The Otherside experimentals continue with a flurry. Not only is there this massive duo but, as you read this, there’s also an AUS/NZ DDH Oat Cream IPA on the way plus some more shelf stable styles on the horizon.
The DDH Juicy West Coast Hazy IPA is a hybrid of sorts, and one which is finding increasing favour with brewers looking to best express New World hops. A decade or more ago, the three Cs may have abrasively dominant, nowadays more juicy offerings showcase hops. And that's the case here. With a slightly hazy, burnt gold appearance, JWCIIPA rolls forward with mango, pineapple, orange, bitter mandarin and subtle pine, and, while there’s ample bitterness, there’s also a lovely round mouthfeel and balanced dryness – this is a real mix of old and new.
And then there’s the RIS, a beer that gleefully sits in the past, so much so that it reminded me of North Coast’s Old Rasputin. Respectfully sipped, its mature layers reveal themselves: mocha, bitter dark chocolate, espresso, roast malt, touches of dark soy and flat cola, while firm but integrated bitterness dances with a delicate oiliness – a luscious, old school Russian Imperial Stout.
Guy Southern
Published March 26, 2020 2020-03-26 00:00:00
