El Dorado Falcon
Kettlehead Brewing Company

 

 

 

On tap at source. One of the least enjoyable brews I've tried from Kettlehead. Very different from their now-iconic IPA characteristics. It was okay at best, and won't be trying again

 

 

 

Poured from a one pint can dated in Mar 2020. Sampled on April 5, 2020.

It has an NEIPA look with its milky, murky looking opaque yellow pour and a quick lasting white head.

The aroma has an essence of sweetness and juice but there is more of an ash or char sensation that I pick up.

Medium mouthfeel.

The taste is at first sweet and juicy and then it mellows at the end with a mildly lingering fruity bitterness.

Had this on tap at Kettlehead last night for Valentine’s Day and it was just what I needed to start my Friday. Crisp but smooth, tropical, refreshing... not my absolute favorite from Kettlehead but they consistently impress me. It’s quite an operation pumping out all this good stuff.

 

L: Looks like a NEIPA, very cloudy strong haze with yellow/burnt orange color. Decent head but little retention, some frothy lace.
S: Interesting notes, piney fruit, peach, starfruit and citrus.
T: Up front is crisp fruit notes, middle palate dry malt notes, finishes with a very light bitterness.
F: Smooth and easy to drink, moderate to high carbonation. Very crisp and light, though a bit thin in some way
O: Great New England style pale, side by side this would be hard to tell the difference from something like Treehouse, well made. Only thing that knocks it down a bit is it lacks some minor things, like the malts feel thin or sort of absent, but these are nitpicks. Its an excellent beer overall

 

Thanks to SawDog 505 for this NH gem.
Pours a turbid yellow to orange with a fluffy two inches of head pushing north. Fairly solid gossamer lacing clings to the glass, settling to a 1/4 inch or so of consistent foam.
Smell is bright citrus. Sweet orange and lemon. Also peeking in is honeydew and canned apricot or peach. Then a lightly sweet cupcake or cake batter note of malt chimes in. Finally a hint of slightly pithy grapefruit.
Taste begins with the same citrus notes, lighter than the nose, but definitely first. Then comes the batter like malt notes. Finally a gentle grapefruit pith bitters and dries out the end.
Carbonation is good. Medium feel. Fluffy with a slightly slick finish.
Overall, I fine beer. The nose is the star of the show, but the supporting cast helps carry the show.

Hazy orange color. Huge white head with a good deal of lacing.
Sweet fruit and citrus aroma.
Mostly orange taste. Faint malt.
Late hops.
Nice enough, not that inspiring.

 

 

From a 32oz crowler, filled 02/01/18. Served in a tulip.

Pours a mostly opaque, dull, pale gold with a finger-and-a-half of snowy white, loose and bubbly, whipped froth. Retention is good, leaving foamy islets, a fat collar and big, sticky clumps of lacing.

Soft, sweet nose of pear, lemon, and vanilla cupcake.

Taste accords with the nose, the liquid equivalent of a lemon and vanilla cupcake with a bowl of frosting on the side. Some pear, melon and pineapple with very mild bitterness and the merest hint of peppery spice edging in at the finish. A mild, lingering popcorn aftertaste isn't awful.

Soft and creamy, fluffy mouthfeel, medium bodied with fine, mildly prickly carbonation.

Overall, a fun and cheerful beer. Kettlehead pushes the NE-style pale ale right up to the boundaries of being a parody of itself and maybe staggers a couple of steps over the line.