The months surrounding the release of the highly-anticipated Rock Juice V12 have been intensive for the Rocky Ridge team. A bursting-at-the-seams roster of releases somehow managed to be bolstered further with both IPA Day and the annual Froth Town festival forcing even more limited release beers out of the tanks at their Jindong brewery.
Some will question how it can be done, but this reviewer is wondering – perhaps selfishly – how on earth they can all be tasted and reviewed? On the other hand, we’re happy to report that, despite what feels like an onslaught of releases, the iconic Rock Juice is somehow redefined for 2023 while also living up to its hype-inducing name.
For this latest reiteration, 45 grams of hops per litre sets the tone for a beer that swings to and fro between mouth-coating sweetness and punchy, pine bitterness, in part thanks to resinous hop oils added late in the brewing process. The 10 percent ABV is noticeable but enjoyable, countering ripe nectarine, passionfruit, juicy pineapple and guava, accompanied by some malt sweetness. It’s big, it’s hazy and, to quote head brewer Ross Terlick: "It’s here for a good time, not a long time."
For the sake of completeness, in the weeks surrounding the release of Rock Juice, Rocky Ridge also released the following; It’s A Long Walk Home TDH IPA (7 percent ABV), Clear Mind IIPA (9 percent ABV), Invisible Man Vic Secret DDH IIIPA (8.5 percent ABV), Set In Stone West Coast IIPA (6.5 percent ABV), RidgeLander West Coast IPA (7.3 percent), Miso Thicc Miso, Vavilla, Chocolate & Maple Stout (9 percent ABV), Don’t Mug Yourself English Strong Bitter (5.4 percent ABV), Blackwood Black IPA (7.2 percent AB), Pom Potion Grapefruit Shandy/Radler (3.4 percent ABV).
Jono Outred
Published August 23, 2023 2023-08-23 00:00:00
