In Green Beacon’s early years, Windjammer was a signal to craft beer lovers, attracting those who were looking for flavourful brews (which at that time usually meant West Coast IPAs). As IPAs became more and more common, and ‘flavourful’ became less rare, Windjammer took on a different role - the stalwart that holds onto those steady and familiar West Coast flavours while the rest of the beer world experiments with new.
Windjammer not only holds its ground flavour-wise, but also offers a relatively sessionable flavour profile in a scene that favours hop blasts that can be difficult to consume by the pint (or even schooner). Smooth malt flavours carries the hops in a way that doesn’t tend to happen in triple-dry-hopped hazies. It’s silky in the mouth almost to the point of being creamy, and shines golden like the last rays of sunlight at the end of the day.
Meanwhile, the hop flavours are full and plump but supple compared to many other West Coasts. The citrus and pine are like a heavy doona, the bitterness a thick latex pillow. This is a Westie designed to comfort you rather than crush you.
Mick Wüst
