Mangrove Jacks Single Hop Simcoe IPA review

[GhostShip]

Kit started - 27th September. Used 1.2kg of MJ liquid extract. Tesco Ashbeck Water used - made up to 23L. Fermented in brew fridge at 20C.
Hops added - 7th October
Bottled - 10th October. One carbonation drop per bottle. Secondary fermentation in brew fridge at 20C.
Moved out to cold shed - 25th October
First pint - 20th November

I’ve become a big fan of the MJ kits in recent times - consistently good and easily as good as any kits I’ve ever done. The Pink Grapefruit IPA and Juicy Session IPA were both outstanding. I wasn’t previously familiar with the simcoe hop, but bought this one as there was very little else available at the time thanks to lockdown.

Lovely golden colour, perfect carbonation with a good head. Very slight twang on the nose (which I always seem to get), but no twang at all in the taste. I’m drinking this younger than I normally would due to the failure of my previous brew (Dead Phoney). Nice fruity flavour with a very subtle ‘smoked’ or burnt flavour and then a good bitter finish. The smokiness is not unpleasant at all I just maybe wasn’t expecting it. It’s a beautiful pint though and one which will probably get better. It comes out at around 6.5% so not really a session beer, but I know already that I’m going to enjoy this one. Another really good beer from Mangrove Jacks.

 

[Banbeer]

Done quite a few of these and got 2 in stock and I drink mine young with no problems, I prefer Juicy session over this but it's really good. I've got a Brut IPA of theirs that's nearly fermented and have done that once before and enjoyed it.

 

[Tanglefoot]

Just got the MJ American IPA on the go, also made with their liquid extract - good to hear more positive reviews,
been meaning to try one of their brews for a while

 

[GhostShip]

Just got the MJ American IPA on the go, also made with their liquid extract - good to hear more positive reviews,
been meaning to try one of their brews for a while

The American IPA is probably the one I fancy next but going to try it with dried, rather than liquid, malt extract, just to see what difference it makes.

Let us know how yours turns out.

 

[West wind]

Very nice! I've been doing MJ kits too and appreciate the review, thanks.

I've got an MJ American IPA 7 days in the fermenter with 1.2kg MJ LME. I'm tempted to tweak with Jester hops but think I'll stick to the supplied pellets for the first time.

 

[Didge]

Thank you for the informative review, I've been considering this kit for a while.

This kit and their fruity session will be my next order, although I still have a few other kits to brew before buying more.

 

[Banbeer]

fruity session

Don't google 'fruity Session', not on the works PC or when your partners close anyway.

 

[GhostShip]

I had a couple of these last night and am enjoying one now. All had been in the fridge for a day or so. They’re definitely not over-carbonated (one carbonation drop per bottle), yet when I open them, ‘foam’ starts climbing out of the bottle and doesn’t stop. I stood one bottle in the sink and 3/4 minutes later the foam was still running over the top of the bottle.

I’ve never had this before - anyone know what might be causing it?

 

[Banbeer]

I had a couple of these last night and am enjoying one now. All had been in the fridge for a day or so. They’re definitely not over-carbonated (one carbonation drop per bottle), yet when I open them, ‘foam’ starts climbing out of the bottle and doesn’t stop. I stood one bottle in the sink and 3/4 minutes later the foam was still running over the top of the bottle.
I’ve never had this before - anyone know what might be causing it?

I've had this a few times with 500ml bottles that I've added a sugar cube to and thought it was because I'd added too much sugar but I made a stout back in June and added half a spoon being as it was a stout. I tried one a month in and got a gusher, then a couple of days after the same and was really surprised. I left them a month and tried one and I got the same hiss when opening but no gusher, I have had one now and again and all is OK. Strange.

 

[GhostShip]

I've had this a few times with 500ml bottles that I've added a sugar cube to and thought it was because I'd added too much sugar but I made a stout back in June and added half a spoon being as it was a stout. I tried one a month in and got a gusher, then a couple of days after the same and was really surprised. I left them a month and tried one and I got the same hiss when opening but no gusher, I have had one now and again and all is OK. Strange.

As I said in the opening post, I’m drinking these fairly young (for me) - maybe they just need a bit more conditioning time. Thanks for your reply.

 

[West wind]

I had a couple of these last night and am enjoying one now. All had been in the fridge for a day or so. They’re definitely not over-carbonated (one carbonation drop per bottle), yet when I open them, ‘foam’ starts climbing out of the bottle and doesn’t stop. I stood one bottle in the sink and 3/4 minutes later the foam was still running over the top of the bottle.

I’ve never had this before - anyone know what might be causing it?

I had this with an Evil Dog IPA in 500ml bottles and batch primed. Some bottles gushed and some didn't. The gushers had a slight off flavour compared to the others so I put it down to some bottles not being properly sanitized but I'm usually very careful.

 

[GhostShip]

Just finishing my last bottle of the MJ Single Hop Simcoe IPA. I’ve enjoyed this one, but in truth, I probably won’t do it again. It’s not even my favourite MJ kit, let alone favourite kit - the Pink Grapefruit IPA and Juicy Session IPA were much better. Still getting the slight ‘smokey’ taste and still not sure what it is or if I actually like it, but it’s been a decent pint. MJ American IPA currently in the brew fridge - looking forward to trying that one.

 

[Banbeer]

Hi @GhostShip, I have two of these MJ simcoe IPA kits in cornies at the moment and as I've said before I have brewed them a few times, I find them a bit bitter (for my taste) when they're green but they're a half decent pint IMO. I've got a few in the fridge at the mo' that have been in the bottle around 4 weeks (I bottle 4 so I can hand them out) so I will be giving them a taste this weekend no doubt (due to lockdown), although I have an AG APA on tap and a Juicy IPA also.

 

[GhostShip]

Hi @GhostShip, I have two of these MJ simcoe IPA kits in cornies at the moment and as I've said before I have brewed them a few times, I find them a bit bitter (for my taste) when they're green but they're a half decent pint IMO. I've got a few in the fridge at the mo' that have been in the bottle around 4 weeks (I bottle 4 so I can hand them out) so I will be giving them a taste this weekend no doubt (due to lockdown), although I have an AG APA on tap and a Juicy IPA also.

I’ll be interested to hear what you make of it. As I say, mine had a slight ‘smokey’ or burnt taste, but maybe that’s a property of the Simcoe hop? It was a nice pint, but I much preferred the Juicy Session which was superb.

 

[Banbeer]

I’ll be interested to hear what you make of it. As I say, mine had a slight ‘smokey’ or burnt taste, but maybe that’s a property of the Simcoe hop? It was a nice pint, but I much preferred the Juicy Session which was superb.

Agree with you on the JIPA (juicy ipa), the Simcoe IPA to me it's a bitter aftertaste that mellows with time. Just mashing a Citra Saison at the moment, one of my favourite AG brews.