Double NEIPA

The colors are right for the season, or at least half right, and the mascot is right for me according to some zodiacs. Yes, it’s a step away from the stouts for a moment, but I can’t resist that smile. Demon Dragon just calls to me. Although black beers are my default, a good NEIPA is always welcome too, and this one is a doozy double NEIPA, packed with a variety of malts according to the ingredient list. Barley, oats and wheat all come together in this liquid package. It sounds a little like a baking recipe, just missing some spices to be for Christmas. And those northern breweries do like to be festive. This is Kom Beer, a microbrewery in Cataluña, which I recall from Barcelona Beer Festival. What they had then was fine, but not especially memorable. Maybe this dragon will light a fire that lasts?

Dirty lemonade looking, bright headed, cracker and caraway scented, at least it looks the part. The beer is heavy and thick on the tongue, but oddly subdued in flavor. The herbal spice is not too heavy, but I’m certainly not getting the juice and natural citrus that I have come to associate with NEIPAs. The feel is familiar though, smooth yet sticky, a sort of melted jello sensation. It seems to me that New Zealand’s Riwaka is having more effect than Simcoe, which isn’t even from New England anyway. Besides the savoriness there’s wood and grapefruit, but at a low and enticing level, not a hit-you-over-the-head style, which you might expect from a double NEIPA. It doesn’t feel like a very alcohol heavy beer, more of a strong grain blend, but it is 8%. It actually takes a little while, but that makes itself known in the end. There’s a mild danger to it with how light the flavor is, and how easily the beer slips down, but with a proper lunch it probably wouldn’t cause too much trouble. Even as a late-night treat.

Supplier: Lambeer
Price: €8.30