Dark Rock Nectaron Pale Ale review

[GhostShip]

Having finally given up the search for a Mangrove Jacks Citra IPA kit (which I've done before - it's glorious), which for some reason has been discontinued, I looked around for something new that I hadn't done before and came across Dark Rock's Nectaron Pale Ale. I'd seen the Partridge Brothers review, which was highly positive and having done a few Dark Rock kits, all of which have been excellent, I decided to give this one a go. If I do a Dark Rock kit, I always use their enhancer which is excellent stuff and also comes with Pure Brew. In fact, I've now started using Dark Rock enhancer with other kits as the fermentable - the results are always very good.

Nectaron is a 'new' hop from New Zealand. It's been around for 17 years but has just recently entered the brewing arena.

Kit started 26th March 2023.
Added Pure Brew and made up to 23L with Tesco Ashbeck mineral water.
Fermented in brew fridge at 20.5°C.
Kit hops added on 3rd April.
Bottled on 6th April with one sugar stick per bottle and put back into brew fridge at 21°C.
Moved out to shed on 20th April.
First pint - Saturday 27th May.

Pours beautifully. Not yet fully clear but a lovely golden colour with perfect carbonation and a good head. I'd had this in the fridge for a couple of days and it's definitely a beer that should be served slightly chilled. Not a hint of twang on the nose, nor in the mouth. There's a lot of fruit in there and the beer just tastes really rounded. The bitter finish is there, but it's subtle. This is a beautiful pint and it's difficult to believe it's a one tin kit. If I was served this in a pub, I'd drink it all night. I was in London last weekend and sampled many different beers - none of them were as good as this (and most of them were £6 or £7 a pint). As I can't get the Mangrove Jacks Citra IPA, I'll try the Dark Rock Citra Pale Ale next instead. These kits are so consistent and represent great value - especially with Pure Brew included in with the enhancer. I'm really going to enjoy drinking this one.

 

[An Ankoù]

Nectaron is an amazing hop. Been using it for some time, including 4 identical brews of this. It's a GPA. Don't worry about my comments below the recipe, I liquored back to 20 litres from 15 litres. If you want more ale character than lager, add a few dry hops.

Edit.
I didn't see the bit about one-tin-kit. I'd assumed it was AG. That truly is amazing.

 

[Tommo 2]

Nectaron is an amazing hop. Been using it for some time, including 4 identical brews of this. It's a GPA. Don't worry about my comments below the recipe, I liquored back to 20 litres from 15 litres. If you want more ale character than lager, add a few dry hops.

Edit.
I didn't see the bit about one-tin-kit. I'd assumed it was AG. That truly is amazing.

Hi ankou I know this an old thread but have only just read it today. You mention adding a dry hop to the nectaron single kit from dark rock, but the kit actually comes with an 80 gram dry hop addition which is awesome for a single tin kit. Highly recommend

 

[damienair]

I was just looking at this kit a few days ago. The Partridge brothers voted it their best kit beer from 2023. I’ll definitely have to try this one out next. Thanks for the recommendation.

 

[White Rose Al]

Going to go as far as saying, this is one of the best one tin kits I have ever tasted. Great mouth feel, great taste

 

[slavedave]

I was actually disappointed with this kit. I was very hopeful that it would be THE kit to focus on for a repeat brew but I found it a generally lacking in character and definitely in mouthfeel and body. I made up the kit with the recommended enhancer to 22.5 litres. Pitched yeast at 20 degrees and fermented for 13 days including 3 days of dry hopping. OG 1.040 and SG of 1.010 so ABV 3.94%. Does this sound right to what other people finished up with? Would consider another go if I was way off mark with it.
Razorback remains the only kit I have bought a second time and both kits were really good. D.R. Nectaron will need a big improvement to challenge this kit.

 

[White Rose Al]

I was actually disappointed with this kit. I was very hopeful that it would be THE kit to focus on for a repeat brew but I found it a generally lacking in character and definitely in mouthfeel and body. I made up the kit with the recommended enhancer to 22.5 litres. Pitched yeast at 20 degrees and fermented for 13 days including 3 days of dry hopping. OG 1.040 and SG of 1.010 so ABV 3.94%. Does this sound right to what other people finished up with? Would consider another go if I was way off mark with it.
Razorback remains the only kit I have bought a second time and both kits were really good. D.R. Nectaron will need a big improvement to challenge this kit.

Hi slavedave

Really surprised by that, I mainly do AG nowadays but have done a whole host of kits.

This kit is one of the best I have done. I did have a higher starting gravity, finishing ABV around 4.5%, but that should have little bearing on the hop notes.

Did you add direct or in a bag out of interest?

 

[Tommo 2]

I was actually disappointed with this kit. I was very hopeful that it would be THE kit to focus on for a repeat brew but I found it a generally lacking in character and definitely in mouthfeel and body. I made up the kit with the recommended enhancer to 22.5 litres. Pitched yeast at 20 degrees and fermented for 13 days including 3 days of dry hopping. OG 1.040 and SG of 1.010 so ABV 3.94%. Does this sound right to what other people finished up with? Would consider another go if I was way off mark with it.
Razorback remains the only kit I have bought a second time and both kits were really good. D.R. Nectaron will need a big improvement to challenge this kit.

I have made this several times after the review from the partridge brothers and have been really impressed with the results every time , although my starting gravity was 1.042 and final gravity 1.006 which gave me ABV 4.73, but I did swap out the yeast for CML MIDLAND, FERMENTED FOR FOURTEEN DAYS AT 18c bottled 85grams granulated sugar, let stand for 14 days where it had primary fermentation then out to the shed for 14 days , then got stuck in..gorgeous pint, even the wife liked it and she don’t do beer much.Actually just ordered another and will get it on when the weather coos a bit..