Fox Friday’s WA-only October releases welcome some classicism into the mix. While most would expect bold expressions from such a brewery, perhaps the most renegade thing any brewer can do in 2024 is drop a highly-tuned wheat beer and an archetypal English ale in the same month – both with delicate nuance and exceedingly high drinkability. How very contrarian!
Case in point: New You, labelled as a white ale. Style-wise white ales, or witbiers, are almost shy, pushing neither the ABV nor IBUs, instead happy to concede any larger characters in favour of an amiable, food friendly intent. Here, floral, honeyed aromas are woven with subtle orange and continue softly on the tongue across an unfiltered, slightly sweet malt base. A light, spicy noble hop character, and subtle white pepper, add fleeting intrigue that cries out for moules frites. Or the Burswood venue’s lobster roll.
Roaring Forties continues the exercise in restraint, this time wringing elegance from Maris Otter malt and East Kent Goldings hops. It doesn’t get more traditional than this combo, and the attractive clear amber hue teases at a more intricate beer. Light caramel, honey and biscuit malt characters are flecked with subtle earthy hop notes, and while bitterness wants to run away with proceedings, the resolution remains harmonious and decidedly slurpable. Ideally, Roaring Forties would be poured from a hand pump; however, as this scribe can attest, the gentle crema accoutrement courtesy of their Lukr taps works just fine.
For all of the appeal of such classics, there is a ravenous market angling for modernity. Enter Orbital Plane, a plush oat cream IPA that withholds overt sweetness while maximising the fruity conveyance of seven different hop products. Expect white grape, crushed pineapple, lychee juice and vanilla crème with orange soft serve lurking through a silky palate ride.
Guy Southern
Published October 9, 2024 2024-10-09 00:00:00
