Summer took a long time to appear in South Australia this year, but now it's here Pikes have served up two very summery limited releases for their loyal following. The first is a Passionfruit Witbier featuring fresh passionfruit added alongside orange zest, cinnamon, nutmeg and clove so as to emphasise the yeast-driven esters typical of the style. It chimes in at 5 percent ABV, finding a balance between sessionability and a decent mouthfeel.
The yeast characteristics really do shine, equal parts clove, rosemary and passionfruit on the nose, with an initial sweetness coming from the fruit before the beer dries out quite significantly. A little wheat is noticeable alongside tropical passionfruit flavours and even a touch of pepper right at the end.
The second release is a Chardonnay Barrel-Aged Imperial Saison that had mandarin zest added to the boil to add an extra layer of complexity before it sat in barrels for seven months. It pours a deep golden honey colour, taking some of the colour from the French oak, whose former resident adds a touch of class and elegance in tandem with the woody oak. Joining the aroma is sweet honey and classic saison esters of clove and a little pepper. To taste, a herbal spice character moves into pleasant savoury bread and biscuit as white wine grapes traverse the palate, blending seamlessly with a little wood and pepper.
Matt King
Published December 12, 2022 2022-12-12 00:00:00
