OnTap Magazine

BREW REVIEWS REVIEWERS: Lucy Corne, Brian Leopold When judging a beer as a BJCP judge, you have to go by the beer’s style category and meticulously dissect the beer in hand with regards to its appearance, aroma, flavour and mouthfeel. Very seldom do you come across an example that ticks all the boxes within its particular style category, but when you do, it can change your perspective on why so many of these different beer style categories were created and allow you to truly understand that style. The Hydra is one of these elusive beverages as it hits all the right notes within the guidelines for an American amber ale. It has the requisite dark copper colour with an off-white fluffy head. It has the requisite aroma: resinous with malty caramel notes. And it has the requisite flavours: malt-forward with a resinous bite to it. Put together, it’s clear that this is a great beer made exquisitely to style. Some berry notes come through as well, and that caramel taste lingers on the tongue and palate, making this beer very moreish. The only true constructive criticism I could give is that it could have perhaps had a bit more hop character, but that cannot take away from this being a fantastic beer. A real masterpiece that was enjoyed thoroughly. – BL The 400 Brewing Company HYDRA AMERICAN AMBER ALE (5.5%ABV) 4.5 Afro Caribbean is at it again with a serious beer that shows us how to utilise the four main ingredients that make the beverage we all love. One word comes to mind when having this beer: wow. From the appearance to the aroma, and from the first sip to the finish, this beer makes every part of a beer lover’s senses tingle. The current African Beer Cup overall winner boasts tremendous fruit flavours – mango, papaya, stone fruit and citrus – and brings these flavours through both in the aroma and flavour. It delivers a fruit explosion which brings a smile whenever you take a sip. This double dry hopped imperial IPA also has grassy undertones, a mild level of carbonation with an immense body, and a firm bitterness that truly brings life to the term “balance”. A superb beer deserving of all the applause it gets that should be tried by any beer lover when you can get your hands on it. – BL Afro Caribbean Brewing Company SPACE LLAMA (9.5%ABV) 4.5 I used to claim that DP’s Juicy Lucy was named for me – a claim, I should add, that has no basis in fact, at least that I know of. When I saw the latest edition of the well-loved NEIPA I decided its moniker is purely coincidental. “Fall in value, deteriorate, or fail” – that’s the dictionary definition of 'going south' and if I lingered too long on it I might take offence. Personal neuroses aside, I was a little baffled by the name – I mean what is south of South Africa? Did they harvest water from an Antarctic glacier? Turns out this limited edition version of Juicy Lucy actually uses New Zealand hops and suddenly everything became clear. Or hazy. Anyway, I am rambling. You’re not here for a lesson on the etymology of English idioms. You’re here to find out what the beer tastes like. I’m almost out of space so let me tell you this: Juicy Lucy – in all her forms – continues to be the best NEIPA in the country. Mango, green melon and guava abound to a level that has you double checking the ingredients to see if any fruit was added. There’s a pleasing carbonic bite that lifts the beer, meaning it lacks the thick, cloying nature of some NEIPAs. It’s a textbook example of what hops can do when they’re used effectively and I think it’s safe to say that while Lucy might be going south, Devil’s Peak’s brewers are still very much in their prime. – LC Devil’s Peak Beer Co. LUCY GOES SOUTHNEIPA (5%ABV) 4.2 The term “passion” in this beer’s name is taken to a whole new level. Passion fruit is found in abundance in both aroma and flavour. But you can also feel the care and effort taken in making this brew and the passion that Warren Eades – the brewer – has when he makes this delicious and sessionable ale. The aroma is dominant with passion fruit but with light notes of citrus and pear that make you want to dive right in. Sipping this beer made me really happy. I enjoy finding a beer that I can always have in my fridge due to its sessionability, and this is certainly one of them. Taste-wise, passion fruit is again dominant but the malt makes for a well-balanced and crisp sipper. A pleasant citrus aftertaste keeps the palate feeling refreshed and ensures you get up from wherever you’re seated to fetch another can of the same. – BL Jabula Brewing Company PASSION WAGON SA JUICY PALE ALE (4.2%ABV) 3.9 Nova Beer Project-label Monday, August 16, 2021 2:10:17 PM BREWNEWS NovaBeer Monday,Au 64 | Spring 2021 | ontapmag.co.za