The funky, fun and complex Christmas treats have arrived early from Molly Rose, with a couple of sours dropping in quick succession. Tank 5 Blend isn't hiding much with its name: the spiced ale is a blend of fresh and one-year-old and two-year-old beer. Named for the tank in which the blend spent its time alongside leftover botanicals from a Molly Rose pastis, it forms part of the brewery’s Not Wasted series that saves drinks leftovers from landfill.
The aromatic sour carries through plenty of those botanicals, which is where the thought of “Christmas” came in – less so its cakes and more a mix of anise and fennel with which you’d cover your ham. Meanwhile, alongside a lasting tartness is a more funky, ripe fruit character that sticks around too.
Joining the funk party is the barrel-fermented Brown that was made with a mix of malts from Voyager. The layered take on the classic Belgian sour brings dried figs, dates and caramel richness. The acidity, meanwhile, carries with it the kind of dark plum fruit flavours you might discover in an excellent cold brew coffee.
Will Ziebell
If you're around Melbourne on December 11, you could join us at Molly Rose's brewpub for The Molly Rose Story – Distilled. It's open to Crafty Cabal members and the Molly Rose community; details here.
Published November 22, 2024 2024-11-22 00:00:00
