Inner North Brewing has looked to far-flung lands while keeping things local with these two new releases. Okay, far-flung might be a stretch, given their South Island Pilsner is an homage to New Zealand hops. Riwaka takes the lead, backed up by Nelson Sauvin, Wakatu and Wai-iti. Kiwifruit is a dominant flavor, alongside gooseberry, stone fruit and lime while it's an incredibly crisp and softly bitter beer. It's also a strikingly fresh beer with quite pungent floral hop notes bursting through as if you'd grabbed a bine right off the plant and shoved it in your face.
Meanwhile, Jazzed Up Pale keeps things decidedly local. Brewed in collaboration with the Melbourne International Jazz Festival, it features a fairly traditional mix of European hops alongside less traditional Australian varieties and the decidedly non-traditional addition of Jasmine blossoms. Brought all together, it creates a floral, herbaceous blend with notes of fresh mango and a perfumed quality. I know precious little about jazz but if the genre was a beer, I can't help but feel it would taste like this.
Will Ziebell
Published October 22, 2024 2024-10-22 00:00:00
