You wouldn't want to build your house with half bricks, or this beer for that matter, but it's perfect refreshment for a hard day's brick laying.
A lighter version of The Kernel's 'London Brick' which is also a rye ale, Half Brick comes in a couple of percentage points lighter than it's inspiration, giving it a much lighter, more sessionable experience.
The industrial appearance of the bottle along with the workmanlike connotations of the word 'brick' give it an authenticity that carries through from the appearance into the flavour.
As it's lighter than 'London Brick' you can easily have a few Half Bricks in a session, meaning you could end up with the same number of bricks drinking this, or even more bricks, to flog the analogy to death.
The aroma isn't much to discuss, it's fresh and clean and there's a definite hop smell to it, but it's all about what goes on in your mouth with this one. The pour is a deep amber, typical of eye beers that are generally much darker then those brewed with barley, and it creates a thick, fluffy, caramel coloured head.
There's sediment in the pour but that takes nothing away from the texture, which is creamy and full with enough fizz to satisfy but not to overpower.
The flavour, like the aroma, is crisp and clean at first and it's very drying, certainly not the juiciest of beers. That being said, the bitter flavour of the hops works well with a subtle spiced fruitiness running underneath it which brings a slight sweetness.
The aftertaste is a little bitter, but dry and refreshing. It lures you back for more as you try to pin down what the flavours are, meaning the 500ml bottle soon disappears before you're really sure.
The Kernel's bottles are all the same: brown bottle, silver cap and a label that looks like it's from the 1950s. They know their brand image though and if it ain't broke, don't try and fix it.
This one is pretty much the same as all the rest: brewery name and beer name printed on the front along with the strength ABV, more information about the ingredients and whatnot on the back. The epitome of simple yet effective.
Can't find this one for sale online anywhere but i'd recommend looking or asking in your local bottle shop, that's where we got ours from and that's where we'll likely get it from again.
