Best new beers of 2010…Kernel IPA C.S.C.
We’re all big fans of India Pale Ales here on the BeerCast – both the traditional British style and the uber-hopped US interpretation (and everything in between). This year we sampled a number of beers from one London-based producer that really blew us away. In particular, their strong IPA was just outstanding – and deservedly is the next in our series of best new beers of 2010.
Kernel India Pale Ale C.S.C. (7.1%)
Kernel Brewery, Bermondsey, London
(330ml bottle, released July 2010)
If we gave an award for the BeerCast’s Brewer of 2010, it would probably go to Evin O’Riordain. The affable London-based experimenter only began operations in 2009, but has already put out a range of astonishing big beers. It’s extremely tough to pick a favourite, but his 7.7% India Pale Ale C.S.C. released this summer was simply fantastic. I visited Evin’s railway-arches setup back in August, and as he showed me round we shared a bottle of C.S.C. – the initials correspond to the Centennial, Simcoe and Chinook hops the beer contains.
It’s not just us that have picked up on the Kernel brewery this year – the beer blogosphere have really embraced Evin’s output. It’s not hard to see why – firstly the fact that they are literally a one-man operation appeals to all the frustrated homebrewers hiding behind keyboards up and down the country. Secondly Evin’s love of big-hitting strong beers (he once brewed a 6% mild) pushes the buttons of many a reviewer – as do his recipes that reflect London’s brewing heritage. Kernel Export Stout London 1890 was a recreation of a beer produced by the defunct Truman Brewery in Spitalfields.
We sampled the IPA C.S.C. as part of our Kernel Brewery Showcase in BeerCast #52. The massive piney bitter nose and the lovely dark gold, almost bronze colour are fantastically tempting. For me, the surprising thing is how drinkable it was. At 7.7% and packed with hops you might expect something to grate slightly – but it’s so tremendously well balanced that’s not an issue. The bitter pine and citrus flavours are complemented by a slight sweetness that really works. C.S.C. is one of the best new wave of British India Pale Ales, proving that this side of the pond can also produce punchy IPA’s to tingle the hop glands.
Join us tomorrow for the next in our ‘best of new brews’ feature. Recently Evin released a follow up to IPA C.S.C. – IPA S.C.A.NS., with the New Zealand hops really pushing the citrus bitterness forward.
