Badlands Brewery Jaxon

Cast your eyes over the takeaway cans on offer in the Badlands Taproom fridge and you'd assume Jaxon is a limited release, what with the red IPA coming in bigger, 440ml cans than the rest of the year-round lineup. You'd be wrong, however: the beer might have started out that way but quickly become a cult favourite that had to stick around.

Presumably its popularity is in large part down to its drinkability. Despite the 5.9 percent ABV and coming together of sweet and slightly sticky caramel / toffee malts with an array of fruity flavours from the Simcoe, Mosaic, Aussie Cascade and Melba hops, Jaxon still comes across as relatively light-bodied and quick to disappear.

James Smith