While the seasons are undeniably changing to the cold, Sauce are determined to challenge beer conventions by releasing a multi-seasonal trio of beers for the month of June.
Pouring an amplified rose gold, Strawberry & Rhubarb Sour Ale holds a potent bouquet of strawberry boiled lollies and delivers a zingy sweetness directly to the centre of your tongue. But this is not just a sweet affair: Belgian Abbaye and Kolsch yeasts provide a sessionable dryness that balances the sweet fruit additions to deliver a tart finish, on top of a smooth profile.
Stepping up a level is Infrared Red IPA, which has the bold appearance of an espresso that can cure your cough alongside aromas of sticky campfire toffee stuck in your hair. The initial sip leaves you feeling unprepared vodka-spiked caramel and biscuits bathed in brandy hit you not so much in notes, but in paragraphs. The 7 percent ABV drives the potency of this warming, rainy day red IPA with an intriguingly spicy mix of rye alongside El Dorado and Mosaic hops.
Finally: the seasonally-suitable Imperial Stout Triple Cask, an imperial stout drawn from Sauce’s best bourbon, whisky and rum barrels. Impenetrably black with a Targaryen red flickering around the edges, Triple Cask boasts formidable aromas of Port, rum, liquorice, Vegemite and smoked venison. It smells like a brewery at the end of the night and tastes like a brilliant night-ender too.
From the first sip, your ears are reddened by a curious mix of Milo and Kahlua. While the jury is still out on whether canned beers cellar as well as bottles, Triple Cask tastes complex and promising as a fresh stout yet certainly feels like one worth buying to share with friends in a few years' time. At 11 percent ABV, sharing this stout might be the most responsible thing you do this winter.
Benedict Kennedy-Cox
Published June 2, 2024 2024-06-02 00:00:00
