If you watch enough TV shows on HBO, you'll know that periods of power imbalance are a dangerous time. Whether it's The Sopranos, Game of Thrones, The Wire, or Succession, when one person doesn't have complete control over their domain, alliances shift and casualties start to rise.
We're not privy to the inner workings of how the CoConspirators run things but it looks like they're settled on a power-sharing arrangement between their Matriarchs. For the uninitiated, the original was one of Australia's early New England IPAs, and her hazy, tropical combinations have ensured it remains a popular release for the Brunswick brewery.
So much so, she enjoys her own day as well as a series of spinoffs, which brings us to The Sour Matriarch. The turn to the tart side brings mango, pineapple and peach alongside her hop blend of El Dorado, Mosaic and Citra. It like tropical fruit straight out of a carton: sure, the tang might make you consider checking the best before date if it was a fruit box, but here it adds a zippy zest and refreshing hit.
Ratchetting things up is The Double Matriarch, who features those same three hops but an ABV of 8.9 percent. Less juice than smoothie, thanks to the body's slick and soft mouthfeel and dense appearance, surrender yourself to mango, pineapple, and peach fuzz.
Lastly, there's the LA cool of The West Coast Matriarch, who's filled her bag with a swag of hops: Citra Lupomax, Cashmere, Nelson Sauvin and El Dorado. It's fair to say she might be the power behind the throne, given she's the most bitter of the bunch, while she also brings loads of pine, grapefruit and ripe orange to the party.
Good luck, Matriarchs. Beware of the Ides of March and all that.
Will Ziebell
Published October 25, 2024 2024-10-25 00:00:00
