Since launching in 2019, Wild Hop have released an ever-changing beer list that could well be on its way to featuring every recognisable style of beer on the planet. At any moment in time, their tap list features 11 original (in style and name) Wild Hop beers and one locally made cider, available for in house consumption and takeaway growler fills.
July and August 2021 have seen hops well represented; of the seven hop-centric beers that feature, Meme Fatigue NEIPA easily stands tall, featuring huge stone fruit and pine character carried by a velvety body that leads into a long, apricot tainted finish. Nostalgic Overdose West Coast IPA is a fresher take on the style with a slightly hazy pour and big, grassy, floral aromatics. Session NEIPA Wind Damage (pictured) is abundantly aromatic and punches well above its 3.2 percent ABV, while Grasstree Apocalypse is a classic black IPA, featuring firm bitterness, Citra-derived citrus notes and a touch of bitter chocolate.
It’s not all hops, however, with Low Hanging Fruit starring as a strikingly bracing and super-refreshing peach sour. Notes of funky fruit feature in the aromatics but, overall, this finishes very clean. On the other end of the spectrum is Future Problems RIS, a monster 12.8 percenter loaded with roasted coffee and dry cocoa notes. Some malt driven astringency features but is well placed and certainly doesn’t detract from the smooth, velvety mouthfeel and lasting, sweet finish.
The brewery’s trusty pilsner and pale ale feature as normal, along with a red IPA, Belgian wit and a double NEIPA, rounding out the breweries extensive and highly varied offering at time of writing.
Jono Outred
Published August 24, 2021 2021-08-24 00:00:00