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Whakatu
Commonwealth Brewing Company
Beer Geek Stats
| Print Shelf Talker
- From:
- Commonwealth Brewing Company
- Virginia, United States
- Style:
- American IPA
- ABV:
- 7.5%
- Score:
- 90
- Avg:
- 4.15 | pDev: 4.82%
- Reviews:
- 3
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Dec 08, 2018
- Added:
- Jul 28, 2018
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 5
SCORE
90
Outstanding
90
Outstanding
Notes:
This IPA is made with New Zealand Wakatu hops.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by hipcathobbes from District of Columbia
4.32/5 rDev +4.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.32/5 rDev +4.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Love the wakatu NZ hop and used it in my most recent homebrew. Poured this one from a can. Starts with a light orange hazy pour and a light head retention. Looks nice. Nose is grapefruit citrus and some hard to identify earthy spices. The earthiness doesn't come out in the taste at all. It's mostly tropical fruits, citrus, a bit of anise or licorice, with a piney finish. The feel is much drier, lighter, and crisper than I'm used to with the Commonwealth IPAs.
Dec 08, 2018
Reviewed by ichorNet from Massachusetts
4.31/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.31/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Wakatu is an awesome hop varietal from New Zealand and it's always good to see these unique new-school hops get some recognition in the overarching world of craft beer!
The pour here is pretty much opaque and builds up a NE-style body with a modest head of several fingers that eventually settle down to about a single finger with excellent tiered lace. Great legs here, and even the most gentle rousing of the beer in my glass leads to a renewed build up of the foamy collar that gives this brew an awesome appearance.
The nose here is very unique, with a strong penchant for the more subtle side of citrus... light notes of lemongrass, kaffir lime and red grapefruit rind along with a bit of unique spice and earthiness. Almost mushroom-like savory notes combine with fennel, nutmeg, allspice and papaya for a very interesting and unusual melange of elements that I think comes together a bit better than it seems from the description I'm writing.
The flavor profile dips a bit more into the citrusy and tropical side of things, blending mango, papaya and guava with a little bit of passion fruit, while highlighting the intense floral and herbal side of Wakatu. For instance, fennel and anise are incredible prominent here, though they blend well with the tropics to give off a heady bouquet of spice and fruit that comes off as earthy and quenching at the same time. Some surprising lemongrass and more ripe mango follow up in the mid-palate as the finish languishes in spice and light pine. Some Sauvignon Blanc qualities reminding me of Nelson Sauvin hops pop up here and there... must be a coincidence, though, right... ?
A dry and convincing finish closes the proceedings, giving off a solid feel that appears as a logical progression from the previous flavors and elements presented in this beer. I applaud Commonwealth for creating a really good borderline-double IPA from such simple ingredients... take an "NEIPA"-ish recipe and a hop that is mostly reserved for backup duty alongside such awesome varietals as Motueka, shake and let simmer... and you have this unique and complex brew.
Aug 19, 2018The pour here is pretty much opaque and builds up a NE-style body with a modest head of several fingers that eventually settle down to about a single finger with excellent tiered lace. Great legs here, and even the most gentle rousing of the beer in my glass leads to a renewed build up of the foamy collar that gives this brew an awesome appearance.
The nose here is very unique, with a strong penchant for the more subtle side of citrus... light notes of lemongrass, kaffir lime and red grapefruit rind along with a bit of unique spice and earthiness. Almost mushroom-like savory notes combine with fennel, nutmeg, allspice and papaya for a very interesting and unusual melange of elements that I think comes together a bit better than it seems from the description I'm writing.
The flavor profile dips a bit more into the citrusy and tropical side of things, blending mango, papaya and guava with a little bit of passion fruit, while highlighting the intense floral and herbal side of Wakatu. For instance, fennel and anise are incredible prominent here, though they blend well with the tropics to give off a heady bouquet of spice and fruit that comes off as earthy and quenching at the same time. Some surprising lemongrass and more ripe mango follow up in the mid-palate as the finish languishes in spice and light pine. Some Sauvignon Blanc qualities reminding me of Nelson Sauvin hops pop up here and there... must be a coincidence, though, right... ?
A dry and convincing finish closes the proceedings, giving off a solid feel that appears as a logical progression from the previous flavors and elements presented in this beer. I applaud Commonwealth for creating a really good borderline-double IPA from such simple ingredients... take an "NEIPA"-ish recipe and a hop that is mostly reserved for backup duty alongside such awesome varietals as Motueka, shake and let simmer... and you have this unique and complex brew.
Reviewed by Semh57 from Virginia
4.25/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Bought at Corks& Kegs West End Richmond,Virginia! 17+tax 4 pack of 16 ounce cans Date on the bottom of cans!! Orange/Grapefruit pour with citrus coming through upon opening! Light and Refreshing taste! Wakatu Hops! Can't believe this is a one hop series beer! Amazing amount of different citrus fruits coming through the tasting! Maybe it's just me and my taste buds but I love this! Especially on a day outside with high temperatures in the shade! A little wind to cool off things and a beer like this to have! Great! Another winner from Commonwealth! Southern Hemisphere Hops! Thanks! SEH
Jul 29, 2018
Whakatu from Commonwealth Brewing Company
Beer rating:
90 out of
100 with
10 ratings
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