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.

Garage Project ‘Single Fruit – Feijoa’ BA Sour

Rating:

“A blend of barrel and foeder aged beers, infused with the finest Opal Star, Kakapo and Pounamu feijoas, sourced directly from Unicorn Farms in the Motueka Valley. Loaded with over 300g/l of fruit, the finished beer has a light yellow green blush, stunning guava and grape like aromatics and a lush tart fruit palate.”

Glassware: Teku.

Appearance: Quite a hazy little number this one…pours a bit like cloudy cider. It produced a short fizzy head but it disappeared as quickly as it came. Zero head = zero lacing.

Aroma: Interesting fruit the old feijoa, looks like a cucumber inside but the flavour couldn’t be any further from it. With one of us coming from a culinary background we can tell you that its flavour lands somewhere between a pear and a pineapple depending on its ripeness. Anywho, we’re picking up subtle pear and sour apple alongside white wine vinegar, oak, green grapes, lime juice and a manky funk.

Flavour: Transitions from the aroma nicely with all the same qualities i.e pear, sour apple, white wine vinegar, green grapes etc. Hints at unripened guava along with tart gooseberry and pomelo. The oak character plays less of a role here but is made up for in this kinda musty and sweaty funk. Mild bitterness throughout and then finishes quite dry and acetic.

Mouthfeel: Light and gassy. A lifted Co2 with mild-moderate body. Quite sour too – a pucker rating of 3.5/5 sounds about right. The 5% ABV is nicely positioned.

Overall: While we respect the complexities of such a beer it wasn’t really to our taste. In our opinion it was over-carbonated and a touch too dry. It’s a well-brewed beer though, don’t get us wrong.

Canyon Brewing ‘Vacation’ Hazy Pale Ale

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.

Banks ‘Pastryball’ Imperial Pastry Stout

Rating:

“PASTRYBALL pays homage to one of the most underated & miss understood whiskeys of our time. The almighty Fireball. The perfect sipper of a big beer or if you are feeling adventurous an epic Boilermaker when paired with a nip of Fireball which we suggest best consumed on the rocks & savoured.”

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: Pitch black with a thumb of finely beaded brown foam nestled in on top. Good retention and an intricate lace is woven down the sides of the glass.

Aroma: One of us is an avid Fireball lover so this was an instant purchase. The fact that Banks took on this task makes it even more appealing. Ok, the first whiff is good…getting strong cinnamon, biscoff, gingerbread, vanilla, milk chocolate and other spices like nutmeg and star anise. More subtle hints of banana runts, roasted jalapeno and licorice. Some serious depth to this.

Flavour: We’ve been waiting for well over a week to try this and in the end the flavour profile misses the mark. Such a shame as it was shaping up to be epic. It’s pretty darn smooth for its size so it ain’t all bad. It’s just lacking intensity and depth which is unfortunate as the aroma had both in spades. Cinnamon, biscoff, vanilla and some heat from the booze in the finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-full body with a kinda oily texture. Low-ish Co2. The 12% ABV was well behaved for its size.

Overall: It was a bit of a let down in the end which we’re proper spewing about. The flavour profile was the culprit…it just didn’t come together as we’d hoped. Oh well, we’re off to spike the remainder in our glasses with real Fireball.

Sunday Road Cali IPA

Rating:

“Bright IPA generously loaded with Idaho 7 Cryo, HBC 1019 and Cascade hops, giving a big juicy aroma and balanced bitterness over a light malt base.”

Glassware: IPA.

Appearance: Bright and bold light amber pour with a fizzy white head forming on top. It steadily breaks apart and leaves random patches of lace as it ebbs.

Aroma: Sunday Rd is one of the best when it comes to the West Coast style. We still think ‘6ft and offshore’ is one of the best Aussie interpretations of a WCIPA and this Cali IPA shows similar hallmarks – sweet and tropical and filled out with a soft caramel malt base. Slightly jammy citrus, herbal spice, orange rind and a clean pine scent. Brilliant aroma.

Flavour: We love it when awesome aromas transition into awesome flavour profiles. All the best traits of the aroma i.e the tropical fruit, sweet orange, herbal spice and citrus rind, are impeccably balanced by the caramel malt sweetness. A delicate bitterness enters the fray around the mid palate and rolls into a relatively clean, slightly bitter and well rounded finish.

Mouthfeel: Pretty much perfect. Smooth, mildly dry with good grip in the swallow. Co2 is lower than anticipated and the 6.6% ABV is masterfully concealed.

Overall: Superb. Literally cannot fault it. The Co2 being a tad flatter than expected could be our only criticism but to be honest we don’t mind how it is. Makes it all the more easier to throw back. Sensational.

White Bay ‘Afters’ Coffee Stout w Cacao & Dates

Rating:

“The next instalment of our favourite adjunct laden stout. this year’s rendition has been fermented cold with our house lager yeast and has been conditioned on mountains on toasted hazelnut and coconut. Dolce Noir exudes richness, it’s time to stop living down there and start living up here.”

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: As black as midnight with a huge three and a bit finger head. It takes an age to recede and leaves big, blotchy patches of lace on the glass.

Aroma: Unsurprisingly the coffee is pretty direct. Hints of cocoa and chocolate in support and the dates at this stage are MIA. The base Stout provides an excellent roasted malt profile which takes on a hint of ash, molasses and licorice at times. The dates start to come through as it settles and brings a hint of dark fruit with them i.e raisin, blackberry and blood plum.

Flavour: Good progression on it. It opens with dark fruits which reach well into the mid. The coffee also slots in early and adds to that impressive progression we mentioned. It hits a fairly intense roasted note midway which brings those ashy/smoky flavours before it rounds out on a roasty yet sweet and chocolatey finish. Excellent length too.

Mouthfeel: Just a tad too lean for our liking. Medium body, low-ish Co2. For a Stout weighing in at 6.7% ABV it should be thick and viscous.

Overall: Aromas and flavours were great, good depth and complexity. Just the body and general texture of it fell short in our opinion. All in all a fairly decent pastry Stout.

Stoic Amber Ale (Re-review)

Rating:

“A malt focused, heavy-bodied Amber Ale with a hint of sweet caramel and notes of toffee.”

Glassware: English pint.

Appearance: Gorgeous ruby red with deep amber hues on the edges. It forms a thumb of tightly held foam which weaves a healthy lace down the glass.

Aroma: This is our 2nd review of this beer as we’ve been told that there are two new brewers from NZ and that their beers have improved tenfold. First whiffs are impressive and support the intel. Now we get a beautiful toffee sweetness melded into a notable toasty malt profile which was missing the first time around. Excellent depth to it. Vast improvements on the original beer already.

Flavour: It’s at this moment that we believe every word we’ve been told. The difference in quality is unequivocally better than the first time we tried it. The toffee sweetness is rich yet well offset by a heavily toasted malt bill. We get treacle, butterscotch, a hint of maple but also the hops provide a distinct bitterness and earthy/spicy flavour that provides a crucial balance in the finish.

Mouthfeel: Chewy and somewhat sticky texture. Co2 is kept a bit lower and the medium body is right on the money for this style. So is the 5.3% ABV.

Overall: What a difference a new head brewer makes. This beer has gone from a 6/10 to an easy 9/10. It just oozes excellence, balance and intense flavours. This is more like it!

Bridge Road Grapefruit IPA

Rating:

“A bright, punchy number; fresh grapefruit makes for an uplifting aroma, while a juicy, tropical hop bill melds seamlessly with a zesty, bitter finish.”

Glassware: IPA.

Appearance: Mildly hazy golden-orange pour with a finger of finely beaded foam atop. Pretty decent retention considering the lack of head. Laced well.

Aroma: Ooft! The fruity notes jump out of the glass. The grapefruit component is intense and the backup it receives is equal to the task. The grapefruit is sweet but also tart which tells us they’ve used the ruby variety. The strong oily citrus in support really emphasizes it all too. Tangy orange, watermelon, passionfruit and some stone fruit also. Diggin it.

Flavour: We love that the grapefruit is so direct but not overwhelming. The tangy orange and oily citrus backs it all up nicely. There’s even a hint of rind in here as well. Not much in the way of other fruits but we pick up some pine needle and resinous notes a bit later on in the piece. Quite a nice bitter finish with lingering citrus acidity on the back end.

Mouthfeel: Fairly smooth initially then a bit drier and bitter in the swallow. Medium body, finely carbed. The 7% ABV was well concealed.

Overall: A solid grapefruit IPA with big aromas and flavours. The only negative in our opinion was that it got a little too much by the end – it became difficult to polish off. Probably a good one to share. Other than that it was pretty tasty.