Mountain Culture Beer Co. Neon Splice Juice Trip
I drank a beer. You are welcome to read my thoughts about it.
A drinkable beer that over-promises and under-delivers on flavour
Mountain Culture (based in Katoomba, at the top of the Blue Mountains) says their line of Juice Trip series of beers "crank the flavour dial up to 11", because in the year of our lord two thousand and twenty five copywriters haven't moved past Spinal Tap references.
The Neon Splice variant, drunk here in Day 1 of my Chrimbo Advent Calendar Adventure, does not dial things up to 11. At least, not what I would consider 11.
This is not to say that it is bad or unenjoyable. But if you are going to talk up the flavour profile of your beer, it would be nice if the actual flavour profile was a bit more forward.
I found overall this to be a little too light, a bit bland. The citrus and pineapple is certainly there, but it gets lost. It's a bit like where you end up having sucked all the flavour of your ice block - there are hints of what was there, but really it's diluted sadness.
That said, I feel that the weather contributed to the low marks. I was drinking this on a Monday night, after getting the kids to bed. For a December evening, it was unusually cool. This is a very context-dependant beer. On a sunny afternoon, having a BBQ on the back deck, this would go down an absolute treat.
The brewer say this is sessionable, and in the right context it certainly is. At 4.5% it's also not going to completely ruin you, which is always nice.
There's a Hawaiian Punch version as well (7% ABV) that I'm tempted to seek out and see if that hits a little bit closer to what the tasting notes say.
Where does it place?
This beer sits firmly in the peloton. It's fine, I'd drink it if it were around, especially on a nice day sitting outside.
Details
Brewery: Mountain Culture Beer Co.
Location: Katoomba, NSW
Beer: Neon Splice Juice Trip
ABV: 4.5%