Vale IPA

This little beer caught me by surprise at last years Warners at the bay beer festival. I have since then been eagerly awaiting  for the bottled version to hit my local  bottle shop and well just the other week it had!

On the pour the beer presents itself with a fantastic amber glow followed by an awesome foamy head which is not overly carbonated at all. Big fresh citrusy aroma on the nose with some hoppy pine thrown in too!

These wonderful smells reminded me of  a  a good IPA poured off the tap at a PROPER craft brew pub.
The marvelous aroma follows though going down with good hoppy bitterness that  lingers coupled with a smooth mouth-feel thanks to the malts used in this brew. Great finish too leaves me reaching for the glass again for another hypnotizing hop hit! 

Doesn't have a heavy resin mouth-feel at all like as some other American styled  IPAs out there, which ultimately adds to it's character and overall drinkability. At 5.5%ABV  this brew is a great sessionable ale too if you can handle/love your hops!

If are a hop lover or just curious why people like me go crazy over hops- and you see it out there at your local- grab a four pack/pint you wont be disappointed.


Some good 'ol aged tasty cheddar cheese and crackers or tapas style garlic prawns would be my food match recommendation with this tasty brew.

Hoppy Hefe!

Mad Brewers here in Australia have created something special .........a Hoppy Hefe!

The first thing that hits me is the massive citra hop aroma when I pop the cap followed by the sweet smell of the malts.
On the pour it generates a awesome fluffy creamy white head with a orangey hazey body just like a good hefe-wheat beer-a pleasure to look at! Again I'm in hop heaven on the aromas of this crafted ale....big piney citrus and good punchy hoppyness on the nose- much like an aggressive American IPA one of my favorite styles.
Going down the mouth feel is full and some what sweet as well. Dangerously smooth and satisfying! Superb hoppy bitterness thrown in too.  Abit syrupy on the finish like a good barleywine but not in a bad way at all. And very refreshing again like a good hefe should be.
At 7%ABV you gotta watch yourselves though! I reckon you should treat this brew more like an IPA and savour with a food match of Pepperoni Pizza.

This Beer ticks all the right boxes for me as it combines the characteristics of two of my favorite beer styles the German hefeweizen and the big hop monster ales of the USA . Too bad its only a limited addition-I'll have to visit my local homebrew shop guy and try and clone brew it (^-^)