Score: 89/100 – Great
From a 473ml can served cool at 9 degrees Celsius into a TeKu glass. The date code is illegible… with a best guess of October 2020 something…
I picked up this beer from Brou Ha Ha less than two weeks ago. Noctem is keeping up a trend of excellence and with that in mind, my expectations for Pachacamac are high.
Appearance 6/6
The beer pours an opaque gold with 4.5cm of somewhat thin, puffy, white head which dissipates into a craggy cap within 2+ minutes. Good lacing with decent head retention.
Aroma 21/24
Strong intensity with good balance. The aroma is powerful and unapologetically hoppy.
Ripe tropical fruit (mango + papaya) with mild melon and a squeeze of citrus are combined well with moderate herbal notes, a smack of pine, low vegetal dankness, and a splash of alcohol. A lick of spice at the back.
The dry nose is mostly tropical with a hint of citrus and some lightly toasted grain.
Flavour 35/40
Follows the aroma with strong intensity, good balance, and pronounced perceived bitterness.
The lush palate opens up with ripe tropical fruit and pine needles making way for a hefty center where an intriguing combination of anise, celery, and grapefruit slice through a significant tropical sweetness and melon. Additional herbaceous and spicy overtones add complexity.
The long finish is strong and quite balanced with notes of passion fruit, tangerines, melon, pine, and crackery pale malt
Mouthfeel 10/10
Medium-full body with moderate carbonation. The mouthfeel is quite creamy with a bit of crispness, noticeable alcohol warmth and a medium-dry finish. No astringency or harshness on the palate but this one can be felt.
Overall 17/20
Noctem Artisans Brasseurs‘ Pachacamac is another excellent beer from the brewery.
The appearance is more than acceptable while ticking all the boxes. However the head could use some more density and retention. Pungent, substantially hoppy aroma is followed through the palate with burly hop character while a low malt-sweetness supports the humulus. The mouthfeel carries some real weight behind it without being overtly heavy.
Pachacamac is an excellent DIPA and yet it doesn’t stand out. I think it’s just as good as Oskar HMS Cossack except with a lower drinkability. I was hoping to have my mind blown, but it didn’t happen. Still, this is a beer worth picking up and I would certainly drink it again. Cheers!
Beerfection | Craft Beer Reviews | Montreal, Canada 