Kveik IPA
Boulevard Brewing Co.

Type: 16-oz. can
Reviewed as: American Double / Imperial IPA
Glass: Monkish 16-oz. mug
Price: $3.00
From: Trader Joe’s in College Area (San Diego), Calif.
Purchased: Sept. 15, 2021
Consumed: Sept. 22, 2021
Misc.: No canned on date; Best by Dec. 3, 2021

Grabbed a can of this along with eight other singles (and three Coronado Weekend Vibes) at the campus Trader Joe’s. Boulevard’s website called it “"New horizons unfold before us with this dry-hopped IPA featuring Norwegian Hornindal yeast, acclaimed for its uncanny ability to impart vibrant tropical fruit flavors. Skål! (Cheers!) Expect big tropical fruit aromas with soft malt presence that makes way for an epically hopped beer with a medium body." Hops mentioned were Columbus, El Dorado, Azacca, Mosaic, Citra Cryo, Dry Hopping Mosaic, Strata, Simcoe, Idaho 7 and Sabro. Dang that's a lot of hops.

Poured a semi-clear amber color with 2-to-3 fingers of frothy off-white head. Could see some bubbles coming up along the sides of the glass. Lots of bubbles coming up along the sides and bottom of the glass at different speeds. Average lacing. Average retention. (Sight - 3.50)

Smelled strawberry, berry, floral, pine, red grapefruit, mango, raspberry, coconut, wood and plum. Hops that stood out (came back to this later so didn’t see the 10 mentioned) were Strata, Sabro, Azacca and Mosaic. Not quite as good out of the can. (Smell - 4.00)

Tasted even better than the nose. Damn this was good and definitely hiding that 9.0 pct. ABV. In order got strawberry, candied berry, floral, pine, red grapefruit, mango, raspberry, coconut, wood, plum, black pepper and grass. Strata still led the way but also Sabro, Azacca and Mosaic stood out. (Taste - 4.25)

Medium body. Creamy texture. Average carbonation. Long, smooth finish. (Feel - 4.50)

Wow. Such a great beer. Really grew on me. Glad I picked it up. (Overall - 4.25)

4.17 | 93 | A-

 

 

 

I'm really surprised to see the list of hops for this brew and that it's dry hopped. I've finished a 4x of this and none of it had any particular hops presence much less any fruit notes. Bready, malty, not sour and a bit heavy for my taste. Alcohol was not obvious. Dark tan verging on nut-brown, little head.

I like Boulevard products but this was a disappointment, particularly given the recipe. Worth a try if you can get a single.

16oz can (no date but coded. Code is partially rubbed off, and unreadable. Good work guys.) poured into 16oz tulip. Poured a fully muddy and murky dark orange color with an inch of white head that had moderate-to-good retention and good lacing.

The nicely funky Kveik yeast had control of the front of the scent. Behind that, the hops were of a general, undefinable, frootiness, with a touch of floral aspect around the edges.

Very similar on the tongue; Spicy, funky, lightly sour yeast at the front and front-middle, fruit and citrus in the middle, and a light funk at the back. All across the palate though, there was a definite alcohol bite and heat. The heat lingered down the front of the throat for a few moments after each sip.

The body was medium-ish, leaning towards light, was mostly smooth (with the alcohol providing a bit of contrasting coarseness), and had a medium-dry finish.

Drinkability was good, especially if one appreciates a beer that's a bit outside a box.

Overall, an interesting beer. Not sure exactly where I'm at on it, but I'll give it another shot. Try it if you see it.

16 oz can. Pours hazy golden orange with a fine medium white head that retains fairly well and laces the glass some.

The aroma is big fruity and green resiny hops with some tea notes.

The flavor is lots of fruit and earthy green hops with good bitterness. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with low carbonation.

Overall, an interesting IPA.

 

Dark copper colored with a hazy complexion. There’s a half inch of creamy, densely packed beige on top. Moderate lacing. The aroma is of peaches and pineapple. I’m tasting overripe pineapple, and pears. The mouth is moderately carbonated and crisp.

 

Pours an effervescent & slightly hazed gold/honey color with 2 fingers of cream colored head. Below average head retention & lacing

S: Berries, citrus & breadyness. peaches once warm

T: Cakeyness, a little caramel, grapefruit, pineapple & a little passion fruit & green melon up front. Pink grapefruit, green melon, cakeyness & kiwi fruit as this warms. Finishes dryish with pink grapefruit, guava & green melon

MF: Medium body, light carbonation, lovely balance

So easy to drink, I am usually not a fan of beers using this yeast strain, this makes me think it works better to my liking with the correct hops & higher ABV

 

Pour: Hazy golden, giant head.
Use is a subtle juicy orange, apple, caramel and lemon-grass/ farmhouse vibe. Not sure what to think because it’s a different thing. Interesting for sure.
Taste is sweet right off the bat, with flavor being crisp & sour apple and also orange/ tangerine. A combo that definitely seems tropical in nature, this is a nice change in an ipa even though it’s so sweet up front.
Feels pulpy yet smooth, medium carbonation and creaminess.
Love the theme, drawn to sip again and again. I’m somewhat conflicted with this one. Again, Interesting.

 

Look: Slightly hazy amber. One finger of thick white head with moderate retention.

Smell: Tropical fruit, pine, earth, sour apple.

Taste: Creamy and sweet, a combination of honey and tropical fruit with moderate funky sourness. A small hint of hops at the back end, with no bitterness.

Mouthfeel: Thick and creamy, like mildly carbonated milk.

Overall: A very unique IPA that can be a bit challenging even for an experienced beer drinker.

 

Upon opening and pouring into a modified Sam Adams perfect pint style glass with etched initiation grid on bottom, I initially sensed "stone fruit" but upon tasting it was more of a honey/brown bread/butterscotch dominated experience with a small amount of hop bitterness. Beautiful amber/dark gold, hazy color with relatively persistent, white, dense head that slowly decays to about 1/16-1/8 inch leaving some lacing. The mouthfeel is right up the alley of those who like the heavy mouthfeel of a dense stout. Very subtle carbonation. Overall very pleasing.