Mighty Cascade
Federal Jack's Restaurant & Brew Pub

RB transfer

i have not had a brut ipa in some time, i thought these kind of came and went a few years ago. lots to like about this, including the price, not sure if its just a trader joes brand or not, probably, as that is the only place i have ever seen this one. i like that they actually used champagne yeast in it, i feel like the term brut got bastardized at the height of the styles popularity quite a lot, so i appreciate that being right here. i also like the singular use of an older school hop, especially in this dry hoppy context, bitter just a little bit, less spicy than its known for, more big grapefruit and tangerine freshness. there is still some malt to this, balanced, medium bodied but made to feel light because its so dry and effervescent, they definitely got the texture part dialed in. one criticism of an otherwise quite excellent brew here though is the freshness. i am seeing what appears to be a born on date of february, unacceptable for a style like this, obviously they arent policing quality at trader joes for these prices, but come on, this is way past. still decent, but tons of fade on it, some oxidation making the malt stand out more exposed, and frankly this just seems degraded. the good news though is that now i know to check with these in the future, and that this is probably pretty awesome when its fresh. i love the yeast in taste and mouthfeel, i think its a cool side of cascade, and i will look for this again when i can certify it being fresher. cool beer still, my first from these guys, and leagues better than the other trader joes brands i have tried...

Poured from a can into a pint glass
Appearance – The beer pours a lightly hazed golden color with a one finger head of fizzy white foam. The head has a great level of retention, slowly fading over time to leave a decent sum of foamy lace on the sides of the glass.
Smell – The aroma of the brew is heaviest of a slightly musty and light cracker smell. Mixed with this is a little bit of herb and a touch of earthiness.
Taste – The taste begins with a dry cracker malt taste mixed with a decent showing of an herbal and earthy taste. Upfront, there is a tiny bit of citrus sweetness which grows slightly stronger as the taste advances. The herbal and earthy hops bring a bit more dankness to the tongue as the taste advances to the end, and with the other flavors, leave one with a drier, lightly sweetened, and moderately danked taste to linger on the tongue.
Mouthfeel – The body of the brew is medium in thickness with a carbonation level that is very high. For the style a slightly thinner body may have made it more crisp, but all said, the feel was pretty decent.
Overall – A easy drinking and tasty brew overall with a decently dank hopped taste.

Mighty Cascade has a medium, stark-white head, and a translucent orange-gold appearance, with some lacing. The aroma is of sharp citrus fruit and odd yeast. The taste is the same, with low bitterness and yeast funk. Mighty Cascade has a medium body and a dry, crisp finish.

RJT

Although missing the volume the feel does remind you of champagne but which is pretty much a bolt-on to a run of the mill IPA. Not experienced with the "style" and probably not the one you want as your introduction.

16oz can, KBC is stepping up their marketing game, for better or worse

Maybe it's because it's just really fresh, but this beer is a winner: pretty to look at, hazy, high carbonation, lemon and floral hops, honey malt and a dry champagne-like finish

KBC has had some stinkers in the past, this is not one of them. Recommended

Poured from a 16oz can into a spieglau glass

Look: Light hay yellow with a thick white head

Smell: Grassy and dirty cascade hops. Missing that usual citrus note. Clean.

Taste: Much like the smell grassy and dirty caste cafe with a cracker malt.

Feel: Clean with a bone dry finish. Medium bitterness.

Overall: Just fine all around. Nothing to complain or write home about.

 

 

4 pack 16 oz. cans purchased from Trader Joes in Salem OR.
$8
Unusually for a Brut it pours a slightly hazy gold..with a small white ring for a head.
Aroma is fine..floral and white wine grape aromas..some small amount of resin..but delightful enough.
Taste is fine too mostly floral hops with a touch of white wine hops..its cool but does not taste like a typical Brut..see below
Mouth feel is were this beer lets a Brut lover down..its not dry enough and not well carbonated..just makes the beer a run of the mill NZ hopped IPA.
OK beer but a bad BRUT

A 4 pack of 16 fl oz pull-tab cans ran me a scant $8.99 USD at Trader Joe's in Metairie, LA. Canned 02/28/20, though, and it looks to have sat on shelves unrefrigerated as is Trader Joe's custom. Though to fair, KBC knew full well that was going to be the case when they made their distribution deal with Trader Joe's, and given their relationship if KBC had wanted to step in to enact more stringent QC (e.g. "pull inventory at 90 days") they could've. So I think it fair to review a 5 month old can, especially one without a best before date.

5.4% ABV...that's running low for an IPA, no? IBU: 40. Cascade hopped. Brewed with champagne yeast.

On the dry side, sure, and it's pleasantly bereft of residual sugars thanks to the champagne yeast. Carbonation seems slightly high. Cascade is showcased decently, injecting a fair amount of floral and citrusy flavour into this pleasant easy drinking ale. But I'd still contend Sierra Nevada's Pale Ale boasts more Cascade hop flavour - and laughably that "pale ale" is a higher ABV than this ostensible "IPA." Hm.

Candied orange and marmalade-like citrus flavours emerge as it comes to temperature.

Smooth despite its dryness. Approachably medium-bodied with a mellow mouthfeel. It's a balanced albeit simple ale, and I don't taste any overt corn or rice adjunct though it does have what I parse to be some soft wheat malt thinning it out.

Frankly, it's one of the better entries in this flash-in-a-pan style most discerning drinkers I know quickly turned their backs on, and I can't complain about its pricing. I admit curiosity to what it tasted like closer to its canning date, and as abovementioned I do think there are beers that showcase Cascade hops to far better effect, but this is a worthwhile brew for what it is despite its simplicity. I'll have no trouble polishing off the 4-pack.

C+ / ABOVE AVERAGE

Trader Joes has started carrying this as "KBC Mighty Cascade Brut IPA". No exact match here but wanted to put in a review. This tastes like a West Coast IPA, but not the quality of say the Sierra IPAs like Hop Bullet, etc.. Relatively inexpensive, but I would rather go with the double and other better quality IPAs. Also they have Peak IPA with which you can really get an idea of what a top quality IPA that is also organic should taste like. Good art work on the 16 oz. can.

 

 

 

 

Pours golden haze with huge white fluffy head and subtle notes of crisp dry hop and citrus backbone and floral aroma. Nice easy drinking summer daytime IPA.

 

I am not sure why this is listed under Federal Jack’s, as it says Kennebunkport Brew Company. I picked this up at Trader Joe’s on a lark. Drank three months after the canned date, so my expectations are low already.
At least the pour looks nice, with a billowy cap of foam.
The aroma is all about a candied orange and faded hopes, er, hops. The flavor follows suit. Although I expect a crisp, dry finish as per the brut IPA it doesn’t deliver on that end either.