“I want something that will punch you in the face."
Beers brewed to help raise money can at times be quite sessionable and often seem to sit around the 5 percent ABV mark and sit under the banner of pale ale or lager. Coming from an entirely different direction is Ocean Reach’s Bionic West Coast IPA, a 6.25 percent ABV beer sold in 500ml cans and quite bold in its display of hops and bitterness. You can read the full story on the Phillip Island brewery’s important collaboration with Free 3D Hands here but in short, each beer sold supports the creation of bionic arms that go to people who need them.
The beer’s ABV of 6.25 was chosen to fit in with Free 3D Hands’ founder, Mat Bowtell, lucky numbers while that quote above showcases what Mat wanted to achieve with the beer. The use of America's Simcoe, Centennial and Mosaic combine together to ensure there is quite a heavy mix of classic West Coast flavours leading the charge with grapefruit, pine and melon all being joined by a substantial bitterness that leaps from the beer's lean and dry base. Given the beer has sold out from Ocean Reach’s online store at the time of writing (although still available elsewhere) and it certainly does pack a punch, it feels like the important collaboration, has proved a successful one too.
Will Ziebell
Published March 28, 2022 2022-03-28 00:00:00
