Visitors to Cornella Brewery should be familiar with Annie. She's gentle and friendly, like the brewery's flagship NEIPA that shares her name.
But something's found its way into the playful pup's water: now she's frothing at the mouth and eating the furniture. She's donned a leather jacket, styled a mohawk, and has all the sociability of the punk on the bus who gave the middle finger to Kirk and Spock. I've even heard she's insisting on being referred to by her new stage name, Sid.
Vicious Annie is an out-of-control triple New England IPA, brewed to celebrate Cornella Brewery's seventh birthday. It shares the same dry-hopping with Citra and Galaxy as its predecessor, but this time also boasts an audacious 20g/L of hops compared to the original's modest 13g/L. The result is a beer with a creamy white head crowning a suitably opaque, pale gold liquid infused with powerful tropical aromas and flavour. This beer is thick, juicy, and sticky, offering a full-bodied experience. And make no mistake, at a formidable 10 percent ABV, indulging in too many of these might leave you feeling like you've been dealt a Vulcan neck pinch.
Of a very different nature is Mango Salsa, which was awarded the People's Choice award at last month's Bendigo On The Hop. It’s easy to understand why as it’s a supremely approachable sour, brimming with notes of fresh lime and hints of mango and corn just below the beer’s citrus characteristics. It’s a medium to light-bodied beer, with a pale gold hue and slight haze and a head that dissipates quickly. There’s also little acidity in this sour ale, making it an easy-drinking, refreshing brew for the warmer days ahead.
The can for this Central American-inspired flavour combo is suitably adorned with the familiar mask of the Mexican luchador. Unlike Vicious Annie though, Mango Salsa's lower ABV will allow you to go more than a few rounds of lucha libre.
Daniel Ridd
Published October 6, 2023 2023-10-06 00:00:00
