Ninja Hop Zombies
North Park Beer Company

Type: 16-oz. can
Reviewed as: New England Triple / Imperial IPA
Glass: North Park 9-oz. butterscotch snifter glass
Price: $27.00 for a 4-pack
From: North Park Beer Company in North Park (San Diego), Calif.
Purchased: June 2, 2022; Received June 2, 2022
Consumed: June 8, 2022
Misc.: Collaboration with Beer Zombies; Canned on May 31, 2022; Split (1/4) with Sonny (2/4) and Kevin (1/4)

Sonny picked up a four-pack of this and I ended up with one. North Park’s website called it “We enlisted the help of some rad Ninjas and some gnarly Zombies to help us out with our latest TDH Hazy TIPA, “Ninja Hop Zombies!” Brewed with our good buddies at Beer Zombies and Black Ninja, this gorgeous hazy is loaded with Kohia Nelson, Citra Incognito, Citra, Citra Cryo and Galaxy hops that are delivering delicious tasting notes of tropical passion fruit, red strawberry, fresh squeezed OJ, sweet tarts and fruit punch. This is the “unofficial official” beer of Ninjas, Zombies and Hop Buddies all over the world!”

Poured a bright light golden hazy color with 1-to-2 fingers of frothy off-white head. Could see a few bubbles coming up along the sides of the glass. World-class spotty-to-foamy lacing. Outstanding retention. (Sight - 4.50)

Smelled dank Nelson, tangerine, Tang, orange juice, gooseberry, bubblegum. Citra, red grapefruit, Galaxy, passion fruit, Fruity Pebbles cereal and mixed berry. Just as good from the can. Fairly smooth for 10 pct. ABV. (Smell - 4.25)

Tasted almost as good as the nose. In order got dank Nelson, tangerine, Tang, orange juice, pine, gooseberry, bubblegum, Citra, red grapefruit, Galaxy, passion fruit, Fruity Pebbles cereal, mixed berry, Hawaiian Fruit Punch and Sweet Tart candy. (Taste - 4.25)

Medium body. Creamy-to-oily texture. Lively carbonation. Long, juicy finish. (Feel - 4.50)

This was excellent, which I expected with a North Park triple hazy IPA. (Overall - 4.50)

4.34 | 96 | A

 

Canned on 5/31/22; consumed on 6/20/22

Pours a turbid, milky, pineapple-gold body capped with multiple fingers of sudsy, white foam; decent head retention yields minimal cap, a thin ring of soapy collar, and a limited array of spotty/webby lacing around the walls of the glass.

Aroma is laden with wafts of strawberry resins supplemented by dank pineapple chunks, while an underlying, sticky mango coats a tangerine twang; a mossy underbelly emerges among the resplendent tropical overlay on the back end of the bouquet.

Taste finds shreds of peach open to mango peel and an earthy overlay; white grape skins brighten underripe pineapple into grapefruit reduction over the mid-palate as a soft guava twang leaves bits of bready malts lingering against mossy undertones on the finish.

Mouthfeel offers a medium body and lower carbonation, leaving glossy textures coating the palate to a juicy peak with resinous underpinnings over the mid-palate, leading a gritty hope prickle fading to a finish ultimately creamy and bright.

A vivid expression of raw, unbridled hop potential glossed over in juicy subtext and prickly resins; ripe and bold, this displays shades of peak high-ABV IPA promise effortlessly moderated.