Pale Ale, Summer Ale, Tropical Ale and IPA

PALE ALE Tasting Panel

SUMMER IS AROUND THE CORNER AND THERE’S NO DOUBT THAT CUSTOMERS WILL BE REACHING FOR AN ICE-COLD BEER ON THOSE SCORCHER DAYS.

WONDERING WHAT TO STOCK? DRINKS TRADE ORGANISED FOR TWO PANELS - ONE IN THE SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS AND THE OTHER IN SYDNEY - TO JUDGE MORE THAN 40 BEERS ON THEIR APPEARANCE, AROMA, PALATE AND FINISH. NOTES WERE COMPARED AND WINNERS WERE REVEALED. HERE ARE OUR TOP PICKS...

THE PANEL LEADS

• NEAL CAMERON

Southern Highlands team • IAN KINGHAM

Sydney team

TASTING

COOPERS SESSION ALE Style: Pale Ale Package: 440ml can ABV: 4.2% Panel notes: A noticeable Coopers yeast with extras. A significant improvement on the standard one. Really caught the attention of both panels. Score: 7.7 WHITE BAY SUNNY PALE ALE Style: Pale Ale Package: 355ml can ABV: 4.5% Panel notes: An easy-drinking, light beer that passes the pint test and is suitable for summer. Score: 7.7

BAD SHEPHERD VICTORIA PALE ALE Style: Pale Ale Package: 375ml can ABV: 4.2% Panel notes: A great, sessionable beer. It’s light, easy-drinking and balanced. Score: 7.5 MOUNTAIN GOAT PALE ALE Style: Pale Ale Package: 375ml can ABV: 5.2% Panel notes: Really lovely malty aroma with American hop character. It’s quite full but very drinkable. Score: 7

WOLF OF THE WILLOWS WOLF PUP Style: Pale Ale Package: 355ml can ABV: 4% Panel notes: A cracking beer with nice biscuit malt notes. Score: 8

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JAMES SQUIRE MID RIVER PALE ALE Style: Pale Ale Package: 345ml bottle ABV: 3.5% Panel notes: This beer is low on alcohol but it’s not apparent. It’s full of flavour with a nice Amarillo aroma. Could easily be a goto beer in any fridge. Score: 7.8

SLIPSTREAM TROPICAL PALE ALE Style: Pale Ale Package: 375ml can ABV: 4.1% Panel notes: A quality beer with tropical fruits, grassy hops and a nice clean finish. Score: 8

4 PINES PACIFIC ALE Style: Ale Package: 375ml can ABV: 3.5% Panel notes: This deserves a silver medal - it’s a beer that really delivers behind the midstrength. Score: 8

FURPHY ALE Style: Ale Package: 375ml bottle ABV: 4% Panel notes: A pale ale with summer ale yeast. Good body texturally. Score: 7.5

4 PINES INDIAN SUMMER ALE Style: Summer Ale Package: 375ml can ABV: 4.2% Panel notes: Light and refreshing - very sessionable. Grassy hop notes and a hint of melon. Score: 7.5

STONE & WOOD THE ORIGINAL Style: Pacific Ale Package: 330ml bottle ABV: 4.4% Panel notes: Galaxy hops give this beer a refreshing and deeply flavoursome palate. It has light fruity notes with good malt weight. Score: 8.5 PIRATE LIFE IPA Style: India Pale Ale Package: 355ml can ABV: 6.8% Panel notes: A big, aggressive, no-nonsense IPA that packs plenty of hops. It lacks finesse but who cares. Score: 8

YOUNG HENRYS IPA Style: India Pale Ale Package: 375ml can ABV: 6% Panel notes: Exactly what an IPA should be - nicely balanced with plenty of hops and malt. It has Cryo hop at the forefront, which is the way many IPAs are going - get used to it. Score: 7.5

WHITE BAY CREATURES OF HABIT IPA Style: India Pale Ale Package: 440ml can ABV: 6.6% Panel notes: The pick of White Bay’s range, made to drink. It’s floral, fruity and sweet with some light malt layering. Score: 7.5

HOPE ESTATE RHINO IIIIIPA Style: India Pale Ale Package: 375ml can ABV: 18% Panel notes: Sweet, honey, good hop flavour. It’s big and sherry-like, definitely a sipper in front of the fire. Score: 7.9

PIRATE LIFE STRONG PALE ALE Style: Strong Pale Ale Package: 355ml can ABV: 6% Panel notes: It’s not elegant but it sure is pretty. It’s got a great bitterness to it and it’s strong but balanced. Score: 8

BALTER XPA Style: Extra Pale Ale Package: 375ml can ABV: 5.0% Panel notes: A go-to beer. It’s light, fresh, has a great aroma and that trademark Mosaic hop character. Score: 7.5

ONE DROP XPA Style: Extra Pale Ale Package: 375ml can ABV: 4.3% Panel notes: A good beer with a good body, malt layering and excellent hop additions. Score: 7

WOLF OF THE WILLOWS XPA Style: Extra Pale Ale Package: 355ml can ABV: 4.7% Panel notes: A good representation of the style. Can’t fault the palate - it’s slightly bitter with a hop finish. Clean, sweet malt on the nose and a touch of lemon. Score: 7.5%

JOINT WINNERS

STOMPING GROUND GIPPS ST PALE ALE Style: Pale Ale Package: 355ml can ABV: 5.2% Panel notes: Quite outstanding, even among 40 other beers. Great character and big American hop. Score: 9

PIRATE LIFE IPA Style: India Pale Ale Package: 355ml can ABV: 6.8% Panel notes: Unashamedly lovely - piney, malty and robust. Score: 9