Rating:

“Sitting midway between a pale ale and IPA, our XPA showcases the best of the celebrated Australian Galaxy hops. Passionfruit aromas and flavours of citrus, peach and pineapple.”

Glassware: Shaker.

Appearance: Deep golden pour with full clarity. It forms a thumb of finely beaded white head which slowly peels off. Healthy lacing on the glass as it ebbs.

Aroma: Super fruity. As to be expected from the single hop Galaxy. Loads of ripe nectar-filled passionfruit, peach, guava, melon, honeydew and boiled candy. Mixed citrus also floating about in there. Quite a hefty caramel malt sweetness bringing bush honey, some toffee and rice crackers. Really has that Australiana vibe. Diggin it.

Flavour: Mirror image of the aroma. Tropical fruit salad i.e passionfruit, peach, pineapple, honeydew, mixed citrus. Some herbals and a hint of pine which we didn’t pick up on the nose. Again the malt bill provides a good dose of caramel, floral honey and light toffee. A gentle bitterness then tapers off into a mildly dry, fruity and herbaceous finish.

Mouthfeel: Somewhat bulbous texture. Mild-medium body with lively Co2. The 5.3% ABV slots in nicely.

Overall: We’ve been pretty impressed with this brewery thus far. This was our 3rd crack at their range and we like all of them. This XPA maybe not hitting as hard as the previous two but it’s still an enjoyable drop.

Rating:

 “The light softens, the pace slows and everything starts to feel right. No need to check the time, it’s Hazy Hour. Golden, smooth, with a touch of tropical charm. It doesn’t compete with the moment – it completes it.”

Glassware: Shaker.

Appearance: Really good looking pour – turbid AF, light pastel yellow with a very faint green tinge. Fluffy two and a bit finger head which holds together well. Healthy lacing as it subsides.

Aroma: As the can design suggests, it’s a sweet and tropical fruit affair. Mostly POG-type fruits like passionfruit, orange and guava, mango, pineapple, some ruby grapefruit and unripened stone fruits. Slight grassiness to it. Delicate hints of pine, shallot, mango rind, pepper. The malt bill is silky smooth, creamy, oats etc. Diggin it on this sunny 28° arvo.

Flavour: Super smooth and mellow. Just like a slow-paced hot summer arvo. The flavours come and go very nonchalantly. The hops are throwing out a similar set of fruits as the aroma but there’s a much more pronounced resin/piney accent. A discernible bitterness kicks up around the mid which leads into the rather dry, grassy and oaty finish.

Mouthfeel: Effortless. Soft and fluffy with a slightly higher Co2. Light-moderate body. The 4.7% ABV slots in neatly.

Overall: They’re back. After the last shemozzle (Black Velvet stout was riddled with diacetyl) this hazy pale is the full package – it’s light, crushable, hoppy and smooth. Solid drop.

Rating:

Glassware: Shaker.

Appearance: Presents a hazy golden-orange complexion and a frothy two and a half finger head. Good retention and blotchy lace left in its wake.

Aroma: Pretty underwhelming to be honest. We had a few schooners of this up at Thredbo a couple of weeks ago and recall thinking the same thing. We’ve really gotta dig our noses in deep just to pick up the very muted orange citrus/rind and the earthy and spicy hop profile. The malt offers hints of biscuit and grains and is also quite underwhelming. Very stock standard aroma.

Flavour: Look, for a crushable pale ale (which we think is what they’re going for, considering the 4.4% ABV) it ain’t bad. Our gripe is that it barely has any notable character. The Ella and Eclipse hops are very subdued while the malt bill doesn’t really provide anything further than some delicate biscuit and wheat grains. There’s next to no bitterness as it finishes pretty smooth and uneventful.

Mouthfeel: Very inoffensive (take that as you will). Smooth, light on, mild-moderate body. Finely carbed.

Overall: If the plan was to slam a 4 pack of these down at a summer BBQ then drive home then it’s on the money. The only other time we’d ever consider another one would be so we could support an indy brewery and not have to drink Balter or Stone & Wood. Average at best.

Rating:

“Vacations are best served cold, whether you’re in scorching Central Otago, sandy Whangamatā, sunny Nelson or mountainous Mackenzie Country. A refreshingly approachable yellow hues hazy packed with Citra, Superdelic and Nectaron, all rammed into a dainty 5.2% body.”

Glassware: Shaker.

Appearance: First thing we notice is the somewhat light and milky turbid pour. It constructs a rocky two finger head which slowly recedes. A thick blotchy lace clings to the glass as it ebbs.

Aroma: The hop combo is both brilliant and unique (Strata, Moutere & Nectaron). It displays a strong fruitiness i.e grapefruit, passionfruit, pineapple, but the standout character would have to be the dank and rather weedy notes that lend a distinct resinous and sappy quality. Equally notable scents of Frosty Fruits, peach skin, grain husk and green peppercorn. Excellent depth and character here.

Flavour: Packing in so much for a mere 5.2% Hazy. Upfront it’s dry, dank and weedy. We’re getting something like peppercorn or even jalapeno which is quite unusual, but impressive all the same. It has a decent bitterness cutting through it too….comes in early and reaches well past the mid and only begins to taper off as it finishes with hints of grapefruit rind and cannabis.

Mouthfeel: Creamy and fluffy initially then more dry and bitter in the swallow. Mild-medium body, finely carbed. The 5.2% ABV is bang on for what it is.

Overall: We recently came back from Queenstown, NZ and we can say without a doubt that this brewery and their beers were a highlight of the trip. This Hazy was the clear standout of their core lineup as well – packing in so much aroma and flavour. Superb.

Rating:

NO COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION

Glassware: English pint.

Appearance: Bold amber hue with a short and very loosely held head. It quickly breaks apart and almost vanishes completely. Quietly hoping there’s no Co2 issues here.

Aroma: Smells incredible. If we didn’t know any better we’d think we had a glass of one of England’s finest IPA’s in front of us. It displays orange citrus overtones and then it’s filled out with a fairly rich caramel and bready malt profile. Has that marmalade on toast character that’s synonymous with all the top shelf English IPA’s. Flutters of honey, orchard fruits and florals also come through. Brilliant.

Flavour: We had our fingers and toes crossed that it was going to taste exactly like it smelt but it’s not to be. That’s in no way saying it’s bad, it just isn’t as magnificent as the aroma. It’s still largely British in its delivery with this delicious fusion of caramel, toasty malt, tangy orange and spicy/herbal hops. Finishes just as a world class English IPA would – well balanced and with good duration.

Mouthfeel: Smooth with a good chewy consistency. Medium body, low-ish Co2 and a nicely positioned 5% ABV.

Overall: Probably the closest thing to a traditional English IPA or ESB that you’ll get from an Australian brewery. Another cool fact is one of the Breheny Bro’s was the head brewer for this co-op brewery from 1901 until around 1920. This family truly is one of the early pioneers of brewing in Australia.

Rating:

“A smooth and malty flavoursome pale ale with low English hops and low bitterness.”

Glassware: English Pint.

Appearance: Deep golden amber pour with a moderate haze. It constructs a finger of off-white head which slowly peels off. Laces well.

Aroma: One of our most favoured styles of Pale Ale. And one that is rarely attempted by non-English breweries. We love the simplicity of this – a nutty and slightly biscuity malt structure and a well balanced old world hop profile of jammy orange citrus/marmalade, soft peppery spice, florals, mild earthiness and wood. Cracking aroma.

Flavour: Excellent transition from the nose and such a tidy, well balanced beer in general. Upfront it’s offering light nutty malts and marmalade on toast then a perfectly tempered bitterness early in the mid. Very subtle pith and spicy notes tack on and lead to a dry, earthy and toasty finish which draws out for days on the back palate.

Mouthfeel: So well balanced. A little chewy, mild-medium body with the ideal amount of bitterness and Co2. The 4.8% ABV is also spot on.

Overall: Jindy Brewing hey! These guys would have to be our go-to brewery for old world styles. Really liking this switch back to bottles. It just completes the Euro vibe. Solid

Rating:

“Sometimes you need to take an easy adventure. Jindabyne’s XPA is a little lower in ABV without compromising great flavour from Aussie-grown malted barley and hops. And like any mountain adventure you never know what you may encounter out there!”

Glassware: Shaker.

Appearance: Bright golden pour with full transparency. It forms a short off-white head which slowly deconstructs. Reasonable lacing on the glass as we hook in.

Aroma: Smells fresh as a daisy. The vibrant hop notes impart fruits like melon, guava and lemon. Also getting sweet boiled candy and florals from it too. A very faint touch of pine and spice buried down deep. Super clean malt bill…uber subtle bread crusts and crackers. Very basic.

Flavour: Wow it’s insanely crisp and clean for an XPA. The balance is impeccable. You know when you have those certain beers where you sip it and think, this just tastes like beer. In its purest form. That’s what we get from this…it tastes like beer . Mostly floral and spicy hop notes, some earthiness getting amongst it. Grainy, bready malt finishing clean as a whistle.

Mouthfeel: Light on, crisp and effortless. Slightly lifted Co2, mild-moderate body and the 4% ABV is lower than usual but fits into the beer’s general persona really well.

Overall: Really finely executed. Spewing they didn’t have this on tap at the brewery when one of us was down at the snow a month back. It’s the perfect post-hard yakka beer. Solid.

Rating:

“Tino Pai’s cuzzy! An Aussie Hazy Pale Ale brewed to showcase some of the best Aussie hops. Packed full of Eclipse, Vic Secret and Ella!”

Glassware: Shaker.

Appearance: Great colour. Turbid pastel yellow with a three finger crown. Good retention and healthy lace work on the glass.

Aroma: Oh yeah we’re liking this! Fruity, piney and a touch of resin. Quite a different overall character to most Hazy’s and by that we mean there’s less stonefruit and more citrus and tropical fruits like pineapple, mandarin, unripened passionfruit and orange peel. Getting a teeny weeny bit of Frosty Fruits, spruce and light florals/herbals. Diggin it!

Flavour: It displays quite a green and dry profile on entry. Lots of unripened tropical fruits, zesty citrus/rind and a distinct resinous quality. The citrus definitely surges forward through the mid, spurred on by a pithy accent which carries into the dry and resinous finish. Excellent length on it too…goes for days!

Mouthfeel: Very light, pillowy, a tad on the lean side though. Finely carbed and the 5.5% ABV is bang on.

Overall: A cracking Aussie Pale Ale but we think we prefer Tino. Can we say that as proud Aussies? Where’s our patriotism gone?! Nah, in all seriousness it’s a crushable Hazy Pale full of some of the best homegrown hops. Solid.

Rating:

“Our XPA is the perfect session beer. Less fruit that others, our has a super clean, dry finish which leaves you wanting more, and at 4.2% you’re more than welcome to.”

Glassware: Shaker.

Appearance: This one is putting the ‘X’ in XPA! Super hazy pale golden hue with a loosely packed white head which gradually reduces. Nice and thick blotchy lace clings to the glass as we go.

Aroma: Quite a mellow little number this one. Nothing really stands out but at the same time it’s clearly well brewed. Gentle stonefruit and citrus atop a dry and biscuity pale malt base. A flutter of peppery spice, blackcurrant and light florals with some tropical fruits opening up as it settles in the glass.

Flavour: It has session beer written all over it. One of those beers you could polish off without even realising. A big part of that is the ultra dry nature…a very muted hop profile, crisp savoury malts and an almost chalky character. Some stonefruit sweetness tries to break through now and again but its futile as it finishes bone dry and biscuity.

Mouthfeel: Crisp, chalky and dry AF! A slightly lifted Co2, mild-moderate body. Only 4.2% ABV so it’s definitely well into session territory.

Overall: Once again they nail the pure, peeled back basics of the style. We’re not even real fans of XPA but we actually enjoyed this. Hats off to the brewer(s).

Rating:

“Cash Rules Everything Around Me is a brand new DDH Pale that features a Cashmere heavy dry hop, accompanied by our homie Citra. We were aiming for a soft and tropical pale that packed a juicy punch for its ABV and that is exactly what we’ve delivered. Orange citrus zest with hints of lemon and lime on the nose quickly transform to soft peach and melon on the palate. Citra brings a distinctly creamy orange finish with a light lychee hint. Low on bitterness and high on the crush factor.”

Glassware: Shaker.

Appearance: Super hazy light pastel orange and a thumb of loosely packed off white head perched on top. Reasonable retention and shows good legs as it ebbs.

Aroma: Dialling up the dank here! Shit loads of pine and resin too. Aahh Citra…you never get old. Like a fine wine, the older they get the better they become. And the fact that it’s the Cryo version is what notches it up another level or two. Picking up some brekky juice here and there, ripe fleshy stone fruits and spicy herbs i.e basil, aniseed, rocket etc. Hints of lime zest, dough and frosty fruits also getting a look in.

Flavour: It screams IPA so it’s bloody impressive that it’s merely a 5.5% Pale Ale. A lot of that can be attributed to the magnificent hop bill though. Citra especially…it’s the wonder hop! Dank, piney, resinous, pithy and fruity. They were made for American Pale Ale! A good dose of herbal spice, guava, honeydew, tangy lime zest and a dry, chalky and musty malt bill encapsulating it all.

Mouthfeel: Really smooth, aerated and fluffy. Mild-moderate body, Co2 is fine and the 5.5% ABV is right where we like it to be for the style.

Overall: Superb stuff here from Range. And what makes them even more desirable is the sharp price point on almost all of their beers. The products are that good they could easily charge more but they don’t, and we respect that. They’re easily in our top 5 best breweries in Australia.

Rating:

“Pouring with a medium level of hop haze, this juicy pale ale is loaded with tropical fruit and citrus characteristics that are complemented nicely by a low yet cleansing level of bitterness.”

Glassware: American Pint.

Appearance: Slightly murky honey golden pour with a soft orange tint. It forms a thumb of finely beaded white foam which gradually peels off. Nice webbed lacing on the glass as we go.

Aroma: Firstly, we must point out the fact at how slow we’ve been getting on board with this mob. Releases like Rock Juice have certainly grabbed our attention, but it wasn’t until their collab with MC (The Overlook) that they really catapulted forward in our opinion. This cheeky little Hazy Pale displays good juice character…lots of citrus overtones, tropical fruits and dank herbals with a lovely touch of peppery spice and chalk.

Flavour: Sliced perfectly down the middle. Somewhat musty and chalky with the citrus and mixed tropical fruits in support. Dank, semi-weedy herbals and peppery spice through the middle but it never loses its fruity quality. It hits a pithy note late in the piece which sets up for a smooth and slightly citrusy finish.

Mouthfeel: Light on, chalky, well aerated. Mild-moderate body and perfectly carbed. The 5% ABV is neatly positioned as well.

Overall: We have a little theory as to why Hazy/NEIPA’s have gotten so much better in Australia over the past couple of years and most of the credit can go to the NEIPA maestro (DJ/Mountain Culture). We’ve noticed that once a brewery collaborates with them their Hazy’s go to another level. This one included. A fine offering.

“In the 60s, Murray’s Beach came within a whisker of getting Australia’s first nuclear reactor. Seriously. Thanks to dedicated locals, this bright idea never saw the light of day. So you’re free to enjoy this citrusy, refreshing XPA in the Jervis Bay sun – free from any fallout.”

Glassware: Shaker.

Appearance: Honey golden complexion with a light haze. It produces a short yet finely beaded bone-coloured head which slowly peels off. Wavy lace clings to the glass as it subsides.

Aroma: Quite a malt-forward XPA this one. We’ve tried it at the brewery once before and don’t recall it being so. We decided to check the best before date and we’ve been stung once again. It’s canning date was 10/2/21 so it’s almost 9 months old which makes it very long in the tooth. Safe to say we’re now pretty pissed off with this bottle shop.

Flavour: If there’s one upside then it’s the fact that it’s still a fairly well balanced beer which drinks quite nicely. It’s a credit to the brewers to have a 9 month old Pale Ale offering this amount of vibrancy still. The malt profile is nice and sweet, honey-esque and grainy while what hop characters are left provide subtle fruits, pine and florals. Kinda dry yet well tempered finish.

Mouthfeel: Holds up well, good body, some chewiness to it. Perfectly carbed. Liking the slightly lifted ABV on it too (5%).

Overall: Obviously we’ll leave a rating off it as that would be unfair. It’s a shame coz we know they’re a great little brewery and we even know first hand how good this beer is when drunk fresh on tap. Looks like we’ll have to revisit with a fresher can. From a different bloody bottle shop!

Rating:

“Crafted from prized British Maris Otter, Crystal and premium German Munich malts, this English Style Pale Ale combines fresh, fruity and zesty New Zealand hops and a biscuity malt with caramel sweetness followed by an appetizingly dry finish. The generous hopping will leave your tastebuds lingering and wanting one more. A great aperitif or as an accompaniment to grills, sausages and Mexican style dishes.”

Glassware: Shaker.

Appearance: Bold amber with a very mild haze. It forms a thumb of off white head which slowly retracts but still manages a wet and wavy lace down the glass.

Aroma: Extremely well balanced. Getting the heady notes of nutty and toasty malt initially then the slightly sweet and fruity hops in support. We’re also picking up more nuanced hints of orange citrus, caramel, light musky florals and earthy apricot. We love the fact it isn’t trying to be fancy, it’s just a really well structured aroma.

Flavour: The hop bitterness certainly shows some vigour. Instantly the dry bitterness and fruity/citrusy flavours compliment the toasty and earthy/nutty malts. That real pithy bitterness carries through the mid and lands on a toasty finish with mostly citrus and rind drawing out on the back end.

Mouthfeel: Fairly dry and bitter… intensifying in the swallow. Light-moderate body and Co2. We like the 5.1% ABV, it’s just slightly higher than average but not enough to notice.

Overall: A very respectable interpretation of an English Pale Ale. The base malt profile is spot on and the combination of Aussie and NZ hops adds a touch of new world flair. But without going over the top. Diggin it.

Rating:

“Deep Space Haze Hazy Pale ale was created amidst the 2020 Australian Hop Harvest. We set to work creating a wet hop, hazy pale . We fell so in love with the beer, that we decided that we wanted it as part of our core range… and while we couldn’t keep the wet hop component we could adjust the hop bill to add even more amazing Australian hops. Please welcome, Deep Space Haze to our already stellar core range.”

Glassware: Shaker.

Appearance: Uber hazy apricot coloured pour with a thumb of sturdy white head resting atop. Slow reduction and healthy lace on the glass as it ebbs.

Aroma: One of the things we notice instantly is the nectar-filled fruits; passionfruit, peach, mango, guava and orange. Subtle herbals and florals, soft piney notes, frosty fruits and paw paw. The malt bill is definitely dry and doughy, a little crusty at times as well. Fleeting chalky notes too. Pretty damn good if we must say!

Flavour: Wasn’t expecting such a huge explosion of flavour but it comes on with a massive wave of of stonefruit – peach, apricot and melon alongside tart passionfruit and orange, subtle brekky juice and pine. Slightly pithy in the middle with an assertive bitterness that carries it through to the bone dry and citric finish.

Mouthfeel: Fairly creamy initially then quite dry and bitter post swallow. Medium body with a vibrant carb. 5.2% ABV is neither here nor there.

Overall: Very flavoursome that’s for sure but maybe a tad too bitter for a hazy in our opinion. We’re looking for that super creamy, juicy and fluffy quality in a hazy. Big ups on the artwork though…very eye-catching.

Rating:

“EPA stands for English Pale Ale. And the stilt walker is actually an original hop picker. In this case Cascade and Styrian hops. They give it the subtle citrus flavours and delicate bitter aftertaste. An easy drinking, refreshing, light, blonde ale. Appeals to ale and lager drinkers. And the occasional stilt walker.”

Glassware: English pint.

Appearance: Pours a lovely golden amber with a thumb of fizzy white head atop. It slowly recedes and works a wavy lace down the glass.

Aroma: Picking up a well balanced fusion of sweet caramelised malts, floral and citrusy hops and that classic earthy/woody note we get from British ale yeast. There is a nice crisp freshness to it too (even though the beer itself is a tick over 7 months old). Peppery grains, orange zest, blossom and a subtle musky-ness to boot. Not half bad.

Flavour: Again, there isn’t really one dominating feature, just a mellow fusion of zesty citrus, toasty and grainy cereal malts, light florals, a hint of candy/musk and a dry woody note in the background. It provides a fairly clean and dry finish with delicate piney notes on the back end.

Mouthfeel: Light, crisp and dry. Mild body with a vibrant carbonation. Only 3.6% ABV so it really is a stayer.

Overall: Look it’s not a terribly exciting beer but it does the job. It’s got good depth of flavour and aroma with only a small ABV. A pleasant drop.

Rating:

No Commercial Description.

Glassware: Shaker.

Appearance: Sandy golden yellow with a thumb of loosely packed head on top. It holds up surprisingly well and works a patchy lace was we go.

Aroma: Chock-full of tangy citrus, stonefruit, passion fruit, peach skins, mild juice concentrate, oats and a doughy/breast malt at the base. Something a little weedy and resinous (pun intended!) In here too. Mango and rock melon certainly intensifies as it warms. Pretty solid stuff.

Flavour: She’s unbelievably smooth that’s for sure. Mixed orange citrus, passion fruit and subtle brekky juice characters upfront. A flutter of weedy herbs and resin coming through. Those dry and bready oats act as a backdrop and an excellent counter balance for the fruity hops to drive in to the lengthy finish.

Mouthfeel: Ultra smooth, creamy, very finely carbonated. Mild-medium body. The 5% ABV is nicely positioned in the beer.

Overall: Another extremely tidy offering from Resin. Not a great deal of contrast between this and Olfaction but take nothing away from this (or Olfaction) they’re both really good beers.

Rating:

“Our Pale Ale is an Australian twist on a classic American style. This beer typifies the type of session beer we love to drink at Five Barrels. It is light and easy drinking with a good smack of hop flavours and aromas, chased by a light biscuity body. We think that a good Pale Ale has to strike the right balance between the malt and the hops; it can’t be too sweet, but it can’t be too bitter either. It’s all about balance, and we think ours is pretty bloody good.”

Glassware: Shaker.

Appearance: Mildly hazy light amber with a finger of white foam perched on top. The head gradually peels off but it’s able to weave a fine lace down the glass.

Aroma: Nicely balanced. There’s a good fruit profile alongside hints of herbals, resin, pine needles and fruit sugars/candy. The malt structure is fairly heady…certainly some caramel sweetness but also quite biscuity with a flutter of honey also coming through. It’s not going to win any prizes but it does the job.

Flavour: Once again the balance is key here. The semi sweet and kinda biscuity malts really take the edge off that classic hop bitterness. Mostly citrus and stone fruit with a pinch of herbals and pine carry through mid and land on a slightly dry and pithy finish which endures.

Mouthfeel: Keeping with the tradition of the beer it’s well rounded with a vibrant CO2. Medium body. 4.9% ABV.

Overall: Some might see this Pale Ale as being a little insipid but we can appreciate the pin point balance that’s struck here. If we were looking for a full flavoured yet light and sessional beer this would be one we’re reaching for. Solid drop.

Rating:

“Strong chance of a Hazy summer: crammed full of Motueka and Citra, our new limited release brew—brewed specially for the Tassie summer—exudes fresh tropical fruit and citrus aromas, backed up by subtle pine notes. It’s super juicy and easy to put down. And just like a Tassie summer, it won’t last long. Take a slab to the shack and settle in for a summer fling with our easy-drinking Hazy Pale Ale. You deserve it. Never forget that.”

Glassware: Shaker.

Appearance: Light golden amber with a very mild haze. It forms a sturdy thumb of white head which works a patchy lace down the walls of the glass.

Aroma: Really clean and citrusy, lots of fresh pine needles, green fruits like apple, pear, kiwifruit and honeydew, a hint of lime, grapefruit/rind, nectarine and soft herbals. Held nicely together by a light and semi sweet honey malt profile. Nice aroma. Not much hazy-ness about it but it’s still decent.

Flavour: Like the aroma – clean, crisp and citrusy with a solid backing of pine and various fruits i.e grapefruit, lemon/lime, pear, honeydew and white grapes. Something kinda earthy and herbaceous as it surges in to a dry, piney and citrusy finish.

Mouthfeel: Crisp, clean, light on. Co2 is spot on. 5.5% ABV gives it a little kick but it’s also very well contained.

Overall: We’re confused as to why they called this a “hazy pale”?! There’s minimal haze, minimal juicy-ness and smoothness…it comes off more like an old-school west coast style pale ale if anything. Solid offering but!

Rating:

“California Pale Ale. CAPA is a strong hopped pale ale. Brewed with Citra and Eldorado Hops which creates an amazing grapefruit and citrus aroma. This is a great beer for those who want hops without too much bitterness.”

Glassware: Shaker.

Appearance: Golden amber with almost full clarity. It forms a thumb of foamy white head which slowly retracts. Some broken wavy lace clings as it ebbs.

Aroma: Absolutely popping. Nice crisp malt base with a nicely balanced floral and citrusy hop profile. Picking up a fair amount of orange, rockmelon, pineapple, soft caramel and honey, wheat grains, pine and watermelon. Jeez, there’s a lot happening for a Pale Ale!

Flavour: Comes on super crisp with lots of vibrancy and character. Again the balance is spot on…kinda biscuity, semi sweet honey malt structure with the floral and citrusy hops offsetting. A delicate hop bitterness develops late as it finishes rather smooth and fruity.

Mouthfeel: Crisp and zingy. Medium body and Co2. Mild hop dryness in the finish. 5.4% ABV – right on the money.

Overall: This is the first time we’ve seen the core range from 50/50 in Australia. We weren’t actually aware they had a core range as all we ever wanted was the Eclipse series beers. Tell ya what if they all stack up like this then we’re in for a treat!

Rating:

“Photon is our light and crushable American Pale Ale loaded with pacific northwest hops. It pours a very hazy orange, releasing well-blended notes of apricot, tangerine, peach, mango, and pineapple. It tastes of soft juicy tropical fruits, hop resins, and a hint of biscuit. A smooth rounded bitterness with a touch of dryness ensures you’re ready for the next sip. This drinking experience is further enhanced with a soft and billowy mouth-feel that has made this the go to ale for the EQ crew, especially when a productive day needs to follow a fun night.”

Glassware: Shaker.

Appearance: Pastel yellow/gold with a fluffy two finger head. Excellent retention and a smattering of lace left on the glass.

Aroma: Fairly conventional, a hint of white pepper adding a bit of spiciness. Other than that we’re getting the typical marriage of stonefruit, citrus and tropical fruit, a flutter of pine resin and weedy herbs, orange rind, boiled candy and freshly baked white bread. It certainly improves as it settles.

Flavour: Like the aroma; straight forward and inoffensive. A neat fusion of stonefruit, citrus and tropical fruit with a delicate line of resin and weed/herbs. Grapefruit and orange rind developing late and setting up a nice dry finish which offers a touch of rind and resin.

Mouthfeel: Dry and chalky. Pretty well aerated. Mild-medium body and Co2. 4.8% ABV which is stock standard for Pales.

Overall: It’s hard to fault it but at the same time it’s awfully safe. We could list 5 hazy pales by Aussie breweries that are equal, if not better. Good but not great.