T-Bone have welcomed spring to Hobart with the return of a couple of seasonal faves. For some reason Brekkie Juice hasn't made it onto the pages of Crafty before, but better late than never for the IPA that may well be my favourite to date of those of theirs I've sampled. Brekkie juice is a descriptor often used for hazy IPAs, typically when they appear as heavy in the glass as such a drink, but T-Bone's is more hazy than heavy and delivers the combination of soft, curd like fruitiness, citrusy sweet malts, a little chalkiness and low bitterness that makes for n easy-going modern IPA.
For their 2020 Rye IIPA they've bucked trends somewhat by removing Mosaic hops from the mix and instead opting for Centennial, one of the earlier wave of killer US hops (and a favourite at Crafty Towers). However, this is a beer that's less about hops and more about the rye and other specialty malts. Pouring a lovely ESB-esque chestnut colour with a fine bead head like a crema, you're met by creamy cake batter, toasted brittle and bread crust aromas and a softness that comes with the textural nature of rye malt (and 8 percent ABV). There's an earthy, lightly spicy bitterness round out what you could just as easily term an imperial brown ale – but that might not sound as sexy in these IPA-obsessed times.
James Smith
Published September 18, 2020 2020-09-18 00:00:00
