I’ve actually recently changed jobs but during the last couple of months at my previous site I was stocking quite a few beers from Battersea based Mondo Brewing Company. As a result I got the occasional special thrown my way, one of which is the beer up for review today. ‘Verhext’ is a West Coast IPA brewed with that ever popular Kveik yeast strain. Coming in at a steady 5% ABV it is a collaboration with Cornish brewers St Austell, which many people will have heard of.

The beer has a lovely hazy golden pour to it with a decent, albeit a little loose, head. Slight piney aroma to the beer but with strong citrus notes of grapefruit and tangerine providing a bitter-sweetness to the nose. Flavourwise, it is surprisingly not got much of that hoppy bitterness you expect to find in a West Coast IPA. That said, those citrus notes on the nose come through clearly on the body providing a refreshing and clean drinking beer. The Kveik yest also gives it that slight tang on the finish.

A quick note on the can art: Mondo consistently have this stunning parallel artwork that is always vibrant and insanely detailed. Highlight for me is what I believe is the Men-An-Tol rock formation found in Cornwall, a niche reference but certainly a welcome one!

Mondo make some very smashable beers (check out their Dennis Hopp’r for the perfect example) and this is certainly in that category. It’s very easy drinking and I can certainly picture myself knocking back a few of these down the pub. That said I can’t help but feel a touch disappointed by the hop level. At the time I was really in the mood for a hoppy, bitter IPA in true West Coast Style which I didn’t quite get with this. Still got some of those piney grassy notes coming through though, so not all was lost. Lovely little special on the whole!

Score: 7.5/10

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Additional Information:

Style: West Coast IPA

Hops: Hull Melon, Citra, Idaho 7, Mosaic

Malt: Acidulated, Best Ale, Caravienna, Wheat

IBU: Not Available

ABV: 5%

Gluten Free: No

Vegan: Yes!