Rocky Ridge have never been adverse to dropping a multitude of limited releases in one hit. In fact, they’re kind of famous for it. It's only six months since the Jindong-based brewers released their 7 Deadly Tin series – eight beers brewed with brewing friends – yet already they're dropping six beers in unison as part of their Captain Jindong series.
Each beer celebrates Rocky Ridge’s journey to becoming Australia’s first Certified Sustainable and Carbon Neutral brewery, and their mission to reach Net Zero by 2025. What that means for punters is six brews with some uplifting storytelling to boot. To learn more, grab a tin and have a squiz – or jump on their website to learn about all the cool initiatives Rocky Ridge have implemented over their seven years of operation.
Starting light is Water, a spritzy sour with watermelon and blueberry. Pouring pale pink with big watermelon and ripe blueberry pouring out of the glass, the modest acidity is refreshing and leans citric: cleansing with enough sharpness to reset the palate after each sip. Watermelon terpenes boost ripe, sweet watermelon notes throughout.
Heart a pale ale all about community, uses locally-sourced grains from Kulin and Capel along with American, Australian and NZ hops. It's bursting with riesling like petrol notes, pine and ripe orange and lemon, alongside a touch of haze. Earth plays in similar territory with its ease of drinking: a pilsner that is clean but hoppy with bready malt notes, assertive bitterness and punchy citrus fruit. Bright and entirely repeatable.
Now, onto hops with Wind and Fire. Wind is a hazy IPA celebrating their reduction in CO2 emissions, boasts a big tropical profile with reclaimed CO2 from fermentation lending a medium carbonation and a fluffy white head. Pine, grapefruit and stonefruits all feature in abundance. Fire is a West Coast IPA, a toasty affair at 7.2 percent ABV that is clear as day and bursting with sticky pine, ripe citrus pith and a firm, resinous bitterness that lights up the palate – like the sun lighting up Rocky Ridge’s brewery thanks to the 280kWh generated by their solar system.
Lastly, Captain Jindong himself. A classic Rocky Ridge double IPA that hits heavy in both ABV and hop punch. US and NZ hops collude here against 8.5 percent ABV and some caramel malts for a chewy, slightly hazy base beer loaded with passionfruit, orange, grapefruit, soft herbs and some sweet, sticky resin. With just a touch of residual sweetness and firm bitterness, Captain Jindong is bold but everything you’d expect from Rocky Ridge, and it’s all about doing the right thing. As feel good as it gets.
Jono Outred
Published November 25, 2024 2024-11-25 00:00:00
