KQ Express
Topa Topa Brewing

 

 

Agree with the prior reviews, this one is a lovely surprise - excellent in all regards. Will buy frequently.

 

Type: 16-oz. can
Reviewed as: Japanese Rice Lager
Glass: Clear 16-oz. Bruges beer glass
Price: $3.49
From: Windmill Farms in Del Cerro (San Diego), Calif.
Purchased: July 11, 2021
Consumed: July 24, 2021
Misc.: No canned on date

Grabbed a can of this and some other stuff while looking for some North Park cans at Windmill Farms. Online description from Bine & Vine read “Ossu, friends! Our next stop in the Brewer’s Series is a ride on the KQ Express – a hoppy rice lager conducted by our Lead Brewer Justin as a tribute to Japan’s elaborate railway system. Let the KQ Express take you from Yokohama to Tokyo and back again with each extra crisp sip; gaze out the window as you and your taste buds are transported through citrusy city lights glowing with floral fluorescence, all courtesy of a packed passenger car of Citra super-“dry” hops! So whether you’re going shopping or just prefecture hopping, ride the KQ Express- ’cause this shinkansen’s not stoppin’… Kanpai!” Tasting notes mentioned were lime, lychee and jasmine.

Poured a pale yellow clear color with 2-to-3 fingers of frothy off-white head. Plenty of bubbles coming up from the bottom and sides of the glass at different speeds. Excellent foamy lacing. Outstanding retention. (Sight - 4.25)

Smelled Citra, wild rice, grain, lime, grapefruit rind, melon and hints of sea salt. Even better out of the can with Citra and lime dominating. (Smell - 4.00)

Tasted almost as good as the nose. Really a nice mix of IPA and lager notes. In order got Citra, lime, coconut, ginger, lemon peel, Jasmine rice, black pepper, grapefruit rind, melon and hints of sea salt. (Taste - 4.00)

Medium body. Oily texture. Lively carbonation. Clean, crisp finish. (Feel - 4.25)

Wow. Was surprised at how much I liked this. Outstanding overall. (Overall - 4.00)

4.04 | 90 | A-

Bought from Craft Shack. In only one shipment of 17 beers, I received three rice lagers. That is enough to prompt a theory about the style, despite having only 11 rice lagers and most of them from visits to California or shipments from there. The theory is this: rice has gotten a bad reputation among crafters (and their consumers) because the macros use rice as a sub for barley. But in the hands of crafters, my theory continues, rice offers subtleties not typical of brewing. The theory continues that California, where many trends start, discovered these subtleties first. Hence, we should expect more and more rice lagers from crafters elsewhere on this continent. What think you of my try-partite theory?

KQ Express was a perfect pairing with popcorn. While I could not detect it Looking or Smelling much different than its peers, KQ Tastes and Feels better... principally because of the lemon. I like how KQ Express brings the most world-changing aspect of Japanese culture -- the Shinkansen fast trains -- into the brewing world. (I'm a rail fan.)

As for my micro-review of Topa Topa... They are almost 7 years old and it is hard to be critical of brewers bringing culture and good times to people already living in Paradise without appearing jealous, so I won't criticize. But I will offer some advice: now 7 years old, Topa Topa has made its cells anew (in the Tao tradition) and you have another 7 years to make yourself new again. Something to think about.