Naughty Luggage - Neon Raptor - 8%

Matt Morris
Aug 2, 2017
2 min read

On my recent trip to Derby, I visited the excellent the excellent Suds n' Soda on Friar Gate and I was pushed towards this NEIPA (New England Indian Pale Ale) and with it being a local brewery and not one I've yet to see outside of the East Midlands. I had tried their bizarre 'Don't Forget Your Amethyst' which was a Turkish Delight and Mint Chocolate Milk Stout which was not as good as it sounded I'm afraid, but not bad so it was enough for me at least to give this brewery another go, so can these daring brewers make a good NEIPA?

The 'beerart' was quite similar to that of the stout I mentioned - It's very recognisable, very different and fits the name of the brewery perfectly. The goods inside when I cracked the can open was very punchy mango and even stronger mango notes when it was poured into the glass, with a bit of orange too it smelt fantastic in all honesty I couldn't wait to get my smackers around it. As I took that first mouthful, bang mango, mango, mango it was so tropical and I took a right big mouthful, it was Crikey O'Riley good it was lovely. The more you drank and the further down you got down the glass and the mango 'braingasm' weakened the realisation of how thick and luxurious this beer is and that was down to 18% of the beer being made up of Oats, it was like mango jam and so damn smooth to boot which a lot of my beers seem to be hitting on point recently.

So did the make a good NEIPA? Nope they made a superb NEIPA it may have been a bit one dimensional with just Mango than other NEIPA's which had a bounty of tropical fruits going on at one time, but it is like saying that your car looks too much like a Ferrari who bloody cares if it taste's that good? After their stout effort I was a little on the fence with Neon Raptor but this beer has won me completely over, just hope their distrubution reaches to me in Stoke sooner rather than later.

Rating: 4.25/5.