In the years since it first appeared as a limited release, In The Pines has gradually become one of Margaret River Beer Co’s most lauded core range beers. Beyond The Pines may one day make its way into the regional brewery’s year-round lineup too, but for now it makes its debut as a beer that's here for a good time, not a long time.
It's a thoroughly ramped up reiteration of the old reliable, landing at a sizeable 8.2 percent ABV, and bringing with it plenty in terms of both the hops and malt departments. They collude for a beer with a sizeable flavour profile of marmalade, sticky pine, grapefruit and satsuma, plus supporting notes of herbal spice and dried apricots, along with a firm, lingering bitterness. All of these hop characters are well supported by a semi-sweet malt backbone in which some soft, grainy notes are present.
The outcome is a beer that counters much of the recently trending California IPA movement, instead standing out as an old school, hop-driven double hazy IPA that is entirely unapologetic.
Jono Outred
Published March 27, 2024 2024-03-27 00:00:00
