OnTap Magazine

58 | Autumn 2021 | ontapmag.co.za BREW REVIEWS REVIEWERS: Reviewers: Lucy Corne (LC), Brian Leopold (BL) BREWNEWS Patiala Brew & Q HOP JUICE (4.2% ABV) 3.9 It has been a few months since Little Wolf founder Stefan Wiswedel stepped into the sizable shoes of Murray Stephenson at suburban Cape Town brewery Patiala. It’s the second closest brewery to my house so I’m a fairly regular visitor and I can say that Hop Juice, a New England pale ale, is Stefan’s best yet since he took the reins. With massive wafts of ripe mango, guava and peach, and just the merest hint of malt sitting beneath, it is quite flawless and very moreish. What I love most is that it still brings a refreshing bitterness. We’re of course not talking West Coast levels of bitterness, but it steers clear of the sometimes cloying nature of some NEPAs and NEIPAs. It’s a limited edition batch and I’m likely to be back for more soon, so get some while there’s still some to get. - LC The 400 Brewing Co. HARAMBE FIVE (10.5% ABV) 3.9 I won’t beat about the bush. I have always been scared of this beer. I generally steer clear of beers above 7% ABV unless I’m not planning to leave my couch until morning. But everyone has always raved about 400 Brewing’s annual release of this imperial black IPA and this year I can see what all the fuss is about. It is remarkably drinkable for something so high in alcohol and is so complex you keep going back for another sip until you suddenly realise you’ve finished the can and are restricted to the couch for the rest of the night. There’s masses of pine on the nose – a fresh, vibrant hop character that wakes up the senses like a dose of smelling salts. But there’s more than that on both nose and palate – there is an underlying dark malt character, with a touch of coffee and just a whiff of leather. It is a special occasion beer but not one to sip in a bar. It is best enjoyed at home, with a classic movie and a big old bowl of biltong. - LC Aegir Project Independent Brewery FIELDS OF SIMCOE PALE ALE (4.3% ABV) 3.7 Aegir’s Rory Lancellas has become the king of single hop pale ales. Fields of Simcoe is his latest, showcasing – of course – the Simcoe hop. It is, as pretty much all of Aegir’s pale ales are, one of those super-quaffers that I find really difficult to review. The main reason for this is that I absentmindedly sip and enjoy and suddenly I’ve reached the bottom of the can without having written a thing. Luckily, I grabbed a four-pack and so, on the second take, I managed to locate my notepad and pen. Aroma-wise, it’s actually quite malt-forward with notes of nuts and a light biscuit quality. The hops, which manifest as under-ripe guava and an earthiness reminiscent of wet leaves, are lingering underneath. Flavour-wise, there is a touch of stone fruit and some pine to be found. Is it the finest of Aegir’s run of pale ales? Probably not. Is it still a damn fine beer? Most definitely. - LC Just Brewing Co. CHEEKY PALE ALE (4.5% ABV) 3.3 This pale ale is dark gold in colour with a nice white head that retains itself fairly well. It's very malt-forward and brings on a lot of citrus notes on both the aroma and taste, but blood orange is the dominant flavour. There is some grassiness on the aftertaste, but that hit of orange lines the palate, making other flavour notes a bit tough to pick up. It may be a bit too malty for some, but after a few sips it becomes a very easy beer to devour. - BL