Tallboy and Moose spent a lot of 2020 exploring IPA’s many forms and filling beers with fruit and it looks like the Preston brewpub isn’t slowing that approach down in 2021. Tallboy has previously brewed the cherry gose Bizarro Cherry as a tap-only release but now it’s back with its own colourful tin and destined for a wider release. The can might be colourful but the beer isn’t, with its light golden hue making it look like a standard pale ale before a quick smell reveals it’s anything but and instead packed heavily with cherry juice. The slightly sweet, almost cordial-like flavour from the cherry balances quite comfortably against a tart hit and quite a noticeable saltiness that can be hard to find in many a modern gose.
Splash City on the other hand, takes guava puree and throws that in with oats and the all Australian hop selection of Cascade, Eclipse and Galaxy for a topped up tropical oat cream IPA. Here, the flavour from the puree runs right through the beer, with even its appearance a pale, thick and slightly pink hue that looks like guava juice. Guava’s sweet, tropical and pear-like flavour might be the most distinct but that’s also joined by passionfruit, citrus and sweet cream notes before Splash City's slightly biting bitterness kicks in.
Will Ziebell
Published February 12, 2021 2021-02-12 00:00:00