WHAT’S in a name? Well, when it comes to beer, either very little or a lot. Some of the long-winded names which some breweries go for, such as Verdant with ‘Today I Will Walk In the Sun. I Will Simply Walk in the Sun’ tell you nothing about the beer itself (it’s a New England IPA by the way).
On the other hand, many breweries have a beer called Citra IPA in their locker, which pretty much tells you what you’re getting into.
Then there are names which make you think one thing, but actually refer to something else. I stumbled across this problem a few weeks ago when I got very kind message from Chris at Mash Down brewery.
“I’ve left you a couple of bottles of beer in the Drink Link in Newry,” Chris told me. “Electric Kiwi and this year’s version of Moon Beam – the raspberry and lemon pale ale with extra raspberries!”
My joy at this generous gesture quickly turned to fear as I thought about the beer called Electric Kiwi. I am not a big fan of kiwi fruit, but far more worrying was the fact that my wife is badly allergic to kiwis.
As I send another message to Chris, the truth dawned on me almost as soon as I pressed ‘send’.
“Eh, stupid question, but is there actually any kiwi fruit in this beer?” I asked before realising that the Kiwi in the name referred to the use of New Zealand hops in the beer. His response confirmed my conclusion.
And so I poured the beer from the pint bottle into my glass in anticipation. The first thing you notice is the murk. This is isn’t so much cloudy as opaque, and all the better for it. I love an unfiltered beer because there so much more flavour crammed in there and often it contributes to a smoother mouthfeel too.
Electric Kiwi is no exception. It pours a light amber colour with a minimal head and the piney, grapefruity aromas follow through into the flavour. The smoothness ensures the flavours aren’t too sharp, but there is nice bitter bite at the end which makes you want to dive in for more.
The revamped Moon Beam is chock-full of raspberries, contributing to a sweet and tangy flavour. The lemon helps to deliver a refreshing bite too. An excellent summer beer to sit in the garden and glug down.
