They say change is as good as a holiday, and Hop Nation are celebrating the longer days with a few fresh spins on some favourite beers. First up, their Summer Sour series continues with pomegranate and cherry the anointed fruits this time around. Personally, I’m a big believer in pomegranate; it’s a tough fruit to crack into and you don't always get as much flesh from those seeds as you'd like, but they were enjoyed by the ancient Greeks and they brought us democracy and dolmades, so they must have been onto something. Pouring with a striking red hue that looks exactly like that fruit’s juice, it tastes pretty similar too, while carrying a light sourness and richness from the cherry alongside a snappy red grape character.
Clayton Double IPA, meanwhile, continues Hop Nation’s exploration of New Zealand’s hop farms. Once again, that journey is undertaken a big and qutie classic West Coast, while Mosaic Cryo joins Clayton Hops’ Nelson Sauvin Amplifire. Pouring with a deep orange glow, there’s upfront passionfruit and lychee with slight herbal notes and pine that lean into the beer’s deeply resinous bitterness.
Will Ziebell
Published October 18, 2024 2024-10-18 00:00:00
