The rise of sour beers in Australia hasn't been as rapid as many might have expected. It is understandable; when you're playing with bugs and barrels and wild beasties ' and something that, like love for Phil Collins, can't be hurried ' you're in a different ballpark than the relatively simple water, hops, malt and yeast scenario. However, the sour that has caused most excitement over the past couple of years is back. Watermelon Warhead made its bow at the 2012 Great Australasian Beer SpecTAPular, where the Chardonnay barrel-aged sour beer inspired by the popular kid's lolly wowed people with its uniqueness and intensity of flavour.
There is talk that one day it will be bottled as part of the Swan Valley's Brewery's Brewpub series, but for now it remains a draught only release. Based on the Berliner-Weisse style, it is a light sour German wheat beer brewed with an addition of half a ton of Swan Valley watermelons (yes, you read that right: half a ton). The beer spends 12 weeks in Chardonnay barrels before being blended to the desired taste and sourness.
Published March 7, 2014 2014-03-07 00:00:00
