Beer Review: Loki – Wild IPA (Newfangled Brew Works)
This is Karl Larson’s first beer (or art, or contribution, or… insert your word of choice here) that I’m getting to review or write about for the blog. Its a long time in coming, and if you know Karl, you know his amazing ability at brewing, his love of home brewing, and teaching about beer and brewing, and his open heart and willingness to share and give. Back at the Ffej of July ’19 we had discussed about me reviewing his award winning homebrew but sadly things didn’t work out that I got a chance to try it and review it.
I’ve known Karl now for quite a while, probably roughly five years or so, dating back to a homebrew competition or event or some such thing where I got to meet him and hang out and chat with him. Its been great seeing him every time and getting to sample his various homebrews. And then him doing small batches for Boneshire Brew Works (the old Piglet series) were all fantastic. So its great to get to see him brewing on the small batch system at Newfangled Brew Works. So on release day of his first beer for them, I had to stop out and try it (after all it is sorta.. kinda… not really… on my way home from work).
He also just released another beer with Newfangled (the plan I believe is a new one each week). I sadly have yet to try the new one, and I imagine its gone by now. I know the Loki didn’t last long (I think it might have lasted into Wednesday, but thats it). So be on the lookout for small batch releases from Karl every Tuesday at Newfangled Brew Works. I don’t believe they even update their Untappd list to include it (I know the Loki wasn’t listed, I had to search for it). You won’t be disappointed!
Beer: Loki – Wild IPA
Brewery: Newfangled Brew Works
Brewer: Karl Larson
Style: IPA – Farmhouse
ABV: 6%
IBU: 30
Untappd Write-Up: IPA with Voss Kveik and Brett yeast blend. Dry hopped with Citra, Callista and Ariana hop blend.
This isn’t a sour IPA, but its getting towards that range. Its a tart Saison esque IPA.
Appearance is light hue, golden, lighter than a typical West Coast IPA, more in the appearance of Saisons and Farmhouse Ales. Nice carbonation with a good bit of foamy head that retains a fair amount of time. And as per typical with a well crafted beer, good interspersed bubbles of varying sizes. Lacing on the glass.
Aroma is interesting, its got the hoppy smell of an IPA, but that unique spice of a Saison / Farmhouse. You definitely pick up the wheat notes and the Kveik and Brett yeast plays into this too. You get a bit of coriander / orange peel like smell that rounds out the hoppy aromatics.
This is a delicious beer. This has the tartness of a Saison but the hoppyness of an IPA. You get a delicious blend from the hops too, both aromatically and tastefully on your tongue. Get notes of coriander, dry stone fruit, little bit of earthyness to it all. A slight musky earthy undertone. The body is deep and complex and full, not watery or thin, and lays great on your tongue and mouth as you drink. Even with the tart and hop it all combines nicely and at only 6% its easily crushable. Would be a fantastic six-pack beer. The Kveik and Brett yeasts add a very complex and complicated system for the beer that really entices you to drink more. Very very tasty, shame its gone so quick.
My Untappd Rating: ****.25
Global Untappd Rating: 3.97 (as of 2.15.20)
As always, I cannot recommend Karl Larson’s stuff enough. Fantastic brewer and even more fantastic guy. If you see him (and he is completely hard to miss at 6′ 20 inches) make sure you let him know just how good his stuff is. He’ll thank you and probably try and get you to adopt a pit bull. (I recommend doing that as well.)
As always everyone, keep on drinking and reading, enjoy and cheers!
-B. Kline
