Balter may pump gazillions of gallons of XPA across Australia these days, but their passion for craft still runs deep. Case in point: their new brew, Loftus Express, for which they hooked up with US hop growers Loftus Ranches as part of Yakima Chief Hops’ global Farm To Pint collab series.
Balter’s head brewer Scotty Hargrave spent quality time at the Loftus Farms in Washington State, hand-picking fresh hops right after harvest, choosing the oft-overlooked variety Loral for this beer. Chuffed with the results, Balter threw a lively launch party at their Gold Coast HQ with the Loftus crew in attendance as they premiered a captivating 30-minute doco, followed by a Q&A and free tinnies for everyone in the room.
From the get-go, it’s clear this is not your average pale ale. To start with, it pours more amber and tastes richer and with more caramel than most modern pales – more like those of an earlier era in the States, in fact – thanks to a grain bill that blends rolled wheat with Maris Otter, Munich and Carared malts.
On the hop front, the blend of the aforementioned Loral with Cryo Mosaic and Citra imbues a compelling and curious mix of floral bouquets, berries, subtle passionfruit and earthy herbal notes on the finish. With results this good, here’s hoping this is just the start of Balter’s Farm To Pint journey.
Jason Treuen
Published July 5, 2024 2024-07-05 00:00:00
