Rice & Beans
North Park Beer Company

Type: 16-oz. can
Reviewed as: New England Triple / Imperial IPA
Glass: Pure Project 3rd anniversary 14-oz. Teku glass
Price: $27 for a 4-pack
From: North Park Beer Company in North Park (San Diego), Calif.
Purchased: Nov. 9, 2022
Consumed: Nov. 16, 2022
Misc.: Collaboration with Fidens; Canned on Nov. 8, 2022; Split (2/4) with Sonny (1/4) and Kevin (1/4)

Picked up a 4-pack of this and three others on release day at North Park. North Park’s website called this “We joined together once again with our friends from Fidens in New York to whip up something stellar. Steve’s wife Raquel is a talented cook and nothing beats her authentic Puerto Rican rice and beans recipe. Lovingly brewed with Citra, Motueka, Nelson, and Rakau hops, this TDH Hazy TIPA features notes of ripe apricot, juicy mango, and fresh raspberry, finishing with a smooth, soft mouthfeel. Paying homage to the comforts of a home-cooked meal, Rice & Beans is all about the spirit of collaboration and sitting around a table with friends and loved ones.”

Poured a bright light golden hazy color with 2-to-3 fingers of frothy white head. Pretty calm setting underneath with no noticeable bubbles. World-class uneven spiderweb lacing. Excellent retention. (Sight - 4.50)

Smelled pretty damn good. In order got Citra, Nelson, Rakau and Motueka for the hops. Specifically got orange creamsicle, mango blossom, tangerine, peach, apricot, raspberry, red grapefruit, passion fruit and Fruit Punch. Smelled even better out of the can. (Smell - 4.25)

First thing I thought on the taste was how smooth if was for 10 pct. ABV. In order got Citra, Nelson and Rakau, and just a little Motueka. Specifically got orange creamsicle, mango blossom, tangerine, peach, apricot, red grapefruit, passion fruit, Fruit Punch and raspberry. (Taste - 4.25)

Medium body. Creamy texture. Average carbonation. Long, smooth finish. (Feel - 4.75)

Another really good hazy beer from North Park. Just lovely. (Overall - 4.50)

4.37 | 97 | A

 

On tap at Function in PDX today.

Soooo... the beer pours the expected golden amber color with really good head retention and considerable lacing all around. This is an attractive enough looking hazy IPA, though it really looks more like a glass of fresh squeezed OJ. On the nose, there's a lot going on here. There's huge aroma of tropical fruit and orange citrus, but with underlying onion and light dank earth. The flavor profile replicates the nose pretty closely, and although the high abv is noticeable, it's really dominated by the citrus and tropical fruit. Mouthfeel is fairly full, with a long, moderately bitter finish. Alcohol is pretty well integrated into the flavor profile, though again, you can tell it's up there.

This is an impressive hazy TIPA, no doubt, but it's hard to image drinking a lot of this. Also, this is very much a beer for those who are fans of hazy IPAs. That's not me, but even I can appreciate the fact this is a very well made, well crafted hazy TIPA. Another impressive effort from the brewer at North Park.

Look - milky yellow and thick with nice white head rimming and lacing
Smell and taste - lights out incredible... citrus stonefruit and jjuicy
Feel - great thick body and with a nice mouth coating
Overall - outstanding beer

Canned on 11/8/22; consumed on 12/7/22

Pours a turbid, deep sunflower-gold body capped with a finger and a half of creamy, white foam; decent head retention yields a slight layer of cap, thin, frothy collar, and haphazard spatter of soapy, spotty/webby lacing strewn across the walls of the glass.

Aromas of rich mango pulp and soft lime zest burst into guava accented with a slight white grape essence; tones of golden raspberry underscore as prickly stone fruit esters linger through the back end of the bouquet.

Taste opens to pithy mango pulp with budding fruit parfait edges; a level white grape dispersion over the mid-palate peaks with an undercurrent of composting mandarin and apricot through the back end.

Mouthfeel offers a medium body and a carbonation on the lower end of moderate, levying juicy sensations to an easygoing, spritzy bittering past the mid-palate as creamy resins round out the finish.

Vivid tropical overtones are presented with intent, a pointedly flavorful direction set toward an expanding hop profile carrying the weight of a 10% ABV with ease.

 

Sweet orange-tangerine citrus, white wine grape, and hint of Nelson-dank nose on this one! Great aromatics! Taste follows with a beautifully balanced, tropical hoppy, and orange-grapefruit citrus bitter finish. This drinks so soft on the palate and hides the ABV so well. Wow! This is phenomenal!!!!