Woolgoolga Brewing Co Rebel Red

When Charlie Hodgson started as head brewer at Woopi, he got to work tweaking the recipes of some of the core range beers. It wasn’t until he mentioned to some punters that he was tweaking Rebel Red that he felt the pressure, when they said: “Don’t stuff it up – the red’s my favourite beer from Woopi!”

In a technical sense, Rebel Red probably best fits the style of American amber ale. Its reddish-amber pour releases layers malt aroma: rich and dark flavours of toasted biscuit with soft caramel occasionally poking through. The sweetness on the nose is toned down in the mouth, with the lighter berry notes balanced out with a deep burnt fig flavour. There’s a bitterness that isn’t in your face but is there the whole time nonetheless, like a dull throb in the back of your head.

Nice one, Charlie. You didn’t stuff it up.

Mick Wüst