With the festive season imminent, we're into that time of year when brewers start to release beers that are more sessionable, lighter and refreshing. That’s exactly what Shane and Dan have done at McLaren Vale’s Swell Brewery, releasing a 4.2 percent ABV tropical pale that matches the aforementioned brief, while also satisfying their own tastes.
An unfiltered pale ale, Summer Sessions pours a light golden colour and is loaded with El Dorado and Mosaic. Tropical fruit is what they wanted and tropical fruit is what they got, namely freshly cut pineapple, passionfruit and melon dominating proceedings before some lychee is carried through a balancing biscuit malt base. The bitterness is refined and subdued, finishing with a refreshing dryness.
To balance out the sessionable, Swell also released an oat cream IPA, Into the Juice that's rather larger. Built around a flurry of different hop varieties – Sabro, Zamba, Sabro Cryo, Zamba Cryo and Ekuanot Cryo – it features yet another surfing reference, with the notion of heading into big swells matching the big beer in the can. Drinkers enter into the juice just by cracking the can, with the hops working overtime as juicy tropical fruits of ripe mango and papaya crash forth on the palate, supported by creamy coconut and a touch of sweetness from the lactose. The balance between juicy fruits, coconut and lactose sweetness works well, ensuring you've nothing to fear as you head into the juice.
Matt King
Published December 11, 2021 2021-12-11 00:00:00
