OnTap Magazine

64 | Spring 2025 | ontapmag.co.za JACK BLACK LA CHOUFFE FRESH HOP IPA | 5.1% ALCOHOL FREE BLONDE | 0.4% 4.1 4.0 As far as IPAs go, this Fresh Hop IPA from Jack Black hits most of the marks. The fresh hop aroma lures you in with citrus and tropical fruit. All of this follows through from your first sip until the last, encapsulated in a pillowy mouthfeel that is nothing, if not moreish. It is not as bitter as some IPAs, the play betweenmalts and hops so perfectly in balance that it is very difficult to stop at one. A very enjoyable and easy-drinking IPA. This is a very interesting beer, to some degree, because the alcoholic version it is based on is a relatively high alcohol beer at 8% ABV. This beer, at 0.4% ABV is obviously thinner, but with a surprising burst of the fruits and spiciness you attribute to the La Chouffe Blonde. The balance is incredibly smooth, the bitterness subdued and plenty of layers and complexity find its way into the experience. In spite of the complexity, it is still light and refreshing, but the alcohol isn’t massively missed, in this new context. A must-try for any beer drinker. 3.8 AEGIR PROJECTS GOOSEBUMPS | 5.5% GELATO SOUR ALE 4 0 I don’t often get to review an Aegir beer, as their beers very rarely make it to Johannesburg, so bringing this one home from my last Cape Town trip finally enabled me to review one, after quite some time. I'm a massive fan of sour beers and this one is right up there with some of the best I've had! Gooseberries galore in both flavour and aroma, with stone fruit such as plums mainly on the aftertaste. The sour funk is at a good cheek-hurting level, and the gooseberries driving this beer only makes it more delicious! I'm unsure if it's because I am biased towards gooseberries due to how much I enjoy them, but a Gelato soured gooseberry bomb seemed exactly what the doctor ordered. Great beer this!