Something special has been happening in Brookvale in the Northern Beaches over the past few years: breweries are popping up like zits on photo day leading some (me) to dub the suburb North Marrickville. One of those breweries in this oh-so-crawlable seaside corner of Sydney is 7th Day Brewing. Don't go mistaking them for 7th Day Adventists (who don't drink alcohol) – the Brookie brewers have built a reputation on the back of their crisp and clean core range, which now features this Pacific Ale.
Clocking in at 4.1 percent ABV and pouring a warm gold that wouldn’t be out of place framing a portrait of an ancient British lord, it possesses the sort of steely, hoppy aroma you might associate with a rather bigger beer. The initial thought after my first taste is that I very much want a second taste: the hop flavours light up your mouth like a sunset breaking free over the coast. Bold yet balanced with those hearty hoppy notes making way for a light and refreshing finish – thank goodness 7th Day sent me a four-pack because my need for a second taste was outweighed only by my desire for a second tinnie.
As surfing Jesus on the tin might suggest, this is a laid-back beer with a hint of the unexpected (and cheeky religious allusions), a warm weather ale absolutely made for the sesh: brewed to be gulped, not sipped.
Benedict Kennedy-Cox
Published March 21, 2022 2022-03-21 00:00:00
