Such has been the gnarly nature of 2022 to date, we've yet to run one of our in-house blind tastings (although did manage a public one during Pint of Origin and will soon announce others in Perth and Brisbane). I mention this as a first waft of 3 Ravens' July 2022 Nevermore release had me wondering what someone would make of it if approaching the beer blindfolded.
The Eclipse Dark Lager is a modern take on a Vienna lager that features, among other things, freshly toasted grains from Voyager Craft Malt and a double dry-hop with Hop Products Australia's Eclipse. But without knowing it was a dark lager, or indeed seeing its bright bread crust brown colour, I’d bet someone would be rhapsodising about the orange-dominated fruity hop aromas before anything else. HPA’s latest star is showcased well throughout, its fruitiness carrying through the flavours and, in cahoots with more traditional lager hop Hallertau Mittelfruh, adding a pretty substantial, resin-tinged bitterness.
More traditional dark lager characteristics – biscuity, toffee-esque, dusty chocolaty tones – are there but still shot through with sweet orange. Indeed, if the blindfolded person told you they thought they had a clean American amber in their glass, you’d have to forgive them. Then give the Ravens brewers a buzz to ask if this Nevermore release could maybe get a Oncemore follow up...
James Smith
Published July 22, 2022 2022-07-22 00:00:00
