Given they have three different homes in three cities, we shouldn't be too surprised when Fox Friday releases five beers in quick succession. But here we are, enjoying the warming of the weather for the rest of the year, and once again, the Tassie-founded brewers show they don't like to slow down.
Starting with the lightest in terms of ABV but darkest in colour brings us the joy of Draconian Measures. We can only assume the name is a reference to how marketing departments dream of treating brewers who make a mild ale, but we’re certainly keen to see Fox Friday add their ability to our view that a bit of a British trend is bubbling away. What a lovely beer this is too, with the deeply dark brown beer sitting at a mere 3.6 percent ABV but wanting for nothing thanks to its rich swirl of chocolate, biscuit, and a touch of Milo, all joined by a distinct nuttiness.
Goofy Footed, meanwhile, turns up the hops and swerves into lager territory as a West Coast pilsner with plenty of punch. In terms of hops, it features Rakau, Cryo Citra, Spalt Select, Pacifica, and Simcoe, providing stonefruit, green grape, pear, and bubblegum. Sure, it all might sound like an unusual dessert, but such is the balance and the beer’s lean and bitter side that you needn't be a sweet tooth to enjoy Goofy.
Plug & Play is a hazy pale that’s heavy on keeping things Kiwi, with Southern Cross, Wai-iti, Nelson Sauvin and Nelson Sauvin Amplifire Hop Oil all meeting up with America’s Simcoe. While the above beer might have had some stonefruit, this hazy provides a figurative tonne of it alongside guava, white grape, and zesty lemon in a particularly lush hazy pale.
Naturally, Impact Zone is a West Coast IPA that’s built to deliver pine—and plenty of it. Resin runs through each sip, joined by orange lollies, tangerine, and some earthy spice akin to many of America's classic IPAs. Speaking of which, if you miss bitterness in hoppy beers, then you need not worry here: you'll find loads of it alongside a lean and dry finish.
Finally, that brings us to Behind The Scenes, a hazy DIPA made with Ekuanot, Cryo Mosaic, El Dorado, and Cryo Citra. It’s certainly a tropical delight with no shortage of thickness to be found in the 8.2 percent ABV beer. Crack into it, and you'll find a whole lot of guava, mango, and rockmelon, all complemented by a fleshy and fresh blood orange.
Will Ziebell
Published September 30, 2024 2024-09-30 00:00:00
