Beer of the month – Kernel Citra IPA
Last week some of us south east London types were approaching the final leg of what had been a long but hugely enjoyable evening - The Quality SE1 Pub Crawl. Throughout the night the conversation had focused on the London brewing renaissance and - this part in hushed tones - Evin O'Riordain and his sensational Kernel Brewery. Evin's beers are as close to wine as beer gets: terrific balance, preternatural depth of flavour and extraordinary length on the palate. They put many an OTT American craft beer to shame with their power and elegance.
Many of us had been sustained on our arduous journey by the knowledge that Max of the Dean Swift (our last stop) had a keg of the Kernel Citra IPA awaiting us. This cloudy single-hop beauty (Citra is a new hop developed by Sierra Nevada Stateside) feels as alive as primordial soup. Truly a cult beer.
By Charlie McVeigh, founder of the Draft House