Author Archives: 2hopheads

Weihenstephaner Kristall Weissbier

Rating:

“Our Kristallweissbier has repeatedly been singled out by beer judges the world over for its excellence. This beer is a true jewel of the Bavarian State Brewery Weihenstephan. The clarity of our Kristallweissbier is achieved through filtration, and it is the only top-fermented beer brewed by the Bavarian State Brewery Weihenstephan that is not cloudy.”

Glassware: Stein.

Appearance: Crystal clear bright golden pour with a fluffy three finger head. It recedes to a fine overlay with wet and streaky lace down the glass.

Aroma: This is one of those “we can’t believe we haven’t reviewed this” situations. We’ve probably consumed about 100 of them over our adult lives and have never thought to review it. That changes now. It’s super fruity – pear, cloudy apple juice, tangy orange/peel, lemon zest, ripe mandarin and a very delicate hint of mango once it warms. Beautiful ester profile as well…banana runts, bubblegum, clove etc. Superb.

Flavour: So pleasant to drink. Its ultra clean and crisp nature makes it an ample warm weather beer. Carries a bit of the fruit through from the nose i.e pear, apple, orange/peel, zesty lemon, some banana but it’s more yeast/ester-driven along with the clove and bubblegum notes that shift into the clean, spicy and grainy finish. Moderate length on the back end.

Mouthfeel: Crisp, clean, light on. Quite effervescent. The 5.4% ABV is neatly tucked away.

Overall: Absolute corker of a beer. We’re not big on Witbier but this classic has always been an all-time favourite of ours. World class stuff.

The Bruery ‘Practice What You Peach’ BA Imperial Pastry Stout

Rating:

“They say practice makes perfect, so consider this a step closer to pastry stout perfection. This bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout was made with a harvest’s worth of juicy peaches, plus just a sprinkle of cinnamon and a bit of vanilla to bring this peach pie-inspired stout to life. Top with vanilla ice cream and dig in.”

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: Impenetrable black pour with a finger of brown head nestled in atop. Excellent retention and healthy lace work on the glass.

Aroma: It has been a long time between drinks for us and The Bruery. We absolutely love their beers (their BA Stouts especially) but the cost of their beers has skyrocketed over the past year and has made them near un-buy-able. This one we got on sale so here goes. The peach comes through immediately. It’s well tempered and leans into the bourbon/oak nicely. The cinnamon and vanilla are also there but it’s hard to get anything from the base Stout as the feature ingredients are so prominent.

Flavour: We must say it comes together better than we anticipated. Peach isn’t typically a fruit we’d pair with a big BA Impy Stout so credit where it’s due. The classic Bruery sweetness they carry across their BA range kicks it off. Immediately the peach comes through then quickly followed by a hint of cinnamon and bourbon oak. The vanilla is more spicy and acts like a dusting on a cake as it finishes rich, warm, fruity and spicy. Excellent length on it too.

Mouthfeel: Dense and full bodied. Carbonation is low and the 9.7% ABV is noticeable but well contained.

Overall: Not as impressed by it as we’ve been by some of their others (probably why it was on sale). They did well to incorporate a difficult fruit like peach though. Good but not great.

Theakston ‘XB’ ESB

Rating:

“XB was first brewed in 1982 to celebrate the purchase of the Carlisle Brewery by Theakstons a few years before. Brewed always and ever in Masham, XB was designed as a tribute to the classic ‘border’ style of beer, strong in gravity, low but complex hop. It was an instant success and has remained so, winning over real ale devotees all over the UK.”

Glassware: English pint.

Appearance: Pours a gorgeous amber complexion with a thumb of finely beaded khaki foam capping it off. Good head retention and reasonable lacing as it ebbs.

Aroma: Smells incredible. Exactly what we’d want an English ESB to smell like. It has that rich and extremely sweet toffee/caramel malt structure but it’s impeccably balanced by the spicy and earthy hops. Loving the mixed berries that are laced through as well. A hint of dark fruit i.e raisin, plum etc. Black tea, toast and marmalade/jammy qualities coming through too. Superb.

Flavour: We’re aware that the term “nectar of the Gods” is in reference to Mead (and rightfully so) but we’re gonna steal it on this occasion. From start to finish is this silky, sweet, fruity, hoppy and moreish liquid gold. Everything just fits perfectly and does everything we want it to do. The length on the back end too… sensational.

Mouthfeel: Chewy, velvety with a touch of bitterness in the swallow. Medium body and a tempered Co2. The 4.5% ABV is spot on as well.

Overall: Faultless. Certainly more on the “heavier” side of ESB’s (due to the darker colour and richness) but make no mistake, this is world class.

King River ‘King Valley’ Kölsch

Rating:

“A perfect beer for any occasion. A German Golden Ale with a light body and straw colour. Delicate hop character matches the elegant pale malts for a balanced ale that can quench a thirst and matches well with lighter foods. Our King Valley Kolsch showcases the beauty of our region with crisp characters from our super fresh water obvious with your very first taste. We call this beer the Elbow Bender as it’s so easy to come back for another sip.”

Glassware: Tumbler.

Appearance: Deep golden pour with a very mild haze. Much darker than most Kölsch we’ve tried previously. It constructs two fingers of fizzy white head which gradually breaks apart. Laces reasonably well.

Aroma: Quite meaty and well layered for the style. It’s notably fruity – think more orchard fruits like pear, red apple and subtle peachy notes. Some honey sweetness from the malt plus a bit of black pepper and florals from the hops. It’s interesting because it’s showing some complexity yet it’s still rather crisp and clean. Ahhh Kölsch, such a cool style.

Flavour: Similar characteristics to the nose, as in the feeling of a rich malt sweetness and layers of flavour yet it still drinks so light and effortless. Not as fruity as the aroma though…it focuses more on the crisp hop profile, semi-sweet honey malt and some delicate yeast esters. A nice bitterness kicks in late which then lays down for a clean and dry finish.

Mouthfeel: Crisp, light on, but with a good consistency. Mild-medium body, nicely carbed and a well fitted 4.9% ABV.

Overall: A very good interpretation of this German classic. Displays a good fusion of Lager and Ale qualities. Not to mention the ease of putting it back! Solid.

Boatrocker ”24 Nordjet’ Salted Licorice BA Imperial Stout

Rating:

“Arguably the most divisive beer ever made by us… If you love licorice, you’ll most likely love this beer, and if you don’t… well… we warned you!Aged on Nordic salmiak licorice and using natural licorice extract, this super limited edition of Nordjet is the only repeat variant of Ramjet ever made… all because we love licorice! Malt, salted licorice and whisky are a treat for adults only!”

Glassware: Teku.

Appearance: Pours an impenetrable black with a short brown cap resting on top. Good retention and healthy lace as we go.

Aroma: Holy moly we can smell that salted licorice from a mile away. We’re not massive fans of licorice but we’re not against it either. You could say we’re impartial. From the first whiff we now understand the warnings they gave in the description! Extremely potent wafts of salted licorice with notes of five spice, dark fruits, oak tannins and dark chocolate. Funnily enough we’re really diggin’ it.

Flavour: Ooft. This is probably where all the fence-sitters drop off. That insane amount of salted licorice was enjoyable on the nose but it steps a couple of notches here. We’re still hanging on for the ride though. Immense levels of salted licorice, aniseed, five spice, rich dark malt, oak, red wine tannins and warming booze from the get-go and all the way through to the long drawn out finish.

Mouthfeel: Thick and viscous. Full bodied, low Co2. The 11% ABV is noticeable but fairly well behaved.

Overall: As divisive as they said it’d be we’re still somehow undecided. It’s intense and we love that but man, if you don’t absolutely love licorice then you’ll absolutely hate this. No other way of putting it.

Boatrocker ESB

Rating:

“A stalwart of the British brewing scene – a beer style that showcases a brewery’s talent with both malt and hops.  ESB is balanced with delicious malt flavours then finishing with pleasant bitterness.”

Glassware: English pint.

Appearance: Pours an attractive deep amber with strong ruby red hues. A thumb of tan head reduces quite quickly and settles to a collar. Unfortunately not much in the way of lacing.

Aroma: Definitely sweet, definitely nutty and laden with caramel but it seems to lack that all-important English hop profile. Those floral, spicy and earthy characters are key to the perfect balance with this style. Sometimes these malty beers need a bit of time to properly open up but this one seems to be doubling down on the cloying malt-driven sweetness. Bit of a shame coz Boatrocker have nailed ESB’s before.

Flavour: We were quietly hoping the hops were hiding here in the flavour but nope, it’s more of the same. There’s nothing wrong with sweet caramels, nutty malt and brioche in an ESB but it has to have that crucial hop balance in our opinion. It simply isn’t here so we’re left with this overly sweet, artificial malt bomb from start to finish. Disappointing.

Mouthfeel: Slightly sticky but cloying and also lacking any vibrancy in the Co2 department. Medium body with a well positioned 5.5% ABV.

Overall: We’ve probably said all that needs to be said already. Badly unbalanced and not enjoyable to drink. A rare strike out for Boatrocker.

Garage Project Sichuan & Pineapple Pilsner

Rating:

“Let your taste buds take a trip. Sichuan Pineapple – ma la spiced pineapple pilsner, delivering a mind bending blend of spicy chilli, numbing Sichuan Pepper and ripe pineapple. Sweet heat, numbing warmth and juicy fresh cut pineapple aromatics, interwoven in a beautifully crisp, clean golden base. Mind blown.”

Glassware: Stemmed tulip.

Appearance: Clear golden pour capped off with a fizzy two finger head which gradually peels off. It forms a collar with scarce lacing left in its wake.

Aroma: We’re suckers for any beer with chilli in it. Even more so when it’s a chilli/sweet combo as the two ingredients compliment each other so well. With sichuan being such a potent spice there are no surprises the spicy, slightly citrusy and peppery qualities are direct and balance the sweetness of the pineapple really well. It’s a fun and unique spice and one rarely seen used in beer so full points to GP on this one.

Flavour: Classy. We’d totally forgotten this was a Pilsner until the first sip. Initially we get a hint of sichuan and chilli and then the clean and crisp Pilsner malts wash over. A subtle heat from the chilli returns mid way along with a very delicate pineapple sweetness. That numbing effect from the sichuan also kicks in late before the semi sweet but ultimately crisp and spicy finish.

Mouthfeel: Light on, clean and warming (from the spice). Light-moderate body with the 5.8% ABV well hidden.

Overall: It’s certainly an enjoyable drop on this hot late-Spring arvo. A good hit of chilli heat and spice, it’s crushable, it just lacked that knockout punch for us though. Not bad.

Garage Project X Trillium ‘Willamette Valley’ Hazy DIPA

Rating:

“We’re back with East Coast brewing legends Trillium for an all new collaborative celebration of hop growing terroir. This time we travel to Oregon’s majestic Willamette Valley with hand selected hops from Coleman’s Alluvial Farm. A hop free boil and massive dry hop addition of Strata, Luminosa and Audacia create a lusciously juicy hazy homage to the unique character of America’s North West.”

Glassware: IPA.

Appearance: Turbid deep pastel yellow/mustard-like pour with a foamy two finger head perched on top. Good retention and thick blotchy lacing is strewn down the glass as it subsides.

Aroma: Proper juice bomb. Mostly citrus, nectar fruits like passionfruit, mango and nectarine, and macerated strawberries. There’s a notable pine and cannabis scent which isn’t all the way dank but it’s certainly resinous. Stewed fruits like pear, rock melon and papaya, subtle herbs and earthy florals make the cut as well. It’s safe to say this aroma is not short on character!

Flavour: Two new hops we’ve never heard of feature in this brew – Luminosa and Audacia. The stewy, fleshy and sweet papaya and melon notes can be attributed to the Luminosa but the Audacia traits are next level. Descriptors include huckleberry, lingonberry and pomegranate. None of which we pick up in aroma or flavour. If anything, those more subtle fruits are thrown in with the rest for good measure. It’s just a good old fashioned fruit juice bomb with tonnes of resinous pine, cannabis, earthy herbals and doughy malt.

Mouthfeel: Creamy, fluffy and well aerated. Almost beer clouds. Mild-medium body and the 8% ABV is incredibly well concealed.

Overall: We like it but it definitely has nothing on Sunrise or Yakima. We’d say even Galaxy is far better. Still, a damn good Hazy.

Garage Project ‘Surrender To The Void – Peppermint Chocolate’ Imperial Pastry Stout

Rating:

“Surrender to the Void, an outrageously decadent pitch black stout brewed using an enormous, complex malt bill and mounds of debaucherous adjuncts. What’s the Void up to now? Goodness, what a lot of cacao nibs and vanilla pods!? Are you sure you need all that? And what’s that? Peppermint candy!? ALL the peppermint candy! Oh Void, have you no restraint!”

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: Blacker than midnight with a thumb of fizzy dark brown head temporarily capping off. It quickly forms a collar with little to no lace in its wake.

Aroma: Quite rich and warming but that peppermint is akin to the fresh and cooling wind blowing on this hot spring arvo. We like that the big and menacing Stout base dominates…too many times have we tried choc mint Stouts and the mint completely stands over the pedestrian Stout base, but not here. This is like a big, boozy after dinner mint in liquid form.

Flavour: Good to see the aroma being replicated here. The rich and hedonistic Stout base rolls over the palate bringing dark chocolate, molasses, fudge, subtle smoke, espresso and cigar skins. Then the peppermint slowly creeps up through the mid and hits a crescendo late in the piece. Falling back into line for the big, rich and minty finish.

Mouthfeel: Dense AF. Full bodied but lifted by a delicate bitterness and Co2. The 11.5% ABV is very nicely buried.

Overall: GP does it again! Surprisingly (for us) this is our first crack at their “surrender to the void” series. What isn’t surprising is the superior quality. We’ll certainly be returning for the next instalment.

Hop Federation ‘Green Limousine’ Fresh Hop IPA

Rating:

“Our Green Limousine is here and you don’t want to miss it. We’ve got a limited amount available online now for purchase and it’s currently making its way across the country, get it before it goes! The Green Limousine delivers fresh Nelson Sauvin hops to us once a year. Coming from just down the road, they’re as fresh as it gets. In fact, they’re off the bine and into the brew in as quick as thirty minutes. The result is this beautiful golden brew. Super fresh and super delicious.”

Glassware: IPA.

Appearance: Deep burnished orange with a thumb of creamy white head that ain’t budging. Thick and blotchy patches of lace clings to the glass as it ebbs.

Aroma: Smells fantastic. Displaying a hefty caramel malt profile which not only hands it its excellent balance but a lovely, rounded sweetness as well. The freshness of the Nelson Sauvin hops add a unique touch to it too – they claim that the hops are off the bine and into the brew in 30 minutes. Which is insane but it checks out as they’re situated in Riwaka (the heart of NZ hop country).

Flavour: Yeah we definitely have never tasted NS hops this fresh. Before the hallmark gooseberry and white wine notes is an almost oily/resinous grapefruit. It also has a ganja-like dankness as well. What’s also interesting is the sweet caramels on the nose take a back seat while the hops do all the work from start to finish.

Mouthfeel: Fairly smooth and rounded with discernible bitterness post-swallow. Medium body, a tempered Co2 and the 6% ABV is on the lighter end but positioned nicely.

Overall: This is our first crack at Hop Federation (other than a few collab brews with guys like Epic and Garage Project). Another one we bagged when we took a trip to Queenstown a couple of months back. Impressive stuff. It’s a shame we don’t see more of their beers here in Australia.

Sunday Road Oktoberfest Pilsener

Rating:

“Brewed with pale pilsner malt for light body and hopped with traditional German hops.”

Glassware: Stemmed tulip.

Appearance: Slightly pale golden pour with a light and fluffy two finger head nestled in on top. It steadily peels off and leaves an absolute smattering of lace on the glass. Looks the goods.

Aroma: Smells the goods too. Lagers and Pilsners are one of many styles SR excel at and those maestro skills are on full display here. Semi sweet cereal malt structure with the spicy and floral Noble hops icing the cake. Impeccably balanced. Old herbs, vines, a good (small) dose of DMS, an earthy minerality and rice crackers filling it out. Absolutely superb.

Flavour: Not as perfectly refined as the aroma but still very good. The semi sweet and grainy/cereal malts plus the Noble hop qualities hit the taste buds simultaneously. Coupled with the right amount of bitterness and the crispiest of textures. Excellent carry through the mid palate and landing on an ultra clean and moreish finish.

Mouthfeel: Light on, refreshing and effortless. Light-moderate body. Co2 is spot on and so too the 5% ABV.

Overall: Top shelf stuff from a top shelf brewery. These guys have firmly planted themselves in our top 10 best Euro-style brewers in Australia. With interpretations this similar to their German counterparts how could they not be?! Magnificent.

Canyon Brewing ‘Triple Perk’ Coffee Milk Stout

Rating:

“We’ve teamed up with Wolf Coffee to add our signature Canyon coffee blend at three points in the brewing process: A hot steep in the whirlpool, ‘dry beaning’ for rich coffee aroma, and a concentrated brew for a depth of flavour. Smooth, velvety mouthfeel with layers of rich espresso, chocolate, and a refreshing coffee bitterness. A milk coffee stout that will have you saying “how you doin’?” with every sip.”

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: Pitch black except for a tiny ray of light cutting through at the base of the glass. It doesn’t produce much head, quickly forming a collar with a surprisingly brilliant lace as we imbibe.

Aroma: This was another favourite from our recent trip to Queenstown. We’re suckers for a good coffee stout and this one impressed from the get-go. Punchy coffee notes backed up by a really direct burnt toast quality which has our savoury juices flowing. Slowly but surely the subtle lactose and caramel sweetness crept in and rounds out the aroma as we’d hoped it would.

Flavour: It doesn’t carry over as much of the burnt toast which allows the coffee to dominate but also allows the sweeter notes like lactose/vanilla, toasted coconut, toffee, burnt caramel and milk chocolate to come forward. It displays such a nice and light finish with mild dryness and delicate coffee/roasted notes drawing out.

Mouthfeel: Dry and bitter yet fairly easy-going. Somewhat expected though, considering the 5.5% ABV. Medium body and well tempered carbonation.

Overall: Pretty much the perfect milk stout in our opinion. The addition of coffee is both tried and tested but it’s the way they’ve made it so roasty and charred which makes it stand out from the crowd. Another absolute pearler from Canyon. Gaahh take us back!

Cooper’s ‘2024 Vintage Ale’ English Strong Ale

Rating:

“Introducing Coopers Vintage Ale Seasonal Release 2024 Limited Edition, the epitome of brewing mastery and innovation. Crafted with unparalleled precision and passion, this exceptional ale is a testament to Coopers’ legacy of excellence in brewing. Each year the brewing team at Coopers sets out to create a bespoke extra strong Ale, a release characterised by the hop selection that impart unique aroma and taste. The 2024 Vintage Ale features Solero, a German hop variety bursting with tropical fruit aromas including pineapple, mango and passionfruit.”

Glassware: English pint.

Appearance: Before we start we want to throw in here that we always like to give Cooper’s beers a good roll before cracking. Just to stir up the sediment where all the flavour is. Kinda muddy light brown-reddish pour with a lasting two finger head. Good retention and lacing.

Aroma: Aahh that classic Cooper’s ale yeast…haven’t taken that banana-laden scent in for a while! Like many of our previous Vintage Ale reviews, we’re drinking this fresh so the hops play a pivotal role in bringing the fruity and peppery aromas forward. Mostly stone fruits like rock melon, apricot and peach which is very nicely balanced by the toasty and earthy malt profile.

Flavour: Such a complex beer. One of the main things we love about it. Upfront there’s a healthy battle between the malt and hop bitterness. Due to it still being so young the hops win and keep charging through the mid palate. Those earthy, toasty and grainy malt flavours never give up though. They’re constantly in the background as it finishes rather fruity and bitter. Excellent length on it.

Mouthfeel: Chewy and a little sticky then bitter in the swallow. Medium body, lively Co2. The 7.5% ABV is well behaved for its size.

Overall: It’s certainly an acquired taste. When it’s this fresh we’re a bit 50/50 on them but once they’ve been laid down for a few years they really come to fruition. Looking forward to seeing how this evolves over the coming years.

Waitoa Brewing ‘Greenskeeper’ Fresh Hop IPA

Rating:

“Tee up for a hole-in-one with this green-hopped IPA. Crafted with freshly clipped Motueka and NZ Cascade from Freestyle Farms, it boasts a grassiness only found in the greenest hops. If you’re yet to taste victory on the course, this brew is a good plan B.”

Glassware: IPA.

Appearance: Golden-amber pour topped off with a creamy two finger head. A very mild hop haze to it. Quite an active Co2 – multiple streams surging up to help retain the head. Excellent lace as we hook in.

Aroma: Wow, they’re not lying when they say there’s a strong grassiness. We’re getting a truck load of freshly cut grass, pine needle, lush rainforest, zesty lime juice, passionfruit and yellow grapefruit/pomelo. Man we love Kiwi hops. They bring such a unique and intense greenery that can’t be found in any other hop region on earth.

Flavour: Yum. There’s actually a notable resinous character (that we omitted in the aroma). It’s a little dank and weedy but it’s kept relatively subtle. Slightly fruitier as opposed to the nose. Passionfruit, grapefruit, lime and honeydew stand out the most with the fresh-cut grass, pine needle and lush greenery playing more of a support role throughout as well as in the dry and bitter finish.

Mouthfeel: Smooth but a tad slippery…kinda slides off the tongue a bit too easy. Mild-medium body, slightly lower carb than anticipated. The 6% ABV slots in nicely.

Overall: Our first crack at this Wellington brewery. The fresh hops certainly shine and bring a lot of character to the beer. Other than that it was a fairly stock-standard IPA. Good but nothing to write home about.

Yulli’s ‘Gretchen’ Organic Maple Kölsch

Rating:

“Gretchen Maple Kölsch is our take on a classic German style Kolsch, where a cold fermentation promotes a clean, lager-like finish to this easy drinker. We sourced all organic ingredients for this one, with organic Pilsner malt from Germany, organic Cascade hops from NZ, and organic maple syrup from Canada. The beer finishes super clean and easy, with a lovely maple flavour on the back palate. Pairs well with mezze plates, smokey dips and chips from the vending machine.”

Glassware: Tulip.

Appearance: Honey-golden pour with a very mild haziness. It forms a thumb of light and fluffy head which retains pretty well. Kinda wet and patchy lace as it ebbs.

Aroma: Loving the strong maple scent emanating from it. OG maple syrup from Canada too which is a masterstroke coz it has this rich, sweet and nutty complexity that’s unbelievably alluring. The Kölsch side of it is a surprisingly good counterbalance…we weren’t sure how it would stack up against the maple but the crisp, biscuity malt and the zesty lime from the hops balances the maple magnificently. Really diggin this.

Flavour: Delish. What we love the most is that it feels as if they’ve dialled the intensity back a notch or two which is perfect as it’s still only a Kölsch and should remain light and crushable. The rich sweet maple is still front and centre and just like the aroma, the crisp malt bill and zesty hops provide that impeccable balance from start to finish.

Mouthfeel: Light and effortless but still providing some consistency. Mild-moderate body and perfectly carbed. The 4.5% ABV is spot on for the style.

Overall: By far the best beer we’ve had from Yulli’s. We’ve been pretty critical of them in the past (most of which we still stand by) but this little beauty is top shelf.

2 Halfs ‘De Quad’ Belgian Quadrupel

Rating:

“Behold, our mightiest Belgian style Ale to date: De Quad(rupel). This huge ale pours bronze hazelnut with a creamy head. With ample dark toffee, malt sweetness and brown sugar flavours at the beginning this ale develops with quadruple malts and slight hop bitterness to finish. The De Quad has a relatively light body compared to its mighty alcoholic strength.”

Glassware: Trappist goblet.

Appearance: Gorgeous mahogany pour with a thumb of finely beaded khaki foam perched on top. Excellent retention and a cascading lace flows down the side of the glass.

Aroma: We’ve been pretty impressed with the quality of beers coming out of this brewery. They clearly have a knack for trad European styles and this Quad is no exception. Hitting those rich, super sweet fruit cake and rum & raisin notes while also providing strong yeast esters, candi sugars and toffee/treacle. Other more subtle and complex notes of gingerbread, cola, floral hops, plum jam, spice and dark rye bread.

Flavour: It’s usually here where most non-Belgian breweries falter but to their credit they’ve done quite well. The key is the balance…they’ve managed the ultra rich and sweet malt and layered it quite neatly over the spice and fruity esters, candi sugars and floral hops. Just a lick of booze warmth developing late which helps to set up the very well balanced finish.

Mouthfeel: Smooth, silky, inoffensive, which is a feat considering the 9.3% ABV. Medium body, low-ish Co2. Very impressive.

Overall: These guys are going from strength to strength. This is our 3rd crack at them now and we’ve been more than content with every one of them. Kudos 2 Halfs, keep em comin!

Canyon Brewing ‘Nice One Gary’ Hazy IPA

Rating:

“A heavenly amalgamation of three big hitting American hops, blended with a pale orange malt body. Expect ripe mango and juicy pineapple, all tied together with a hint of bitterness.”

Glassware: IPA.

Appearance: Hazy pastel orange pour with pastel yellow edges. Struggles to produce much head, quickly forming a collar with fine spotty lace on the glass.

Aroma: It’s quite bizarre, the aroma isn’t really doing it for us. We say it’s bizarre coz it boasts two of our all-time favourite hop varieties (Citra and Simcoe). The third hop (El Dorado) is also an excellent hop so yeah, we’re a little confused. It is a bit muddled, stewy and seems a little tired. They didn’t have this on tap (only in tinnies) when we visited the brewery so it may well be old.

Flavour: It certainly tastes fresher than it smells…just to make it even more confusing. Getting tangy orange and then a raft of stone fruit like mango, melon and nectarine. Subtle hints of ripe pineapple peeking through as well. The malt profile is standoffish…get a delicate hint of oats and cereal grains, maybe some bread crust. It all falls a bit flat in the finish too. Literally falls off a cliff.

Mouthfeel: The best part of the beer in our opinion. It’s soft and fluffy, well aerated and light on. Mild-medium body and the 6.5% ABV is nowhere to be seen.

Overall: We were hesitant about grabbing this one due to the fact that it wasn’t on tap when we visited. Our guess is they’ve blown through the kegs and are left with their packaged stock which hints at a bit of old age. No dates on the can which makes it harder to know what’s up. Look, not a bad beer but not great either.

Behemoth ‘Something Hoppy’ IPA

Rating:

“Something Hoppy is an India Pale Ale made with Citra, Azacca, and El Dorado hops that meld over a lovely malt cushion. Sometimes all you need is something hoppy and this is the beer for those times. To be fair, most times are those times.”

Glassware: IPA.

Appearance: A clear and bold light amber complexion with a thumb of off-white foam on top. The head gradually peels off and leaves a wet and streaky lace down the glass.

Aroma: First thing that strikes us is the balance. The hops are quite punchy but the malt profile matches them on intensity. Conventional WCIPA-like notes of mixed citrus, oily resins/sap, dank/weedy, pine needle and some tropical fruit i.e mostly pineapple and lychee. Loving the sweet and caramelised malt bill too… gives off those old school IPA vibes.

Flavour: It opens with a wave of hops splashing over the palate. Oily citrus rind, mixed citrus fruits, slightly dank pine and resins, weed and old herbs. Once again the robust caramel malt sweetness oozes through and counters the hops beautifully. Only the mildest bitterness kicks off late in the piece and punctuates on a well rounded finish.

Mouthfeel: Light on but still providing a good consistency and chewiness. The Co2 is flatter than anticipated but it works. Mild-moderate body and the 5.9% ABV slots in nicely.

Overall: One of the other favourites from our recent trip to Queenstown. It’s light and crushable but it has the full flavour and aroma to back it up. Not to mention the near 6% ABV. They crept up on us after a few!

Heyday Beer Co ‘Galactic Grounds’ Dirty Chai Latte Stout

Rating:

“Experience the velvety richness of Galactic Grounds Dirty Chai Latte Stout, a decadent brew with harmonious flavors. Its sweet, creamy texture, reminiscent of a perfectly crafted latte, is infused with robust coffee notes and layers of chai-spiced goodness, elevating the traditional stout to interstellar heights in every sip.”

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: Impenetrable black pour with a billowing three and a bit finger head emerging on top. It holds for a minute but eventually deconstructs and leaves an intricate lace in its wake.

Aroma: Well it’s certainly ticking all the chai spices off. We get a tonne of cinnamon, nutmeg, star anise, ginger, cardamom and five spice. Giving off the scents of a good Indian restaurant at the same time. More subtle notes of coffee and cocoa, sweet vanilla, condensed milk/lactose and a deep-seated hint of Angostura bitters. Intense aromas and they’ve managed to balance them all nicely.

Flavour: We love the fact that they haven’t gone absolutely ham on the sweetness. On entry it rolls seamlessly into the chai spices and then the subtle coffee, chocolate and vanilla fills the space around it. The mid palate provides a robust yet well tempered roastiness that draws out more of the coffee and chocolate in the finish. Good length on it too.

Mouthfeel: Rather slick and creamy texture with medium body and low-ish Co2. The 6.9% ABV is well hidden.

Overall: This was a random pick from a bottlo in Queenstown, NZ. We’d never heard of them before and after this we must say we’re pretty impressed. They’re based in Wellington which only reinforces the fact that the South Island is the beating heart of craft beer in NZ. Solid stuff.

Range ‘Cake Eater’ Hazy Double IPA

Rating:

“We’re about to get FREAKY. We’ve gone and traded places with our best buds from Banks to create a Freaky Friday release like no other. We’ve brewed a fresh batch of Banks’ iconic Cake Eater: Citra + Mosaic. This DDH Oat Cream DIPA is absolutely waxed with the freshest Citra, Citra Cryo, Mosaic and Mosaic Cryo we could get our hot little hands on. The baby is punching out immense wafts of a tropical bouquet, huge fresh Citra vibes that come on in waves. Take a sip and you’ll be smacked with red and blue berries, orange sherbet, mango sorbet and a hint of vanilla. All rounded out with an intense fleshy orange and hints of fresh passionfruit. The bitterness is virtually non-existent, just fresh and sticky hop oils. The finish is punchy and expressive yet stupidly smooth and drinkable. FREAKY!”

Glassware: IPA.

Appearance: Off pastel yellow with flecks of orange fused through. It forms a big and loosely packed three finger head which takes ages to recede. An absolute smattering of lace is left on the glass.

Aroma: This is a pretty cool concept from Banks & Range. From what we gather, Banks has lent the recipe to their highly acclaimed Cake Eater to Range for them to brew in their own style. It is very interesting how another brewery (as good as Range are) simply can’t replicate the same quality though. Still a fairly decent aroma – we get tropical fruits, citrus, pine, creamy oats, vanilla and a hint of tangy yeast.

Flavour: The difference between Banks’ and this rendition is getting further and further apart…and unfortunately not in a good way. It’s a bit of a muddled fruit salad upfront. Some tropical and stone fruit mashed together. Almost like baby food. Orange citrus and mixed berries join the mixture. The oats add to the overall creaminess and a hint of vanilla and stewed fruits finishes it off.

Mouthfeel: Super smooth, mildly creamy with fine carbonation. Medium body, and the 8% ABV was extremely well concealed.

Overall: To be honest, as much as it was a great idea, we think Banks should stick to brewing Cake Eater from now on. It wasn’t a terrible beer we suppose. If anything, it demonstrates just how skillful Banks are when it comes to Hazy’s.