Rating:

“Showcasing 2 of the finest hops grown by 2 of the finest hop producers in the game YCH & FREESTYLE. This is straight up fire Jumping with dank pineapple & tropical fruit on the nose but quickly making way for a tropical storm of the juiciest pineapple, passionfruit, mango & melon on the palette. Layered & rounded with smooth oats & creamy lactose giving a silky mouthfeel all while maintaining a rich depth of drinkability. This is some damn fine Cake.”

Glassware: IPA.

Appearance: Pours an old-skool turbid off pastel yellow with two fingers of fluffy white head neatly perched on top. A good smattering of lace decorates the glass as it ebbs.

Aroma: The Cake Eater series is without a doubt one of the most anticipated releases of the year for us. Motueka & Citra is a dream hop combo too…keen to see what the 2025 rendition has in store. Getting that alluring hop oil scent synonymous with Cryo. Oily citrus rind, ruby grapefruit, pine needle, evergreen/rainforest, lime juice, sappy resins and a fresh doughy malt structure.

Flavour: A tad sweeter than the nose…thanks to the lactose and the more pronounced tropical fruits. Super citrusy – grapefruit, lime, orange peel etc. the Cryo injecting that oily resinous quality too. A mild bitterness and warmth from the booze but the oats make sure it finishes with a smooth texture surrounded by pine resin and citrus on the back.

Mouthfeel: Creamy and smooth AF! Mild-medium body, finely carbed and the 8% ABV was well hidden.

Overall: Easily on par with the likes of Mountain Culture and Garage Project. Just an all-round cracking beer to drink. Kudos Banksy!

Rating:

“Blacksmith is a West Coast style IPA with a difference – black as night in the glass, but with a restrained roasted malt backbone on the palate. This allows the all-American hop bill to shine through with aromas of pine, citrus, and tropical fruit. As always, hops are the focus for us, so our brewers have taken care to craft this as an IPA first, and a black beer second. The hops are supported by the roasted malt bill, rather than drowned out by it – just the way we think a Black IPA should be!”

Glassware: IPA.

Appearance: Mostly black except for a bit of light breaking through on the edges. It forms a rocky two finger head which holds its shape well. Not a whole lot of lacing to speak of though.

Aroma: Smells incredible. The face cops a blast of rich and heavily roasted malt, espresso coffee and dark chocolate but it’s the balance of it all that makes it so good – a line of citrus and pine resin cuts through the malts with precision. The fusion of these two elements is why the Black IPA will forever be one of our most favourite styles.

Flavour: Oh hell yeah…brilliant follow through here. We’re getting rich, roasted malts which are offering brawny notes of black coffee, chocolate and ash on entry. Then the hops are introduced and the pine, resins and citrus acidity and sweetness carry it all through the mid and into a roasty, piney and drying finish which lingers on.

Mouthfeel: Smooth with a drying bitterness post swallow. Co2 is spot on and the 6.8% ABV is nicely embedded.

Overall: It’s been a long time between drinks for us and Akasha. There’s a reason which we won’t go into here but it’s good to see that they’re still belting out high quality beers.

Rating:

“A hidden valley of hops. Tūtaki Haze, luscious hazy IPA, brewed with juicy New Zealand grown malted barley, wheat and oats and hops grown on the Nelson Lakes farm at the meeting point of the Mātakitaki and Tūtaki rivers. It’s Nelson Sauvin, Motueka and Riwaka like never before, loaded with ripe tropical mango, passionfruit and lifted lime citrus. Discover a new world of flavour.”

Glassware: IPA.

Appearance: Somewhat sandy gold/light orange pour with a fluffy two and a half finger head. Good retention and a smattering of lace left on the glass.

Aroma: It’s a luscious and juicy fruit bomb. Absolutely jam-packed with nectar-filled fruits like passion fruit, mango, pineapple, guava and peach. Definitely a citrusy aspect too – mild lime and yellow grapefruit, a flutter of rind. Gooseberry, green grapes and evergreen from the NS hops. Soft pillowy oats give it that kinda dry and chalky note. Very nice.

Flavour: Follows on from the nose. Almost to a tee. Juicy and sweet tropical fruit on entry then backed up by a delicate citrus infusion. We get a subtle tartness from the gooseberry and green grapes but it’s nicely tempered by the smooth oats and husky cereal grains. It flows into an ultra smooth and slightly piney finish which gradually tapers off.

Mouthfeel: Beer clouds…so light and fluffy. Finely carbed and the 7% ABV is really well hidden.

Overall: The newest addition to the highly acclaimed “Haze” series. It’s a very decent drop but it has nothing on Sunrise or Galaxy.

Rating:

“What’s old is new again. It’s a crazy hazy world, but there’s still room for the good old home comforts. Notes of pine, citrus and stone fruits with a smooth bitterness, make this IP a straight up tasty beer.”

Glassware: IPA.

Appearance: Pours a deep orange blending into light orange/deep golden edges. Reminds us of the IPA’s of old. It knocks up a big and fluffy three finger head which takes ages to subside. Tonnes of lacing left on the glass.

Aroma: Yeah it has that old school west coast IPA vibe i.e brimming with all types of citrus and rind, pine needle, florals, unripened pineapple, wilted herbs and a distinct earthy apricot accent. The malt profile is pretty biscuity with delicate grain husk and some honey sweetness. It all comes together quite nicely.

Flavour: Old school IPA bitterness too. We dig it. Make IPA bitter again! Anywho, waves of fresh orange citrus, pink grapefruit, rind, pine needle and earthy herbals wash over the palate. That notable bitterness gradually intensifies as it rolls through the mid and into the dry, bitter and acidic finish. Goes for days on the back end too.

Mouthfeel: Bone dry, mild-moderate, well rounded. Co2 is spot on and the 6.5% ABV doesn’t overplay its hand.

Overall: This is our first crack at this South Australian brewery. We’d never heard of them before this. It’s just an old school bitter bomb and we dig it.

Rating:

“A healthy permanent haze and smooth mouthfeel turn our award-winning Sculpin IPA into a tropical oasis. The hop selection creates refreshing notes of pineapple and guava with no fruit added. Simply put, this brew is paradise in the palm of your hands.”

Glassware: IPA.

Appearance: Muddy deep pastel orange with a fluffy two and a half finger head. Good retention and a sheet of lace is draped down the glass.

Aroma: Full of ripened stonefruit, orange citrus, canned peach, florals, Frosty Fruits and lush greenery. The latter a hallmark of Nelson Sauvin, of which, is unfortunately a bit reserved. We won’t go as far as saying that the aroma is cloying but does have a bit of that artificial juice concentrate character which we’re not fans of. Pretty ordinary to be honest.

Flavour: Follows on from the nose with ripe fleshy stonefruit, papaya and melon. A very subtle dankness and bitterness counteracts it nicely though. Getting a touch of peppery spice around the mid as it turns a tad weedy and resinous before it rounds off on a citrusy, resiny and slightly drying finish. Decent length on it.

Mouthfeel: Fairly smooth and creamy. A little dryness in the swallow. Mild-medium body with a fine Co2. The 7% ABV was really well hidden.

Overall: It’s very exciting to see Sculpin variants back in Australia. Chur has picked up the contract to brew most of the range so expect to see more here. This one was OK, it’s certainly no OG grapefruit or pineapple Sculp though.

Rating:

“DDH OAT CREAM DIPA DDH Oat Cream DIPA Hopped with Krush, Krush Cryo & Talus. Incredibly soft & punchy oat cream DIPA. Packing possibly the most flavour to date in a Cake East with the softest mouthfeel to suit. This is as luscious & hop saturated as they come. Tropical, textured & smooooooth. So Juicy Contains Lactose.”

Glassware: IPA.

Appearance: Super hazy deep pastel yellow with a thick and well kept two finger head that’s perched on top. Good retention and wavy lace clinging to the glass as we imbibe.

Aroma: This is the first time we’ve ever heard of Krush. Brief research says to expect mixed berries, orange citrus, stone fruits, tropical fruit and woody resins. There’s some cross promotion with Talus (a hop we’re more familiar with) in the form of citrus, oily resins and tropical fruit which elevates them so the other qualities are here albeit a bit more subtle.

Flavour: Much more distinct notes of orange citrus/rind, unripened mango, peach skins and herbal spice upfront. Some oily pine resins coming through too. A soft creamy lactose sweetness kicking up around the mid. Very short and subtle bitterness before a piney, resinous, citrusy and creamy finish draws out nicely on the back.

Mouthfeel: Smooth, silky and creamy. Amazing texture for an 8% IPA. Mild-medium body. Finely carbed.

Overall: Nice hop combo for this release. Somewhat of a blend of old and new IPA hop characteristics mixed with the classy delicacy of an Oat Cream. Solid.

Rating:

“New terroir, new flavours. Nelson Sauvin, Rakau and Cascade, literally picked in the snow on New Zealand’s and possibly the world’s most southern hop farm, Garston Hops. Situated in the mountainous highlands of Southland, here different soils and extremes of heat and cold push the flavour profiles of the hops we know to new and exciting places. A true taste of the South.”

Glassware: IPA.

Appearance: Pours somewhere between light yellow and deep gold with a mild haze and a thumb of well retained head nestled in on top. Decent lace work as we go.

Aroma: A very appealing idea this one. GP have sourced the hops from Garston Hops who are a hop farm based in the high mountains of Southland, New Zealand. They claim to be the most Southern hop farm in the world where extreme hot and cold weather creates vastly different hop flavours. They’ve used Nelson Sauvin, Rakau and Cascade in this brew so we’re really keen to see what it produces.

Flavour: Smells and tastes like any other great IPA that GP have brewed. Other than a couple of small differences. We get Frosty Fruits as a main scent but we’re also picking up orange popsicles. Also picking up ripe melon, papaya and apricot, passion fruit, dank weedy herbals, lemongrass, oregano and freshly cut fennel. It holds a crisp bitterness until the finish where it gradually tapers off and lingering notes of weed/dank herbs and candied orange punctuate.

Mouthfeel: Fairly clean and effortless with a nice and lively Co2. Mild-medium body and a well placed 6% ABV.

Overall: We like the concept and the beer itself. Picking hops in the mountains on the edge of the southern frontier sounds like not only an experience but also pure and pristine produce for a beer. Big ups GP!

Rating:

“This DDH Hazy DIPA was double dry-hopped with Yakima Chief Citra, mid harvest Freestyle Nelson, Strata and Riwaka SubZero Hop Kief. Notes of pineapple, grapefruit, passion fruit and melon. Soft, smooth and juicy – this is one dangerously drinkable DIPA!”

Glassware: IPA.

Appearance: Murky light pastel orange with a fluffy two finger head forming on top. Decent retention and healthy lace work on the glass.

Aroma: Full on fruit salad vibes. Tonnes of mixed citrus (flesh, rind and oils), equally large amounts of tropical fruit and stonefruit. A rather notable darkness as well…gotta be the Strata hops coming through. Slightly weedy, resinous, tart berries/green grape, some nectar fruit sweetness opening up as it settles. Not much on the malt front – a bit chalky, crusty. Solid nose.

Flavour: Much spicier and dank than we’d anticipated. A hint of warmth from the booze heating things up. Still ultra smooth and fruity though. Again, lots of citrus character, stonefruit and nectar fruits. The tropical sweetness has dropped out a little but the lush evergreen, dank and weedy/herbal spice is there to fill in. Nice shift into the dank, dry and resinous finish.

Mouthfeel: Light and aerated with a notable effervescence. Mild-medium body and an intermittent 8.2% ABV.

Overall: Each time we try a new beer from these guys we become more and more impressed. Their NEIPA’s are easily up there but only just lack the refinement of MC, Banks and Range. They’re definitely one to watch though.

Rating:

“TDH Hazy TIPA dry hopped with 3 different lots of Nelson from 2 different hop farms. Bright citrus, juicy stonefruit, sweet tropical and a kiss of NZ dank.”

Glassware: IPA.

Appearance: Proper turbid deep pastel yellow pour with a wispy white head forming on top. It settles to a collar and provides ample lacing considering the lack of retention.

Aroma: Oh Nelson Sauvin, how we love you so. The hallmark characteristics are emanating beautifully – gooseberry, green grapes/Chardonnay, tomato vine, stonefruit, subtle dank/weedy notes and a hint of peppery spice. There’s a nice bready malt profile to it…kinda crusty yet doughy at the same time. We have to give mention to the unbelievably well concealed 10% ABV too. Impressive.

Flavour: Pretty juicy initially. Lots of stonefruit, citrus and a hint of tropical. The dank and weedy (and at times resinous) vibes are also getting amongst it. Just a slight warmth and sweetness from the booze which rolls into an intensifying juicy and vinous finish with an array of back end flavours ranging from herbs/vines, dank/weedy, spicy and doughy.

Mouthfeel: Very smooth, creamy and aerated. Mild-medium body, low-ish Co2. The 10% ABV, as mentioned before, is very well hidden.

Overall: What a way to initiate things with this new(ish), fairly hyped Sydney brewery. We’d probably put them on par with Fox Friday or even Range on skill level at this stage. Very good with serious potential.

Rating:

“Hailing from the tradition of 18th Century IPAs, which relied on generous hopping to protect exports during arduous journeys, this modern incarnation retains the strength, body and strong hop character which is synonymous with this beer’s provenance.”

Glassware: English pint.

Appearance: Pours a very attractive deep amber hue with 100% clarity. It forms a thumb of loosely packed head which gradually peels off. Laced reasonably well considering the lack of retention.

Aroma: No word of a lie, when trad English IPA’s are fresh they smell better than any Hazy or West Coast. It’s that big, rich, nutty and toasty malt coupled with the fruity hops that we love so much about them. Not to mention the distinct marmalade, black tea and florals. Getting caramel, spice and orange citrus/rind as well. Top shelf stuff.

Flavour: Yuuummm! To be clear we’ve had about 100 of these before, but we had to review it this time around as it’s probably the freshest we’ve ever had it. It’s straight up earthy, bitter, orange zest, grapefruit, black tea, toast, a hint of caramel and floral/herbal hops to round it out. Good duration on the back end too.

Mouthfeel: Medium body. The texture is sticky upfront then bitter in the swallow. Flatter than most new age IPA’s (but it works) and the 6.1% ABV is well concealed.

Overall: Nothing else needs to be said really. This is without a doubt one of the best English IPA’s in the world.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

Rating:

“West Coast IPA finished with fresh grapefruit juice.” 

Glassware: IPA.

Appearance: It has that deep pastel orange colour with a decent haze. It forms a thumb of loosely packed head which unsurprisingly breaks apart and settles at the rim. Laced poorly.

Aroma: Recently one of us brought up how good the old ‘Sculpin’ from Ballast Point was, and literally a couple of weeks later we see this grapefruit IPA pop up. It’s clearly a sign! First whiffs aren’t yielding a whole lot of grapefruit. It’s pretty darn juicy though…strong wafts of stone fruit i.e rockmelon, papaya, slightly less intense peach skin, ruby grapefruit, citrus rind and sappy resin. Some dusty/chalky notes. Nice.

Flavour: So this is where the grapefruit was hiding! Only a very short cameo of stone fruit before the tangy and rather tart grapefruit washes over. They used the right type of grapefruit (ruby) for this too as it displays that little bit more sweetness as opposed to the ultra tart and acidic yellow variety. The juicy stone fruit and resinous notes reunite for the citrusy, smooth and almost herbaceous finish.

Mouthfeel: Smooth and inoffensive. Medium bodied with a slightly higher IBU (85). Nicely carbed and the 6.5% ABV was well hidden.

Overall: Well, it’s no Sculpin but it kinda quelled the burning desire for a grapefruit IPA. We’re still holding out hope that one day an importer will start bringing them back in.

Rating:

“Formerly known as White Stout. We have tweaked the recipe and increased the hop hit. The new take on this classic Durham beer deserved a new name. Alabaster – strong and pale. Large amounts of aromatic Columbus hops over a full pale malt base. Aromas of citrus and black pepper. High bitterness is balanced by the full and rich malt body.”

Glassware: English pint.Appearance: Golden amber pour with a very mild hop haze. It whips up a finger of fizzy white head which gradually recedes to a fine film. A reasonable amount of lacing in its wake.

Aroma: Heady notes of spicy orange citrus, black peppercorn, a woody earthiness and something resembling blackcurrant. As every English IPA should, this displays a robust malt base of crusty bread, toast, some nuttiness and sweet caramel/honey. Picking up some florals as it comes up to room temp. The only thing is it all seems a bit tired and once again we’re right. The BBD is up in 3 months 

Flavour: Unsurprisingly the malt is leading out. A 9 month old IPA will do that unfortunately. There are still remnants of the hops to be found – orange citrus, peppery spice, grass/herbals and earthy notes are still kinda doing their thing. A decent bitterness throughout carries the robust malt into a rather dry, crisp and bitter finish that lingers.

Mouthfeel: Somewhat gassy, dry and bitter. Medium body, medium-high Co2. The 7.2% ABV is well buried.

Overall: Buying international beer post-convid is literally lucky dip on BBD. In most cases they’re too old…as is the case here. Frustrating AF coz it’d be an absolute pearler when fresh.