Mountain Goat Rare Breed: Citra & Strata Triple IPAs

Style
Triple IPAs
ABV
Both 9.5%
Bitterness
Both 60 IBUs

There's little doubt Mountain Goat want to grab your attention with this twin Rare Breed release. They're both triple IPAs for a start, and even in this age of excess the characters on the cans are likely to stand out in a busy bottleshop fridge. But what of the character of the beers inside?

First up, it's worth clarifying that, while both weigh in at 9.5 percent ABV, 60 IBUs of bitterness, and were dry-hopped at a rate of 17 grams per litre (not extreme by contemporary standards but high nevertheless), they're not exact variations on a theme. Citra also comes with a dose of fresh Valencia OJ to enhance the hops' citrus-bringing vibes. That said, I found it the less extravagantly fruity – the toffee like malts lead the way with orange citrus aromas as accompaniment rather than bossing the show. It makes for a beer that's fatter and creamier on the palate than its partner-in-crime.

That partner is Strata, which puts one of the hype hops of the past two years to work. Pouring a lightly hazy copper, it emits heaps of sweet, fresh bud and ripe tropical aromas, while the flavours remind me of the yellow-wrapped pineapple lollies in Toffos (which will mean little to most readers without Google). Nicely balanced with only a faint flicker of heat (something you'll find in Citra too) and a dank finish, I'd back it to come out on top in a battle of the Rare Breeds.

James Smith

Published May 3, 2021

Name
Mountain Goat (CUB/Asahi)
Address

80 North Street Richmond
Victoria
3121

Phone
(03) 9428 1180
Open Hours

Thursday: 5pm to 10pm
Friday: 5pm to 11am
Saturday: 1pm to 11pm
Sunday: 1pm to 11pm

Pickled OnMarket
Black Bad Boy Bao 2024 B

More from Mountain Goat (CUB/Asahi)

Mountain Goat XL Extra Lager (2023)
Hoppy Lager
4.9%
Mountain Goat Hazy Apple Cider
Apple Cider
5.0%
Mountain Goat Ginger Beer
Ginger Beer
4.0%
Mountain Goat Rare Breed: Lucille Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout
Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout with Raspberry
9.5%
Mountain Goat Rare Breed: Hightail XXV
Barrel-Aged Dark Ale
10.2%
Mountain Goat Cold IPA
Cold IPA
6.2%
Mountain Goat Rare Breed: Cherry Sour & NEIPA
Barrel-Aged Cherry Sour & NEIPA
6.0% & 6.2%
Mountain Goat Hog's Head
Barrel-aged Imperial Stout
11.5%
Mountain Goat Rare Breed: Botanical IPA
IPA with Botanicals
6.8%
Mountain Goat XL Extra Lager
Hoppy Lager
4.9%
Mountain Goat Rare Breed: Barrel-Aged Blended Porter
Rum Barrel-Aged Porter
9.0%
Mountain Goat IPA (2020 Onwards)
American IPA
6.5%
Mountain Goat Rare Breed: Pineapple & Coconut Berliner Weisse & P.O.G. IPA
Fruited Berliner Weisse & Fruit IPA
6.5% & 7.0%
Mountain Goat Rare Breed: Swamp Thang Dank DIPA
Double IPA
8.7%
Mountain Goat Rare Breed: Fox Chaser
Spiced Farmhouse Red Ale
6.5%
Mountain Goat & Garage Project Horn Please
Spiced Imperial Milk Stout
8.7%
Mountain Goat Rare Breed: Hello Humanoid Double IPA
Double IPA
7.5%
Mountain Goat Barrel Breed: Christmas Ale 2018
Barrel Aged Wheatwine
11.1%
Mountain Goat North Street Gose
Spiced Gose
4.0%
Mountain Goat Legend Of The Goat Double IPA
Double IPA
7.6%