Hop Nation Better Distractions & Jawbone

Style
Hazy IPA & Stout
ABV
7.1% & 6.3%

Melbourne’s latest 2021 lockdown might be looking a little too similar to 2020’s but, fortunately, Hop Nation have released two distractions, with one in the shape of a new hazy IPA and the other a returning beer from life before COVID.

The aptly named Better Distractions was originally brewed for Akasha Brewing’s IPA Invitational, which was scheduled for August 7 but has been postponed due to, well, you know why. Given the success the brewery has found with their core range J Juice and many other hazy releases, Hop Nation decided to brew to their strengths and created a hazy IPA for the event. Using El Dorado, Cryo Simcoe, Galaxy and Sabro, it’s a collection of punchy hops at play, which provide mango that’s a little tart (imagine biting one nearer the seed, rather than the outer flesh), rockmelon, passionfruit and stone fruit, and while there’s a little sweetness in there, there’s also a bitter distraction (I’ll see myself out...) in the shape of actual bitterness.

Jawbone is a saltbush and oyster stout first brewed by Hop Nation in 2019 and it returns with a few tweaks to a recipe that's still built around foraged saltbush, seawater and oyster shells from the brewery’s former Footscray neighbours at Tim & Terry’s, who have moved further west to Sunshine. If those additions aren’t enough, you’ve also got Willamette, Ahtanum and Loral hops, which all seem to provide an underlying earthy quality. Alongside it, there's a line of saltiness that runs across the beer that's at once both subtle and omnipresent, plus an extra level of brine that creates a counter to Jawbone's rich chocolate and roasted notes.

Will Ziebell

Published August 17, 2021

Name
Hop Nation
Address

Unit 6, 107/109 Whitehall Street Footscray
VIC 3011

Open Hours

Thursday: 3pm to 9.30pm
Friday: 12pm to 10pm
Saturday: 12pm to 10pm
Sunday: 12pm to 9pm

Black Bad Boy Bao 2024 B
Pickled OnMarket

More from Hop Nation

Hop Nation Chocolate Karma
Chocolate Stout
5.0%
Hop Nation Big Tings
Hazy IPA
6.9%
Hop Nation Freestyle Double IPA & Raspberry Sour With Key Lime
Double IPA & Fruited Sour
8.0% & 4.3%
Hop Nation Blood Sour
Sour
4.4%
Hop Nation Don Limón
Salted Lime Mexican Lager
4.0%
Hop Nation West Coast IPA
West Coast IPA
6.5%
Hop Nation Tropicalé & Summer Sour
Hazy IPA & Fruited Sour
7.2% & 4.3%
Hop Nation Nelson Lakes
Double IPA
8.0%
Hop Nation Dragon Sour & Flathead
Fruited Sour & Grapefruit IPA
4.0% & 6.5%
Hop Nation Fill Your Cup
Hazy IPA
5.6%
Hop Nation Giddy Hazy Mid
Hazy Mid
3.5%
Hop Nation Citra Hazy IPA
Hazy IPA
7.0%
Hop Nation x Mr West Turon Milk Stout
Milk Stout
6.0%
Hop Nation All G
Double IPA
8.0%
Hop Nation Mole Poblano & Pecan Pie
Barrel-Aged Imperial Pastry Stouts
Both 11.6%
Hop Nation Green Matter?
Hazy IPA
6.8%
Hop Nation Footscray Draft
Lager
4.2%
Hop Nation The Kalash 2023
Barrel-Aged Imperial Stouts
10.4% & 11.5%
Hop Nation Rice Lager & Yugen
Rice Lager & Chocolate Coffee Milk Stout
5.0% & 5.2%
Hop Nation Dog Beer
Alcohol-Free Dog Beer
0.0%