Over a period of months, Bells Beach Brewing have been showcasing six key hops from Australia's biggest grower, HPA, in single hop hazy pale ales brewed with nothing but ingredients grown in their home state of Victoria. Once all six had been trialled, they decided which sets of three would work together best and created two more – this time triple hop hazy pale ales.
The last in the series is Secret Spot 8, which combines the grower's most recent great green hope, Eclipse, with two of the quieter achievers in their stable: Ella and Enigma (for which I have something of a soft spot). The liquid is about as pale as a hazy can get: the base for all eight beers is extra Pale malt, wheat and oats, leaving the path clear for the lifted, lean, defined tropical vibes – heavy on the melon with stone fruit and a little citrus rind bite. Ella, once known as Stella, doesn't seem to get about as much these days but here adds a touch of the floral, although its spicy underbelly doesn't get a look in with the focus on the beer's fruity side in what's a punchy display of local hop character.
James Smith
Published September 5, 2024 2024-09-05 00:00:00
