If you know anything about the star of the contemporary Aussie hop breeding program, Galaxy, it's likely to be that it's the beer that helped Stone & Wood Pacific Ale become the game-changer it is, or that it's known for its citrusy, peachy qualities, with passionfruit oft cited as its most olfactory-tickling characteristic. So, what happens when you add passionfruit to a summery pale ale featuring Galaxy hops? Well, in the case of Hargreaves Hill's Passion Fruit Summer Pale Ale, you get a deeply hazy, vibrant yellow beer in which the fruit factor has been upped, the fruit seems to have added a little body on the one hand plus a little tang to counteract it on the other, and the result is a very enjoyable summer session beer.
Also in bottleshop fridges from the Yarra Valley brewers right now are cans of their collab with online retailers Hops To Home. Hill To Home is a triple dry-hopped hazy IPA in which they've opted for a trio of lesser seen hops: Hallertau Huell Melon, Loral and Mandarina Bavaria. You've still got the sort of beer you'd expect from a TDH HIPA these days – soft, hazy, sweetly tropical – but there's something a little herbal in the aroma and flavour and wee bit of spice in the background too.
James Smith
Published January 31, 2021 2021-01-31 00:00:00