Slipstream take off with another beer in their Jetsetter series, which is all about exploring bold hops from around the globe. With hazy number three, they’ve finally left the Antipodes and have reached the land of the free [sic]. On arrival, they’ve met with Simcoe, Ekuanot and Strata: three hop varieties that make mighty fine tour guides.
They say everything is bigger in America, from supersized fast food meals to the Grand Canyon, which is apparently surprisingly big.* But I have experienced the big hop character of US-style IPAs and the big personalities of US hop varieties. And while bigger is sometimes better, there’s something to be said for moderation done well. Slipstream’s brewers have managed to capture the flavour-bursting goodness of these hops and pack it into a tidy beer.
It’s hazy… but not opaque. It’s medium bodied, soft and smooth… but not pulpy. It’s clearly full of hops… but with no astringency or hop burn. It emanates aromas of fresh, juicy stonefruit and pineapple, then eases those fruit flavours into a partnership with a soft herbal and citrus note, all winding up with a gentle bitterness in the finish.
I wouldn’t go so far as to say this beer’s a case of “less is more”, since there’s still plenty going on in there. But it’s surprisingly drinkable, even as it’s unsurprisingly flavourful.
Mick Wüst
*I haven’t been to America myself. But I have dug some pretty big holes at the beach, so it’d take quite a sizeable canyon to impress me.
Published July 18, 2024 2024-07-18 00:00:00
