King River ‘Schweizenbock’ Dark Weizenbock

Rating:

“Black weizenbock brewed for carwyn cellars black box 2023.”

Glassware: Dimpled mug.

Appearance: Watch your pour on this one folks. It was hardly an aggressive pour and it literally came out 95% foam. Quite a dark number though…cola-like complexion. Unfortunately no lace on which is a shame considering the whole glass was filled with head at one stage.

Aroma: We’re being forced to take whiffs from the can as the glass still holds 40% head. We are picking up a pleasant smokiness which rolls nicely into fairly heavy roasted malt, molasses and coffee notes. It offers a good amount of yeast ester – heady clove and or nutmeg, choc-coated banana and orchard fruits. Diggin it.

Flavour: Our initial concern was the overcarbonation and it turns out our concerns are valid. Besides that the flavour profile is quite good, we get big roasted malts upfront, light smoke and coffee in support. The spice and fruit from the yeast integrates nicely and softens the big roasty notes as it finishes charred, spicy and a little funky.

Mouthfeel: As previously stated it’s way too overcarbonated. The 9% ABV was surprisingly well concealed though.

Overall: We’re wondering, as this was a beer for Carwyn’s black box subscription, was it rushed into can and continued to ferment? Unsure. It’s a shame coz behind the Co2 issue is a decent dark Weizenbock.

Mikkeller ‘Ich Bin Blueberry’ Berliner Weiss

Rating:

“Mikkeller’s favourite berliner weisse – now with a ton of blueberries added!”

Glassware: Teku.

Appearance: Striking colour. Kind of a light cherry red with dark pink highlights. It forms two fingers of creamy pink-tinged head which slowly reduces. Tonnes of lace left in its wake.

Aroma: Subtle variations of blueberry leading out…fresh, macerated and some candied blueberry as well. It has a really deep vinous accent which is really impressive considering it’s only 3.7%. Hints of Ribena juice, blueberry yoghurt, wheat grains, zesty lemon rind and a flutter of honeysuckle. Actually the latter becomes more floral the longer it sits in the glass. Lovely stuff.

Flavour: Unexpectedly dry and bereft of the typical sweet and tart juiciness that is so synonymous with blueberry-flavoured sours. There’s a tiny amount of sourness upfront then a faint touch of tart blueberry comes through early in the mid. Wheat grains and blueberry-flavoured soda water is the best way to describe it as it carries into a dry finish and a whole lot of nothingness.

Mouthfeel: Bone dry, lightly sparkling Co2. Mild-medium body and the 3.7% ABV is on par for the style.

Overall: This is the first time we’ve ever been nonplussed with a Mikkeller beer. It’s not only the lack of blueberry flavour it’s the complete lack of any flavour at all. Bizarre.

Belching Beaver ‘Viva La Beaver’ Mexican Chocolate Peanut Butter Stout

Rating:

“Viva La Beaver is loaded with notes of creamy peanut butter, cinnamon, and coffee. This decadent milk stout is the perfect dessert beer to finish off your meal, and is our highest rated beer, receiving numerous Gold and Silver medals. Sink your teeth into this liquid chocolate treat.”

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: Pitch black with a fizzy two finger brown head which slowly reduces to a bubbling island. It drags a wet lace down the glass as we go.

Aroma: We thought the OG peanut butter Milk Stout was epic but we think this is gonna give it a run for its money. The aromas are pulling us in every direction…it’s super sweet, nutty and savoury, then it’s a tad roasty, chocolatey, getting sweet spicy notes coming through as well. Milky coffee down deep. It literally covers the whole spectrum yet it all comes together so harmoniously.

Flavour: Brilliant transfer on to the palate. All those complex, spectrum-covering qualities on the nose are here as well – peanut butter, cinnamon sugar, milk chocolate, toasty malts and even a hint of cola. The coffee is pretty distant but it does add a smidge more roasty and nutty flavours to the mix. Nice smooth finish with pretty much everything putting their own stamp on it.

Mouthfeel: Silky smooth and unbelievably crushable for 7.5% ABV. Medium-full body. Low-ish Co2.

Overall: Wow this is extremely impressive. The prime example of an intensely flavoured, well balanced Pastry Stout at a decent price ($13 a can for 440ml). We’re off to load up big on this one. Superb.

The Orkney Brewery ‘Cliff Edge’ IPA

Rating:

“Cliff Edge IPA is a brilliant bronze beer with a tantalising trio of American hops. Pushing you to the edge of your senses, with an intense impact of piney and spicy fruit flavours, before dropping to a crash of bitter zestiness. The Cliffs of Yesnaby, one of Orkney’s many landmarks, are just a few miles south of our brewery, and the coastal walks are memorable, much like this beer.”

Glassware: IPA.

Appearance: Slightly hazy straw golden complexion with a lick of orange through the centre. It only manages a thumb of off-white head which gradually peels off. Healthy lacing on the glass as we go.

Aroma: We really dig English IPA’s (yes, we’re aware this is a Scottish brewery) and nine times out of ten they get it right and it’s magnificent. This might be the one they get wrong. In saying that, we’re detecting a fair bit of diacetyl (butterscotch) so there could be some faults. We’ve checked some other reviews and no one mentions anything about caramelised and or buttery sweetness.

Flavour: Hhhmmm maybe not?! The American hops shine bright with their bold orange citrus overtones, pine needle, unripened melon and white pepper. That buttery diacetyl-ridden sweetness is nowhere to be seen. Getting a weird lemon Strepsil note from it but it isn’t a fault…it’s just not the most pleasant flavour imaginable. Finishes dry, earthy, spicy. Good length on it.

Mouthfeel: Well rounded, crisp and fairly clean. Mild-medium body. The 4.7% ABV makes no impact as expected.

Overall: Weird, weird IPA. It doesn’t really fit into the English IPA category so we’re unsure where it sits. Scottish American session IPA?? Don’t know. Alls we know is we’re not digging this one.

Mont St.Jean ‘Waterloo’ Belgian Tripel

Rating:

“The triple blond is both simple and complex. Its initial simplicity, with an easy approach that releases a sweet zest is quickly complemented by a bitterness that runs to the back of the mouth. Complex, with its raw ingredients clashing a little like cannon shots, but each tastier than the last, with alternating bitter hops and the flexibility of its malt, gives this Waterloo beer the taste of victory.”

Glassware: Trappist tulip.

Appearance: Deep golden amber pour with two fingers of fluffy white head perched on top. It eventually forms a thick collar with sudsy lace work left in its wake.

Aroma: Man this has got some good uplift out of the glass. With one or two light swirls it releases an abundance of semi sweet, spicy and fruity yeast esters along with orange peel/zest, fresh herbs like sage and coriander, ripe nectarine, boiled candy and red flowers like roses, hibiscus etc. It has a sweet honey malt structure to it. Wouldn’t go as far as saying caramel but it’s definitely chewy.

Flavour: Similar to the Dubbel in that its dryness is somewhat unexpected. The high Co2 also adds to that as well. The hallmark Tripel flavours of crisp and fresh herbs, orange peel and spice dominate upfront and shift nicely through the slightly phenolic mid palate. It finishes strong – fruity, yeasty, spicy, some malt sweetness to balance it out.

Mouthfeel: Champagne-esque texture, medium-high Co2, moderately bodied. The 8% ABV is well behaved for its size.

Overall: Not the best interpretation we’ve had but it’s still clearly a Belgian-brewed Tripel and that is certainly distinguishable. Good but not great.

Left Handed Giant ‘The Holy Trinity’ Imperial Chilli Chocolate Stout

Rating:

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: As black as the ace of spades with a short brown head which quickly retreats to the rim. Next to no lace as we go.

Aroma: Right now, one of us hopheads is going through a chilli phase (for about the 3rd time in his life) so anything with chilli in it is practically a sure thing at the moment. The ultimate is when you can pair it in food and beer but in this case we’ll settle for it in beer form only. Straight up smells like a chilli and dark chocolate block straight out of the wrapper. Other notes of ash, raw cacao, cherry, goji berry, mulled wine, vanilla and herbal tea. Wow. Very unique.

Flavour: It mirrors the aroma quite well. Tastes like a boozy chilli and chocolate block with added flavours of smoke/ash, goji berry and vanilla. We must admit the first couple of sips were lacking intensity but each sip afterwards seems to build and build…much like a fiery chilli dish. Nice chilli flavours too come to think of it… chocolatey, fruity, smoky and earthy, conveying their natural flavours and heat in the finish and then well past it.

Mouthfeel: A tad too thin and oily for our liking but the warmth from the chillies, the Co2 and the well hidden 9% ABV makes up for it.

Overall: Our first entry for this English craft brewery. We’re kinda fence-sitting on it. It’s good but nothing spectacular. The chilli components were integrated well but the lack of body really holds it back.

Mont St.Jean ‘Waterloo’ Belgian Dubbel

Rating:

“A coffee nose is combined with a tone of roots, but with a strong, disciplined character. Its flavour develops gradually, reminiscent, if you will, of the ardor of the soldiers of the Battle of Waterloo. Strong and reassuring, it provides a conclusion that tends primarily towards the sweet at the finish, a symbol of a well-deserved treat at the end of a busy day.”

Glassware: Trappist Chalice.

Appearance: Deep crimson complexion with a finger of finely beaded khaki head that holds together well. A beautiful cascading lace is weaved down the glass as we imbibe.

Aroma: We know we sound like a broken record but no one can brew Belgian beers like the Belgians. With Dubbels in particular, it’s the way they blend the extreme sweetness with the savoury, roasty notes that sets them apart. The most notable scents here are chewy toffee, plum jam, brown sugar and earthy tobacco with a plethora of ester-driven, toasty and cocoa-esque aromas in support.

Flavour: Not as rich as we had anticipated. It’s distinctly drier with a more sharpened focus on the yeast esters which yield classic banana runts, pear and star anise. As it progresses we get toast and cocoa with hints of dark fruit on the flank. It all converges on the finish and draws out with a complex set of flavours that keep changing and evolving.

Mouthfeel: A nice and creamy yet slightly sticky consistency. Well carbed, medium body and a very neat 8% ABV.

Overall: This is our first crack at this Belgian brewery. It’s well structured and exhibits the right amount of balance, depth and complexity. A fine offering.

Monkish ‘Brainwaves Swell’ DDH IPA

Rating:

“Double Dry Hopped (DDH) IPA showcasing Citra.”

Glassware: IPA.

Appearance: Exactly like every other one we’ve reviewed over the past few weeks – turbid pastel orange with a nice fluffy head. Good retention and lace work. Some say variety is the spice of life but when a brewery can pump out beers as good as Monkish then hey, make them look all the same. Won’t bother us!

Aroma: OG-style NEIPA. Reminds us of the old Treehouse classics like Julius and Sap. Big citrus overtones, some pine resin, herbal spice, frosty fruits and a subtle dank weedy character. The all-important hints of green mango, unripened pineapple and peach skins are also here. Somewhat dry, chalky, bread crusty malt profile. Spot on!

Flavour: If someone were to ask us an example of the perfect modern day NEIPA it’d be this. Because it tastes like the OG ones! Juicy but not overly so, citrusy but not pithy and bitter, spicy, chalky, herbal, unripened sweet tropical fruits. It’s just doing it all perfectly. Not to mention the precise balance it has as it finishes and floats off the back palate so effortlessly.

Mouthfeel: Beer clouds. So light, fluffy and aerated. Co2 is spot on and the 7.3% ABV is no where to be seen.

Overall: Superb. No doubt the best of the lot that were shipped out here. It’s fitting that we finished off the last Monkish review in this fashion too, we sincerely hope that Experience It can get another load of their beers back over here in the future.

Bottle Logic ‘Changing Gears’ BA Imperial Stout

Rating:

“While we typically build our confectionary stouts with layers of semi-traditional adjuncts (graham crackers, roasted nuts, cacao nibs, fresh fruit) to accomplish our pastry purposes, we tapped the unique brilliance of the Odd by Nature team and went right to the source for this churro stout with the addition of more than 1,000 literal churros. Late churro additions to the kettle, debarrelling through a bed of churros, and further conditioning through a mini-brite tank stuffed with, you guessed it, more churros make for a ridiculous and utterly delightful dessert beer. Aromas of pure pastry, doughy richness on the palate, hints of toffee and chocolate on the finish, and sparkling with perfectly incorporated cinnamon throughout!”

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: Solid black with a short fizzy brown head which immediately disappears. It ends up with zero head and zero lacing. Looks ominous. Bring it on!

Aroma: Churros and melted chocolate would easily be in our top 5 favourite desserts. It has no chance of knocking off the all-time affogato out of the no.1 spot but we’d say it’s a close 3rd or 4th. Does this smell much like churros though? We’re kinda 50/50 on that but what is certain is its absolute decadence. Extremely rich, dark chocolate, molasses and espresso then garnished with Bourbon/oak and cinnamon. Yum!

Flavour: These guys are so far ahead of the game it’s ridiculous. It’s massive and the palate knows it’s massive but there’s just so much temperament to it that it almost drinks like a sub 8 percenter. Rich dark chocolate, molasses, vanilla, treacle, buttery pastry, cinnamon, Bourbon/oak and a sweet yet charred and warming finish which endures.

Mouthfeel: Thick, luscious and silky. Full bodied with good Co2. The 12.9% ABV is intermittent at best, which is remarkable.

Overall: Wow, just wow. And this is a 2023 vintage. It really should be laid down for a year or so before opening but we don’t have the patience for that. It’s amazing that it’s still drinking this well this young. Absolute corker.

Eden Brewery ‘Argania’ Bock

Rating:

“This scarlet lager is brewed with caramelised malts and has the attitude and confidence to stand above the pale crowd.”

Glassware: Dimpled mug.

Appearance: Deep amber with candy red highlights. Big billowing four finger head which rapidly reduces and eventually disappears. Zero retention so zero lacing.

Aroma: Smells quite scaled back and traditional. Dominant caramelised malt, toffee, toasty and nutty notes. Gorgeous support aromas of cognac, yeast esters (banana runts, clove), spicy old world hops and a hint of residual sweetness. Some very subtle orchard fruits developing late as well…pear, apple, a touch of kiwifruit. Pretty darn good.

Flavour: Drinks very similar to the nose – caramelised malts and toffee lead the way but there’s a slightly broader hop presence here on the palate. Especially once it comes up to room temperature. Plenty of yeast esters coming through, providing spice and fruitiness. Nice little addition of bitterness which adds some balance as it finishes sweet, nutty and toasty. Good duration on the back end too.

Mouthfeel: Sticky, chewy texture but the lifted Co2 lightens the load a bit. Medium body and the 6.8% ABV is incredibly well concealed.

Overall: Solid beer from Eden. Much to our surprise this was only our 2nd entry from this respectable brewery. It’s well balanced, on point and enjoyable even on this 36 degree Sydney arvo!

Monkish ‘Myself’ Double IPA

Rating:

“DDH Double IPA w/ Vic Secret and Citra.”

Glassware: IPA.

Appearance: Pretty much a carbon copy of every other NEIPA we’ve tried from Monkish over the past few weeks. Consistent! Pastel golden-orange hue with two fingers of fluffy white head. Excellent retention and lacing.

Aroma: Interesting hop bill here – Vic Secret and Citra. Citra we totally understand but the use of our good ol’ Vic Secret is perplexing. It’s quite a delicate hop and is easily overshadowed by the much higher alpha acids in Citra. Anywho, it’s giving off big fruity notes. Not as juicy as other recent releases, it’s slightly sweeter…think pineapple, mango, orange and apricot.

Flavour: Don’t know about this one. The booze has a wee burn to it plus it’s a little astringent as well. Unlike the aroma there’s isn’t a whole lot of sweetness or juiciness from the hops. It’s mostly piney, dank and herbaceous with a dry and bready malt profile. Hits a super pithy note midway and carries into the dry, citric and warming finish.

Mouthfeel: Prickly, a little acrid and rigid. Not the most pleasant texture we’ve encountered. Co2 is ok but the 8.2% ABV is far too observable.

Overall: Can’t say we’re fans of this expression. Right from the aroma we weren’t really digging it and it just never really came together. We guess they are human after all!

Phase 2 ‘Wooden Axe’ Black Rye IPA

Rating:

“This beer is dark, hoppy and roasted. The rye malt lends a spicy zest, perfectly complementing the citrusy hop character from some big hitters, Citra & Amarillo. This is Phase 2.”

Glassware: IPA.

Appearance: Mostly black pour except for a bit of light piercing through at the foot of the glass. Modest finger and a half of tan head but excellent retention and lacing as we go.

Aroma: Rye malt is surprisingly underrated and seldom used in brewing these days. It’s a subtle touch in this expression but because they’re pretty rare the distinct peppery spice and rich earthiness is quite noticeable. It also puts an emphasis on the roasted malts and fruity hops. Delicate herbal/piney and dank accents as well. Not bad. Not bad at all.

Flavour: Displaying roasted malts, slightly smoky notes and pine on entry. The hops come charging in with notable flavours of zesty citrus, pine and herbal spice. A decent hop bitterness kicks off around the mid palate and carries a pithy citrus into the roasty, citrusy and generally well balanced finish.

Mouthfeel: A little sharp and oily. Bitter in the swallow. Medium body with lively Co2. The 6.5% ABV is pretty well behaved.

Overall: Not totally sold on it. We’d been given 2 separate recommendations on this but we’re not really seeing the hype. Yeah, it’s a decent drop but it’s nothing to write home about.

Monkish ‘Ante Meridien Cats’ Triple IPA

Rating:

“DDH TRIPLE IPA with Motueka and Citra (DDH TIPA version in the Never Sleep and Cousin of Death series).”

Glassware: IPA.

Appearance: OG-looking NEIPA – turbid mustardy hue with two fingers of light fluffy head perched on top. Good retention and moderate lace work on the glass.

Aroma: We were just commenting on another recent review about how many amazing Triple IPA’s have hit the shelves lately. This one is already shaping up to be another one. It’s actually quite complex but it’s a definite juice bomb. Direct notes of frosty fruits, not so much juice concentrate but certainly fresh squeezed OJ, mango, passionfruit etc. Stonefruits-a-plenty, kinda weedy herbals, peppery spice, chalky. Wow.

Flavour: Holy moly! 10.2% ABV huh? Dead set it drinks like a sub 7 percenter. A tiny bit of sting in the tail but that’s it. Incredible. So much happening. Again, it’s super juicy…packed with sweet citrus, passionfruit, green mango, stonefruits. Not as weedy on the palate but it is a tad dank and piney. Some fennel seed, shallots, lemongrass. That dry chalkiness develops late then sets up a dry, citric finish.

Mouthfeel: Unbelievably smooth yet kinda flinty and dry. Not really beer clouds but light-moderate body and the 10.2% ABV…well you already know where we sit on that.

Overall: Next level Triple IPA here. It should not be so easy to drink. Proper dangerous but absolutely delicious!

Range ‘Canadian Tuxedo’ Imperial Pastry Stout

Rating:

“Have you ever rocked the triple denim look? Denim on denim on denim? Yeah us neither but we hear the Canadians love it. We’ve whipped up this treat of a stout to coincide with the *slight* drop in temperature in Brisbane. Inspired by maple dip and cinnamon donuts, this bad boy is not messing about with additions of maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon and lactose. Rich, decadent and thick. A deep chocolate colour with a tan head and a velvet-smooth body. Hints of roast, chocolate, maple sweetness and very light cinnamon spice finish. A warming feeling will overcome you, though the ABV is basically non-existent. A creamy winter treat.”

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: Impenetrable black pour with a short brown head which quickly forms a collar. Nice wavy lace clings to the glass as we imbibe.

Aroma: Man for an Imperial Stout with maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon and lactose it is astonishingly pedestrian. Aussie breweries really lack in the Pastry Stout department, especially when in comparison to the Yanks. Maybe we just don’t put as much sugar and sugar byproducts in them. That’s probably not a bad thing actually. The only downside being our olfactory’s aren’t as happy.

Flavour: Same deal here unfortunately. When brewing with ingredients/adjuncts like these it’s inexcusable not to have at least one of them standing out. We’re almost tasting more of the base Stout characters i.e roasted malt, chocolate and coffee than we are the maple, cinnamon and vanilla/lactose. All of them are frustratingly standoffish and works its way into a rather jumbled finish.

Mouthfeel: Silky, a little warming. Medium-full body. The one upside is that they’ve concealed the 10.3% ABV pretty well.

Overall: Like many other breweries before them, Range needed to take a look at how Stockade did ‘The Mountie’. That’s a real Imperial Maple Stout. We get that this is a little long in the tooth and Pastry Stouts are better drunk fresh but it’s less than 6 months old and should still be drinking well. Seriously disappointing.

2 Halfs ESB

Rating:

“Copper-hued extra special bitter, crowned with a creamy bone white head. Medium in body with a malty, caramel and estery flavour and aroma. Punchy assertive bitterness moderating the malty sweetness.”

Glassware: English pint.

Appearance: Bold amber pour with 100% transparency. Good Co2 activity. Only manages a finger of off-white head which quickly reduces. A kind of wet lace is dragged down the glass.

Aroma: As we sat here writing out the appearance we kept getting Lager-like aromas i.e DMS (corn), vegetal notes and cereal grains. Not a lot changes under the nostrils either, the malt profile definitely offers more chewiness though… caramel, buttery biscuits and toast. Floral and herbaceous hops, a fleeting hint of watermelon buried deep. Interesting.

Flavour: It’s certainly unique how it’s straddling the line between Ale and Lager. It has Lager flavours reinforced by Ale complexities and body. Old world hops – florals, herbs, earthy/woody spice mixed in with caramels, honeysuckle, biscuits and toast. A gentle bitterness enters at the right moment and helps set up a well balanced, slightly fruity but mostly malty finish.

Mouthfeel: Slick, gelatinous. Medium body and mild-moderate Co2. The 4.5% ABV is a bit light for an ESB in our opinion.

Overall: Not totally sold on it but at the same time we can respect the idiosyncrasies on display.

Monkish ‘Float Like Gravity’ Triple IPA

Rating:

“Triple IPA with Galaxy, Simcoe, and Nelson hops. (Triple IPA version of Relax Your Mind/Conscience Be Free).”

Glassware: IPA.

Appearance: Exemplary. Muddy, deep pastel golden yellow hue crowned with a loosely packed two finger head. Gradual reduction and sudsy lace left on the glass as it ebbs.

Aroma: We detect a bit of simcoe! By far one of our most favourite older new world hop varieties. Pine resin is always one of the telling qualities but also distinct ruby grapefruit and thyme. Also picking up huge stonefruit notes, pineapple, mixed citrus (orange, lime, lemon zest), softer notes of passionfruit, green mango, fennel and green grapes. More of a grainy, cereal-esque malt profile to this one.

Flavour: Hot damn there’s been some amazing triple IPA’s released lately. It’s impressive how well the ABV has been buried. Tasting similar to the nose – pine resin, zesty citrus, bitter grapefruit, then the chewy stonefruits arrive. Very subtle minty/woody herbal accents cutting through. Again, picking up grainy, wheaty malts and a peppery spice late in the piece. Quite a bitter, zesty finish which lingers.

Mouthfeel: Smooth upfront, bitter in the swallow. Dry, creamy texture, medium body. The 10.3% ABV is well concealed for its size.

Overall: Our only criticism would be that the bitterness is a little too eager. The ABV also shows through a bit too but at 10.3% ABV it can be excused. Respectable.

Monkish ‘B-boy Apostle’ DDH IPA

Rating:

“DDH IPA featuring Nelson Sauvin from @freestylehops
(DDH version of Prehistoric B-boy).”

Glassware: IPA.

Appearance: Pours as we’d expect – turbid pastel orange with pastel yellow highlights. Two fingers of loosely packed head, slowly reducing to a thick overlay. Thick, sudsy lace crusts up on the glass as we go.

Aroma: It’s ticking all our boxes initially. It’s Monkish so that’s a massive tick, it’s turbid and looks the goods…big tick, and it’s all Kiwi hops (single hop Nelson Sauvin to be exact) so another big tick. Beautiful fruit characteristics – fresh squeezed OJ, yellow grapefruit, green mango, pineapple, tart green grapes and passionfruit. Also getting delicate peppery spice, shallot, pine needle and fennel.

Flavour: Feels like we’re getting our vitamin C intake for the day. Oodles of juicy citrus like orange, grapefruit and lime then a nice balance of green mango, pineapple and green grapes. Dry, chalky and crusty malts in the mix. Some hints of vanilla sweetness. Our one and only gripe with Nelson Sauvin is that it can sometimes impart soft ammonia-esque (cat piss) qualities which, unfortunately, it’s doing here.

Mouthfeel: Creamy and smooth. Dries up nicely in the finish though. Mild-moderate body, finely carbed. The 6.9% ABV reveals itself a little.

Overall: Not one of their best NEIPA renditions but we ain’t gonna complain. It’s still a very decent drop from one of the best IPA producers in the world.

2 Halfs ‘De Dubbel’ Belgian Style Dubbel

Rating:

“This Belgian style Dubbel has caramel and cocoa notes with subtle fruity esters. Mahogany in colour with medium malty sweetness. Perle and Mittelfruh hops give this beer a mellow but spicy aroma.”

Glassware: Trappist chalice.

Appearance: Somewhat deep rusted orange to amber with a finger of khaki head perched on top. Steady reduction and healthy lacing as we go.

Aroma: No where near as layered and intense as a Belgian-brewed Dubbel but it still offers a hearty caramel base, light chocolate and woodiness with the delicate old world hop additions of earthy spice, herbals, pine forest and wet grass. Well tempered yeast esters bring that classic banana and caramelised pear/apple scent as well. Picking up strong coriander as it settles in. Pretty good.

Flavour: One of the things we hate about non-Belgian brewed Trappist ales is the overload of sweetness. Thankfully, this interpretation doesn’t have that. It’s got a good base of earthy caramel malt and it’s nicely balanced by the spicy, herbaceous and woody/piney hops. A touch of dried cocoa and clove develops late and shifts into a mostly malt-driven finish with piney and herbal notes drawing out.

Mouthfeel: Nice and thick, chewy, gelatinous. Medium bodied, nicely carbed. The 7.6% ABV is pretty well concealed.

Overall: This is our first crack at this brewery. We’ve had our eye on them for some time now and we’re pleased to say we’re liking what we’re seeing so far. Trappist style beers aren’t easy to perfect so they’ve done quite a decent job here.

Range X Garage Project ‘Lights & Disco’ Triple IPA

Rating:

Lights & Music is a Triple IPA brewed in collaboration with cult NZ icons Garage Project from Wellington, NZ. Remaining the #1 rated beer in Australia, it was originally brewed for our 3rd birthday, to be a punchy, juicy and luxurious TIPA. We’ve brought it back for another spin because, well, it’s awesome. This year’s version is dry-hopped with our hand selected Freestyle Hops Motueka plus the freshest Citra and Galaxy we could lay our hands on. Lights & Music is about as smooth and tropical as anything we’ve ever made.

Glassware: IPA.

Appearance: What a sight! It’s summed up the best when described as having a “milky haze”. The colour is strikingly light and milky with a turbid freshly squeezed apple juice consistency. Good head/retention and a caked-on sheet of lace is draped down the sides of the glass.

Aroma: Impressive. Super silky, creamy and luscious. There’s wave after wave of zesty citrus, ripe peach/skin, mango smoothie, passionfruit nectar, tart gooseberry and delicate hints of lychee. The malt profile is equally as impressive… displaying chalk, grains and white bread crusts. Unsure if there’s any lactose in here but there’s a distinct creamy sweetness as well.

Flavour: Sweet baby Jesus how is this 10% ABV?! It drinks exactly like the aroma – packed with tropical fruits, citrus and stonefruit then pumped full of creamy goodness. A kind of dry chalkiness, a touch of peppery spice, bread crusts and grainy malts fill it out. Ridiculously smooth, fruity and lightly drying finish which lingers.

Mouthfeel: Super creamy, aerated beer clouds. So light and silky, mild-medium body. The 10% ABV…how do they conceal it like this? It’s remarkable.

Overall: This is something else. No wonder it’s selling out so quickly everywhere we look. This is USA-level NEIPA right here. Superb.

Zig Zag Brewery ‘Seven Valleys’ IPA

Rating:

“Medium Body, citrus and stone fruit hop aromas and flavours, with a balanced medium bitterness. The hops mellow and give way to a toasted malt backbone with a subtle hint of caramel sweetness.”

Glassware: IPA.

Appearance: Fairly deep amber pour and a finger of off-white head forming on top. Decent retention and lace work as we hook in.

Aroma: Pretty straightforward…smells like there’s a bit of diacetyl in here but it’s pretty subtle. Kind of has this English IPA vibe with its heavier-than-usual sweet malt structure, orange citrus and melon qualities. A touch of light florals and resin also coming through. Certainly not your typical “new world” IPA that’s for sure. Don’t mind the simplicity of it actually.

Flavour: If we had to sum it up in a few words we’d say English IPA meets Australian IPA. It has that old English robust malt profile but it’s set apart by the resinous notes and extra fruitiness. Just the right amount of bitterness to cut through the semi sweet biscuit malts as it finishes reasonably dry, grassy and resinous. The length on it ain’t half bad either.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, a little soapy, dries up in the swallow. Slightly under-carbed but the 6% ABV is well positioned.

Overall: We’ve known about this brewery for some time but have never seen their beers in a can in a bottle shop in Sydney. We have now and we can now say we’ve tried one. Probably won’t return though as it’s not often we long for this style of IPA.