Hopnytized Kveik IPA V2
Enigma BVBA

Copenhagen 22/5 2022. 33 cl small chubby bottle from Meny, Rotunden, Hellerup. A combination of a skull and a hop flower in the center of the label surrounded by red, yellow and orange coils. Looks a bit like the cover of a progressive hard rock album.

Pours unclear - almost hazy - golden yellow with a mid-sized white head. Bubbly. Settles as thin, almost transparent layer of foam struggling to cover the surface of the beer. No lacing.

Aroma is medium intense with a sweet fruity odor mingling with yeasty fumes and citric notes. Peach and pineapple. Mold and sour cheese. Citrus and lemon. Whiff of alcohol.

Medium strong carbonation. Medium thick, oily, soft, lively and tingling texture.

Flavor is fairly intense with a medium strong sweetness followed by a stronger citric bitterness. Aftertaste is bitter and sharp. Lingers for a while. Finish is dry.

Fine Indian Pale Ale with a yeasty touch.

Pours a cloudy, golden amber coloration with a medium, fluffy head. Smells of light biscuity malt and citrus/tropical/stone fruit hops, with hints of esters and notes of tangerine, watermelon, apricot and pear. Taste is a good balance of light biscuity malt, fruity, grassy, slightly herbal hops and hints of fruity/spicy esters, with notes of tangerine, lime peel, watermelon, papaya, apricot, pear, clove, black pepper and lemongrass. Finishes with a medium bitterness and some tangerine, apricot, lemongrass and clove lingering in the aftertaste. Smooth mouthfeel with a medium body and carbonation.

This makes for a pretty interesting Kveik IPA that I rather enjoyed despite not being a huge fan of the style in general. The hops and esters mesh together well here, making it difficult to figure out where one ends and the other begins, especially with a hop variety like El Dorado, having a somewhat unusual flavor profile. The fruity, grassy, herbal and spicy elements are well-balanced, making for a rather interesting brew with a unique flavor profile.