Hop Grenade – Dudda’s Tun Cider, Kent

A Frag Grenade of flavour

TL;DR – Fruity, Fragrant with a mix of highs and lows.

Dan’s Thoughts

We’re back and our local Stable has a lot of new stock in. They usually say “finish on a bang” but I thought I’d start with one – Hop Grenade by Dudda’s Tun Cider in Kent.

Hop Grenade is an interesting one, and interesting in a good way.
As always, I started with the nasal passages test. Hop Grenade carries a very nice fragrant and fruity smell, like a Baylis & Harding hand soap.

This cider is a good looking one. Easy on the nose, easy on the eyes. It’s clear and looks as clean as a Baylis & Harding hand soap.

Let’s talk about taste. There are a number of levels to the flavours.
Initially, I thought Hop Grenade had a weak start, like a child. Then your balls drop and you’ve aged instantly into a complex cider with confusing teenage angst. The next thing you know you hate you ignorant parents and you’re listening to The Black Parade until 3am crying into your collection of Avril Lavinge posters.

In short, it was a confusing taste, but not necessarily a bad one. The hops added a dirty taste to the traditional cider flavour but more like a dirty burger, not a dirty carpet. It’s not terrible, but I think it’s an acquired taste.

Dudda’s Hop Grenade looks and smells like you could use it in the shower. It’s everything you could want in a shower gel and not too toxic to drink.
So rather than My Chemical Romance (my favourite band I might add), Hop Grenade is more like Bruno Mars…not everybody’s taste but every now and then you want a little bop. So if you see this cider about, embrace your Bruno Mars and catch this Hop Grenade for yourself.

Cheers,

Dan