I’m a simple fella. Young Henrys release a new beer and I get excited. At first, I mistook this beer for a cold IPA and had flashbacks to 2021 and the horrible thought of watching the Grand Final in lockdown. This is no cold IPA, though, this is a cold XPA, a newer substyle that started appearing through 2023 but the first to come my way, which doubles my already palpable excitement.
Pouring a Lemsip yellow with a light seafoam head, Cold XPA has some gnarly rockmelon, peach and lime aromas with perhaps a bit of pepper hiding amongst the bouquet.
Unlike the aroma, the taste profile is pretty straightforward with a honey sweetness upfront that ends in a crisp, moderately-malted finish and a subtle hop front (courtesy of Topaz, Cascade, and Galaxy). Expect more refreshment than a cold IPA from a beer I wouldn't be surprised to see carve itself a niche following because, at only 4 percent ABV, it is exceedingly easy to knock back.
Benedict Kennedy-Cox
Published December 30, 2023 2023-12-30 00:00:00
