X-Raying Citra
North Park Beer Company

 

Type: 16-oz. can
Reviewed as: New England Double / Imperial IPA
Glass: North Park 9-oz. butterscotch snifter glass
Price: $24.00 for a 4-pack
From: North Park Beer Company in North Park (San Diego), Calif.
Purchased: Aug. 31, 2022
Consumed: Sept. 9, 2022
Misc.: Canned on Aug. 23, 2022; Split a 4-pack with Dave H.

Snuck over to North Park to meet Dave Harkey for some beers and we ended up splitting four 4-packs. North Park’s website called this beer “Take an intrinsic, inside look at our latest release in the “X-Raying” family of hazies, “X-Raying Citra” Triple Dry Hopped Double India Pale Ale hopped with Citra, Citra Cryo, Citra Incognito, Galaxy and Freestyle Nelson Sauvin. A bright nose, thick body and creamy mouthfeel lead the way towards radiating tasting notes of orange starburst, tangy passion fruit, pink strawberry galactic starfruit and drippy pineapple-mango juice. Prepare to be irradiated, humans.”
Poured a bright light golden hazy color with three fingers of soft, frothy white head. Could see a few bubble streams coming up along the sides of the glass. Perfect uneven layered lacing. Perfect foamy retention. (Sight - 5.00)

Smelled Citra, grapefruit rind, pineapple passion fruit, dank Nelson, orange Starbust candy, tangerine, gooseberry, Galaxy, papaya, peach candy, strawberry, guava, mango and lemon. Not quite as good out of the can. (Smell - 4.50)

Taste wasn’t quite as good as the nose but still really good. In order got Citra, grapefruit, pineapple, passion fruit, dank Nelson, Galaxy, Starburst candy (in order orange, strawberry, cherry and lemon), tangerine, gooseberry, papaya, peach candy, guava, mango and a fistful of gummies. Was getting all that 8.5 pct. ABV. (Taste - 4.25)

Medium body. Creamy texture. Lively carbonation. Long, citrusy, dank finish. (Feel - 4.00)

Another awesome hazy from North Park. This was excellent. (Overall - 4.25)

4.33 | 96 | A

Pours milky blonde with rimming snowy cap of foam; sugared grapefruit, honeydew, lemon oil, mint on the nose; pineapple, yellow Pixie sticks, donut peaches, kind bud, blood orange rind, lemon hard candy, gooseberry jam, lime curd, cat; soft, dry, no heat.

4.25 4.25 4.5 4 4.5

I’ve had some perfect examples of Citra in my time, but this hits a whole other level.
Citra in 3 different forms (T-90, Cryo, + Incognito) means it hits from every direction: intense citrus, weedy notes, tropical (see also: dried green mango), and delicate fruit that’s accentuated by Freestyle - that’s a farm - Nelson Sauvin. Galaxy is wisely quiet.
If the tasting notes are in a messy order it’s because no two sips unfold in the same way. This bobs + weaves, presenting juice box fun drinkability one moment and pungent grapefruit-and-kronik the next.
The esters are all in place, the body is suitably silky - if we’re finding fault, there’s a bit of hop burn which is thinning it out on the finish. But, with an Aug 7 canning date, it’s only 6 weeks old tomorrow.
This has the depth + technical acumen I’d heard came from Monkish but have actually never seen on the West Coast. I’d put this up against OH, Fidens, TH or whoever.

The best California NEIPA I’ve ever had.

 

Sweet tropical hoppy, white wine grape, zesty orange citrus, and a Nelson-dank nose on this one! Taste follows with a tropical hoppy, slightly earthy, and grapefruit citrus bitter finish. Whoa! I'm having this fresh and those TDH vibes are a little hot, but, I actually like it like that! Ha! This leans more medium-bodied than other NO doubles, but this is delicious!