Ninkasi Brewery (in Lyon, not USA)

Bought three of their beers on Friday - a 750ml IPA, 33cl “Noire” and a 33cl “Ambree.”

The IPA was great, must have been pretty fresh. Lots of citrus on the nose, nice malty backbone and a surprisingly crisp finish. Very enjoyable.

The Ambree, eh. Not enough bittering hops in my opinion, a bit too much cloying maltiness.

The noire was very nicely executed, although the SRMs should have been higher, I think. Color was a very deep mahagony, but if you’re going to call it “Black” it better be “black.” 6.5% ABV, noticeable alcohol on the nose but also some nice caramel and roasted notes.

If you’re ever in Lyon, stop by the brewery for a tour - http://www.ninkasi.fr/fr/fabrique-biere/nos-produits-services/visite.html - they say “minimum 10 people” but at 3 euros per person I bet if you offered 30 euros for two people they’d take it :wink: That’s what I’m going to try to do anyway.

Here are the links to the three I tried:

http://www.ninkasi.fr/fr/fabrique-biere/nos-produits-services/nos-bieres.html?prod_id=48
http://www.ninkasi.fr/fr/fabrique-biere/nos-produits-services/nos-bieres.html?prod_id=6
http://www.ninkasi.fr/fr/fabrique-biere/nos-produits-services/nos-bieres.html?prod_id=46