There's been a huge focus on the development of new hop products across the planet in recent years – and the innovating continues too. We ran an explainer on many of the advanced products on the market earlier in the year – In Hop Pursuit – and a number of liquid hop products were the focus of recent roadshow events hosted by HPA (Hop Products Australia). As part of those events, Bridge Road head brewer James Dittko put a bunch of them to work in what he originally brewed as a West Coast pilsner before the marketing team decided it should be sold as Cold XPA.
Whatever the nomenclature, for those interested in the details he used Mosaic in Incognito form for dip-hopping then Citra and Mosaic in Spectrum form (alongside Centennial and Cascade pellets) for dry-hopping. In total, the beer was dry-hopped with the equivalent of nearly 20 grams per litre – the sort of level you might find in a much bigger hazy IPA.
Straight up, this very lightly hazy golden beer fires off a substantial aroma of pine and floral notes that continue on the palate with a slight earthiness. As those subside, there's also nectarine, fresh flowers and citrus that sits between bergamot and grapefruit rind, all leading into a gripping and moderately resinous bitterness.
James & Will
Published October 18, 2024 2024-10-18 00:00:00
