We are really digging this brewery lately, every beer of theirs we have tried has been top notch….we can’t wait to visit the boys at Tuatara on our NZ brewery tour in 2016!
We served this in a shaker glass. The exceptionally transparent amber pour arouses a compacted 1 finger white head that persists but reduces to a fine covering with healthy lace trails. Off the nose it is a gorgeous citrusy affair with a hop-forward and fruity mix of grapefruit, passion fruit and melon coming through firmly. Plenty of floral pine resins flowing above the caramel malt backing as wafts of wood, peppery spice and a hint of alcohol warms the nostrils. Really good depth, could quite easily pass as a DIPA. In the mouth it’s sharp with a dry texture. Carbonation and body are both medium. The flavours do mirror the aroma with the addition of a solid alcohol astringency (9%) upfront. Grapefruit and pine notes emphasise the alcohol and boost the aggressive bitterness (167 IBU) as it’s ever so slightly softened by the muted caramel malt base though the mid. Tropical fruits develop late in the mid and deliver a dry and extremely bitter finish. Lengthy bitterness on the back end. Whoa! If you’re dead set hop heads like us then you will love this. An absolute hop assault on the tongue here. Brilliant!