Palpita (5.8%) - Cervezas Yakka, Murcia, Spain

In a country where the mention of beer normally calls to mind the mass-produced lager of that region, a quiet rebellion is taking place. As beer guzzlers nationwide develop a growing curiosity for brews with depth and flavour, craft brewers drawing their inspiration from further afield are springing up and catering for ever-inquisitive palates.

Palpita, a name which refers to the beat of a heart, pours an inviting, slightly hazy golden straw colour with an active carbonation that sees bubbles rising quickly to the surface.

Murcia within Spain

While the aroma was subtle on the nose at first, as my brew neared room temperature those classic blonde ale aromas of sweet bready malts and subtle light fruits came to the fore.

The flavour certainly didn't hold back though, gushing forth with a sweet, bready malt backing underpinning spicy clove, fruity hints and a touch of hop bitterness, creating a pleasantly intense and complex character that got my ticker fluttering like a Murcian flag in the breeze.

Full-bodied, thick and juicy, this is a brew that's easy to get your chops around, rounded off with a crisp, medium-dry toasted finish and a pleasing lingering warmth from the 5.8% ABV to warm the cockles of your heart. 

This Belgian-inspired Murcian blonde ale is modest yet packed with character, and can be enjoyed as a chilled, refreshing quencher or savoured as a slow-sipper to your palpitating heart's content. 

Appearance 4/5

Aroma 3/5

Flavour 4/5

Mouthfeel 4/5

Overall 7.5/10

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Palpita on TV:

Palpita online:
Website here
Facebook page here

Where to buy:
1,70€ on Cervezas Diferentes

Luponic Distortion 007 series (5.9%) - Firestone Walker Brewing Co, California, USA

When I first picked this brew out of my vast collection I didn't realise I wasn't dealing with any ordinary beer. Thankfully, a few sips in I looked into its background and was able to fully appreciate the concept behind it before my glass emptied. 

Luponic Distortion isn't just a beer, but a series of limited release beers that experiment with different hop varieties on each revolution. Revolution 007 is the one that had been bequeathed unto me, available between September 2017 and January this year.

Its slightly hazy, pale blonde body topped with a puffy bright white head, which left some trickles of lacing, makes for a very inviting appearance.

Big, fresh aromas of tropical fruits from the three Australian hops come out at you on the nose, with pineapple, citrus fruits, passion fruit and juicy pine all coming together in a mouthwatering combination. For such a powerfully hopped-up aroma, one sip gives way to a mind-blowingly mellow and clean taste. Distortion is the word!

Along with all its tropical notes, an added touch of zest, as well as perfumey and floral qualities, come through in every juicy gulp. Being lightly carbonated and smooth on the palate whilst so jam-packed full of flavour, this is a very drinkable and quenching brew. 

Rather than the punchy North American hop flavours I'd possibly been conditioned to expect from anything with the word "hop" on the can, this brew is all about the laid-back character from Down Under. 

While revolution 007 has run its course, the prospect of a different variation every 90 days is extremely exciting. Grab 009 while you can!

Appearance 5/5

Aroma 5/5

Flavour 4/5

Mouthfeel 4/5

Overall 9/10

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The brewery:
Website here
Facebook page here