NZ Hops 2022: Molly Rose & Sailors Grave

Style
Kveik IPA & Belgian Pale Ale
ABV
6.2% & 5.8%

Scroll down for links to more NZ Hops beers

There's a risk inherent in a project like this – inviting a stack of brewers to create beers showcasing hops first and foremost – that you'll end up with a parade of IPAs. You can also assume that when it comes to Molly Rose they'll follow a different path; not this time, however, as the Collingwood brewers contribute one of eight IPAs within the dozen beers. That said, we know how diverse the world of IPA is these days, and here Molly Rose use a strain of their beloved kveik yeast fermented fast and hot to create something rather left of centre.

Give Nectaron time to open up and the sort of fleshy nectarine character that's a key feature of NZ's newest hype hop makes itself known. But early on the interplay of yeast-derived esters and said hops had me thinking of Harry Nilsson, which is no bad thing as the track sits on the album with one of my favourite covers of all time, as well as the hop variety that was in many ways a precursor for the likes of Sabro: Sorachi Ace.

Also known for their quirks are Sailors Grave, although head brewer Chris Moore chose this as the moment to pay tribute to his favourite beer on the planet: De Ranke XXX Bitter. While Really Really Really Bitter isn't a palate-shredder in the manner of some of the American IPAs of a decade or so ago, it certainly outstrips most such beers on the market in these soft 'n' sweet days. It leads with lean lime-mandarin-grapefruit-pith from the Motueka hops sitting within a pillowy base, while the Belgian yeast adds a dryness and a flicker of spice to the bitterness in what's a very enjoyable homage to Chris' idol.

James Smith

You can read about other NZ Hops Great Brew Challenge beers here: Hemingway's and Working Title, CoConspirators and Mismatch, Uraidla and Mountain Culture, Deeds and Six String and Range and Your Mates.

Published January 14, 2022

Name
Molly Rose Brewing
Address

279 Wellington Street
Collingwood
VIC 3066

Open Hours

Wed & Thurs: 4pm to 10pm
Fri & Sat: midday to 1am
Sunday: midday to 10pm

IBD 2025
Podcast B2

More from Molly Rose Brewing

Molly Rose Sour Tom (2024)
Strawberry Sour Ale
5.2%
Molly Rose Red IPA
Red IIPA
8.0%
Molly Rose Brewing Kuro
Smoked Japanese Dark Lager
6.0%
Molly Rose Big Paws
Stong Dark Lager
6.4%
Molly Rose Electrified
West Coast IPA
6.8%
Molly Rose Wellington Bitter
Australian Pale Ale
4.0%
Molly Rose Just In Time
Märzen
5.2%
Molly Rose x Molly Rose Beers Of The Burbs: Stolen Lemons
Zest Za'atar Session IPA
5.1%
Molly Rose Ginger, Sake And Dreams & Do You Realise?
Sour & Barrel-Fermented Saison
4.8% & 4.9%
Molly Rose Epoch
Pilsner
5.3%
Molly Rose Interlaced
West Coast Double IPA
8.4%
Molly Rose Little Gialla
Skin Contact Farmhouse Ale
4.4%
Molly Rose Grapefruit Surprise & Coffee Citrus Sour
Hazy Pale & Sour Ale
3.5% & 4.2%
Molly Rose Embellished
Belgian Blonde
5.6%
Molly Rose Beaming & Resolved
West Coast IPA & Saison
6.4% & 5.8%
Molly Rose Blanche
Belgian Witbier
4.9%
Molly Rose Chuckle, Mazza & Mozza & Mamamo
Pale Ale, West Coast IPA & Radler
5.1%
Molly Rose Brewing Kolsch #1
Kolsch
5.0%
Molly Rose Polished & Adorned
Bock & Belgian Dubbel
6.4% & 6.6%
Molly Rose Raspberry Lamington
Rapsberry & Coconut Sour
4.0%