Posted on 15/03/23
The kings that are Kernel are back with their first Double IPA since 2018! If you’re lucky enough to read this when they’re still available… snap one up.
If you do miss out, do not fear! There was lusciousness to be had aplenty elsewhere on the new beers front this week… including some sexy sour sorcery and a new impy stout collab from the one and only Emperor’s brewery. Read on.
These are the best new beers out this week.
So Kernel are not a brewery who play by anyone’s rules. Still staunch advocates of bottles over cans and simple branding, they are truly one of the OG’s of the craft beer world who know enough about brewing to simply trust their product.
So when I heard there were new beers coming out of the Bermondsey outfit that were slightly off the usual menu, I didn’t hesitate to get them in for you – a KERNEL DIPA – aka IPA Double SCCANS!.
2018 was the last time a DIPA came out of Kernel, and this new drop is something special.
The brewery explain this brew better than I can: “this style is now termed ‘west coast’, ‘old school’ or even ‘classic’. Badges we wear with pride, but not ones we use in the brewery… this is not a hazy, juicy, NEIPA… the flavour pivots towards marmalade & oranges then pine, citrus peel/citrus pith into bitterness.”
A piece of history not to be missed – get one of these while stocks last!
Elsewhere this week, a couple of brewery’s that do unashamedly smash the haze are back at what they do best. Beak and Neon have made some bangers recently, and Beak’s new Beak’s Sappp DIPA is a 8% monster does not buck the trend.
Dripping with extra oats and wheat and cryo-hops and oils, this is a beautiful big modern brew.
Plus… Neon Raptor’s Very Naughty Luggage DIPA is back! And it brings with it lashings of the orangey pith and smooth Citra and Mosaic we all adore.
“This beer will slay dinosaurs”, is what Neon reckon. They’re not wrong.
In more sessionable news, the new Almasty Lemon Haze is loaded with the wonderful, citrusy and mellow Lemondrop hop to ensure this thing slips down a treat… while the Yellow Australian Edition Pale packs Galaxy and Ella into a very juicy 4% brew.
I can’t finish this section without a mention of Tartarus Valkyrie Kveik Black IPA.
There’s quite a few BIPAs coming along at the moment and it’s cracking to see – that brilliant mix of slightly spicy yeast, fruity hops and an edge of roasty chocolate from the malts.
The trend is great to see – and this is exemplery.
It’s all about quality in the dark section this week and what a selection to go at!
Fear the Rancor is the latest brew from the team at Neon Raptor and the infamous dark brewer wizard Damien – AKA Emperor’s Brewery.
It’s never surprising to remind yourself that Damien is in fact a home-brewer that, while he pops around the UK’s top breweries, has created some of the UK highest-ever rated stouts. His latest incarnation is a barrel-aged impy version of last year’s Defeat the Rancor.
You may worry it’s going to be a tad too sweet or too big but it’s wonderfully balanced and the pecans and edge of Danish pastry just poke through to make it a rounded and easy sipping, brilliant beer.
With more of a traditional twist I have Tynt Meadow in stock for the first time and – I’ll freely admit – I wish I’d bought some ages ago!
The only official English Trappist ale, this is made by the monks of Mount Saint Bernard Abbey in Charnwood Forest, Leicestershire.
It’s a wonderful example of how to Anglicise something well. There’s still that classic, slightly musty Belgian yeast flavour, but it’s like it’s been mixed with a strong classic English old-school ale. A wonderful and surprising mix. There’s a reason this is so popular.
At the time of writing I have just 4 bottles of the next beer so move fast if you want a bottle of Good King Henry V!
This 2022 version has been aged in oak and don’t you know it! There’s a huge, smoky and woody bite to this beer which has also been blended with Madeira port.
A collectors beer. Do not snooze!
What with a Kernel DIPA landing it feels like quite a momentous week in beer, and the release of new Jester King cans only underlines the point!
Usually, these are only available in massive sharing bottles, so it’s amazing to be able to get the Texan brewers beers in a more manageable (and more affordable) size!
If you’ve ever had a Jester King you know the score – simple classic flavours with subtle additions that just smash it out of the park. I loved No Whalez Here with an underlying classic combo of orange peel, coriander seeds and a touch of lavender. Mr Mingo brings a smattering of hibiscus to the party and my favourite Queens Order is laced with honey and lemon peel.
Pretty much as good as you’re going to get for this style, so grab these or regret it for ever!
Closer to home, Almasty have created some very simple but utterly refreshing sours with a Cherry and Apricot versions that are well worth anyone’s attention this week, and revered sour purveyors Brick have begun throwing the summer vibes about with their Lemon, Verbena and Mandarin Sour and Blackberry and Ginger Sour too.
Bring on the sunshine!
That’s all for this week, so fill your boots. Cheers for supporting a small business that love beer as much as you!
Oli, Charlie & Agnes
(The people behind Craft Metropolis)
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