8

Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8

Canned 1/23/24, purchased from the brewery, drunk 2/23/24. Moderately-to-heavily hazy, bright bronze-maize-golden. Medium-sized, off-white head, good retention. Pineapple, mango, papaya and citrus with a bit of pine in there for good measure. None of the excellent mineral or spice from the best Nelson expressions. Malts seem like typical honey-and-cracker with, finally, some white wine/white grape on the very end. But it's clean and lacking in any big resin or alcohol. Spicy up front, however, with definite white wine/white grape, round, honey-dense malts and lingering spice, potpourri, melon and tropical fruit. Does have a light resin that keeps the sweetness in check, but never gets punchy or dull. One of the better cans of Kettlehead I've ever had. I usually much prefer their hoppy stuff on draught. Lingering white grape, pine and tropical fruit, with fairly rich, honey-like malt. Would like just a bit more dryness here.