Affinity is all about the colours. You may be thinking, ‘But all of Blackflag’s label artworks contain bright colours.’ That’s true. But while most of them use a couple of key colours and contrast those colours with a heap of black, Affinity has more of a kaleidoscopic feel to it. Less graffiti grunge, more expressive tattoo. And the more you look at it, the more intricate details you notice.
The explosion of colours on the label is mirrored by the explosive fruity character of the beer, which comes courtesy of boisterous Aussie hops that have been amplified by Norwegian kveik yeast. Affinity introduces itself as ripe tropical fruits, pineapple Fanta and florals that come together with an almost syrupy sweetness on the nose, with white wine notes pressing in at the edges. But the more you get to know (read: drink) this beer, the more you realise it’s not as sweet as the fruitiness first suggested. As a solid bitterness sets in, that white wine character carries the fruit with dignity, bringing in a little melon to meet with the pineapple and other flavours.
