Are One Drop the Willy Wonkas of the Australian craft scene? Quite possibly. Sure, they haven’t invented lickable beer-flavoured wallpaper (not COVID safe) or teleported beer through TVs (would subscribe) but they certainly infuse their brews with a wild Wonka-like wonder and a sense of – dare I say it? – pure imagination (and just a touch of insanity).
After taking us on a fruit-fuelled flight of fancy with their last batch of limited editions (ever had a jabuticaba?), this time the Botany bandits have seemingly raided a dessert bar and nicked all the sweet treats. Don’t worry, there’s also a megaton of fruit in there, too (of course).
Pouring a dark grape hue that’s only a few shades away from Violet Beauregarde after she necked that Gobstopper, their Yo Yo Yo Blackberry Yoghurt Smoothie Sour is equally as flamboyant and intense in flavour. Drinking thick and sticky, the sweet acidity of blackberries blends with tart natural yoghurt vibes to deliver a tongue-sucking sour power trip that’s only cushioned slightly by the vanilla and banana underneath. This one’s not for the faint-hearted.
Next up is the Cooked Jam Cookie Dough Sour, whose name may possibly describe the brewers’ approach just as much as the flavour. Strawberry jam, raspberry coulis, white chocolate, cinnamon and icing sugar may sound like a baker’s shopping list, but here they’ve all been thrown into the biscuit barrel (aka the fermenter) for this uniquely decadent drop. Pouring a milky magenta, the hefty berry blast takes centre stage here, overtaking more subtle notes of white chocolate and cinnamon while leaving a sour tang that lingers long on the tongue.
Rounding out this trio of super-charged sours is Stacked, an Ice Cream Sour which definitely takes the cake when it comes to wild, indulgent ingredients. There’s… (takes deep breath)… vanilla ice cream, apple, rhubarb, apple, banana, maple syrup, icing sugar, marshmallows and lashings of lactose to boot. Rich and viscous, it pours like apricot nectar and tastes more like chewy tropical punch than buttery pancake. I’ve never been hit in the face with a fruit salad and milkshake at the same time but this is what I imagine it tastes like.
At the other end of the beer spectrum lies One Drop’s Electric Eyes West Coast IPA: sparkling clear, clean, classic and completely un-sour. True to style, the bitterness is immediate and lively, no doubt amplified by the 1.2 litres of fruity sours I sipped previously (got to be thorough, right?). Ample amounts of Mosaic and Sultana hops – used as whirlpool additions, liquid concentrates and "hop dust"’ sprinkled throughout the fermenter – deliver a punchy, moreish dose of dank pine, pineapple, grapefruit and underlying earthy spice. The Eyes have it: this is a winner.
Jason Treuen
Published December 6, 2023 2023-12-06 00:00:00
