“The Hāpi Sessions, this year a series of ‘pen pal’ collaborations with breweries at the top of their game, each beer showcasing a different hop forward style in a playful ‘freestyle’ interpretation of one of the beers that helped to make each brewery famous.Groundbreaking brewery The Veil, from Richmond Virginia, brings the new normal, with a huge smooth mouthfeel from 50% oats, oat flour and Citra in the boil and a lavish dry hop of US Sabro and harvest fresh Riwaka from Freestyle hop farm.”

Glassware: IPA

Appearance: Sandy pastel yellow with a murky haze. It forms a sturdy two finger head which holds together nicely. Leaving a set of rings on the glass as we go.

Aroma: We know the description “smooth” is normally applied to texture or flavour but this aroma actually smells smooth. Strong hints of hop oils, weed and spicy herbals, resin, pink grapefruit, tangerine and mixed citrus with more subtle touches of stonefruit, pine needle and coconut in support. Creamy oats and doughy white bread filling it out.

Flavour: Good damn that’s good. A wave of juicy tropical and stone fruits wash over. Orange citrus, lime and grapefruit also poking through. The smooth textural oats provide a lovely balance. Gets real weedy and resinous late in the piece…herbal spice, pine and candied lime in the finish.

Mouthfeel: Creamy and smooth as silk. Literally coats the whole palate. Finely carbonated, medium body. 8% ABV…where is it?!

Overall: Outstanding drop. We’ve been lucky enough to try Veil beers on a few different occasions and each time we were blown away so it’s no surprise that once they teamed up with GP that they produced anything less. Brilliant.