OnTap Magazine

JACK BLACK SWAGGA LUMBERJACK AMERICAN AMBER ALE | 6% ABV SORGHUM ALE 100% SORGHUM AND ALE YEAST | 4.5% ABV 3.9 4.5 A crystal-clear delicious amber is exactly the sort of beer for spring weather. This American Amber by Jack Black is bold on the malts, balanced on the bitterness and ever so fruity with a light ester that brings the malts and hops together. There are notes of caramel and hints of toffee dancing across the palate from the medium high carbonation. The first sip is malty, but as you tuck into this slowly warming beer you start tasting more hops, albeit not overpowering. Amber Ales can be hoppy or malty and this one is definitely leaning towards the latter, with a sweet base, but crisp, dry finish. A moreish beer, that will definitely lead to a second. First things first, I was excited to get my hands on this one. Not only because the brewers are of such high skill, but also because Sorghum is a local ingredient that needs to be showcased to the craft beer audience in a form that is a little closer to expected beer flavours. To do this with 100% sorghum and no hops, is an incredible achievement. The can has a gorgeous fizz as I open it, straight away a touch of maltabella on the nose, but if you are unfamiliar with it, it is so subtle as to be easily mistaken for malted barley or wheat. On the tongue it carries a beautiful fizz, the flavour leaning towards a “bitter shandy”, albeit much more pleasing and crisper. It’s a summer ale, one that I can see occupy some space in my fridge at the expense, perhaps, of lager. But it’s more than that, it’s a concept beer that is not gimmicky; it’s delicious. 3.8 DANCING HOPS BREWERY KILLER QUEEN IPA L | 6% ABV The head brewer, Liam Walsh, has really grown in leaps and bounds with the beers he is producing. He only came into the industry a few years ago, but is showing us how much he has grown with another great beer: The Killer Queen. On the aroma side, passion fruit comes through initially but alongside other aromas such as strawberries, pine, and bread dough. Flavour wise, it is similar to the aroma but with an initial caramel sweetness that dissipates quickly into a delectable bitterness that carries itself into the finish. Quite a refreshing beer that is layered with unique yet familiar tastes, all of which makes for a great beverage. ontapmag.co.za | Spring 2024 | 61