Molly Rose founder and head brewer Nic Sandery seems to be carving out a wee niche in the area of dark and hoppy beers that don't quite fit into the boxes marked black IPA, Cascadian dark ale or even American amber but instead float in the cracks between them. Hug Replacement is one such beer: light in body for a 5.6 percent ABV darker ale, there’s choc-coated shiraz berries and citrus rind on the nose, hints of burnt crust, a dusting of smooth chocolate and a little liquorice spice to uncover before a drying bitterness ties things up.
May As Well on the other hand, fits more snugly within a style category – an IPA featuring Galaxy and Nelson Sauvin hops, which shine in a mix of passionfruit, tangerine and nectarine. They also contribute a substantial bitterness and, while it's labelled a West Coast, a touch of sweetness in the body means it's not a bitterness that'll blast you away.
Published May 10, 2021 2021-05-10 00:00:00
