It’s that fresh hop time of year and Jade Flavell at The Wheaty hasn't let the distance between the Tasmanian hop fields and Adelaide stop her, even in these challenging times. She was the recipient of 25kg of fresh Ella hop flowers, that were flown in as soon as they'd been pulled from the bine by Hop Products Australia. Pale ale, wheat, oats and Munich 2 forms the malt grist, with the alcohol content up at the 7 percent ABV mark. The single hop IPA saw 20kg used in the whirlpool, while the remaining five made an appearance in the hopback. And, due to lockdown circumstances, this beer is the very first Wheaty Brewing Corps to be a can only release, with 500ml Crowlers available from their takeaway service.
The new canning system holds the fizz very well, as Ella High Water pours with a healthy, bright white billowing head atop the deep yellow liquid. Big, resinous and earthy aromas ride high, combined with a smidge of grassiness and those characters carrying through to taste, chiming in equally with biscuity malts. It drinks like a 5 percent beer, thanks to an impressive balance.
It only took a pandemic for us to be able to drink Wheaty beers at home; and that's a positive Adelaide beer lovers can all enjoy.
Matt King
Published April 17, 2020 2020-04-17 00:00:00
