For Margaret River/Vasse brewers Cheeky Monkey, the beers just don’t stop rolling out of the brewhouse. And, with a penchant for hop driven styles, it was only a matter of time before another unsuspecting surf break got a beer named after it. In this case, it's Cow Bombie (or Cowaramup Bombora), a big wave surf break, that gets a nod with an East Coast imperial IPA.
Brewed with stacks of El Dorado and Citra, along with Loral and Azacca Cryohops, Cow Bombie is big on orange with supporting roles from ripe stonefruit and juicy citrus. A moderate body and a dark ruby hue give the impression of richness, but those perceptions quickly fade, while surprising drinkability overrides the 8 percent ABV.
Further bolstering the brewery's stocks of hop heavy ales is Fire & Ice, a 7 percent ABV American red ale brewed with generous additions of Cascade, Amarillo and Simcoe. All feature alongside a complex malt bill that yields alluring ruby amber hues and a rich, caramel and stewed fruit character. Not to be outdone, plenty of pine, citrus and refreshing grassy hop characters persist against the chewy, malt driven body, lasting well into the finish of this rich, but supremely balanced beer.
Jono Outred
Published May 7, 2021 2021-05-07 00:00:00
