mushy mess of malt ... unique and tasty yet understated with different flavors sneaking in and out and all of them always tame