The Gazette went down to Easy Lane Kitchen and Beer Garden at Windsor RSL to film episode three of the craft beer web series, On Tap.
The following beers were tasted.
Beers:
Akasha Brewing Company's Hopsmith IPA
This American West Coast IPA brewed in Five Dock, Sydney has a high alcohol percentage, sitting at 7.2 per cent.
It uses American hops (simcoe and amarillo) to create pronounced biterness at 60 IBU. It has nice pine and citrus aromas that carry over to its palate.
Despite all these hoppy flavours, it is well balanced by malts that make Hopsmith quite clean, but it's triple dry-hopping creates a dry and slightly bitter finish.
It has featured on the Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beers list since 2015 ranking its highest at 52 in 2018.
Balter Brewing IPA
From the very popular Gold Coast Brewery.
Balter smashed it out of the park with their XPA and managed to follow that up with a very solid entry into the IPA scene.
With 6.8 per cent and a very high bitterness of 72 IBU this IPA follows an American style.
Despite this it doesn't come across as that boozy or bitter. Instead it has a nice mouth-feel with a clean and balanced aftertaste that is not overpowering.
It has juicy fruit and sweet flavours that come through along with biscuit malts and its bitterness.
Balter's IPA has sat at number seven on the Hottest 100 the past two years.
Pirate Life Mosaic IPA
is from Hindmarsh, South Australia. This is another American-style with a high percentage (seven per cent) and the brewers weren't lying about its flavour when they named it.
It is brewed predominantly with mosaic hops and the malts has been pushed aside to allow the hops to take front and center.
They hit straight away, before the drink takes you on what the brewers call a "kaleidoscopic journey through tropical flavours".
The Mosaic IPA is fruity; with juiciness from mandarins, grassiness and berries, and despite its pronounced bitterness, it isn't as extreme as you'd think, but it does linger.
It has been ranked at six and 30 on the hottest 100 since its release in 2017.
Endeavour Brewing Co's Rockstar Pale Ale
From the rocks in Sydney this Australian Pale Ale has a 4.5 per cent abv and a low bitterness of 32 IBU.
It carries citrus flavours with lime and pine coming through on the nose.
Rockstar is medium bodied and rather refreshing with a balanced malty sweetness that has a long lingering finish.
It lacks complexity but it would be a very nice drink for a hot summer day.
All of these drinks are available on tap at Easy Lane and can be enjoyed in the newly renovated beer garden.
Check out episode three below:
