4 Hearts Red IPA

Some red IPAs focus heavily on the malt, bringing toffee and caramel to the foreground, while others are more hop-driven, and could easily pass as a West Coast IPA if you drank them in the dark.

This red IPA shoots right down the middle. Aromas of melon, mango and grapefruit give way to burnt toffee and caramel in the flavour, with a grapefruit sharpness that hangs around throughout. While it hits 70 IBU, the bitterness is largely offset by the malt sweetness, so rather than overwhelming the tastebuds, it washes over them smoothly.

In other words: dangerously well balanced for a 7-percenter.

Mick Wust