Otherside’s Vinyl release becomes more culturally attuned to its namesake with each annual release. Although entirely unintended, what was once a fetishist, crate-digging concern is creeping back into broader view, as black IPAs find acceptance anew. Fashion loosens, vibe softens, and bpms slow, so, let’s give this year’s Vinyl a spin.
Pouring as if a liquid record, a peach cola and Long Island Iced Tea nose soon descends into juicy waves of milk choc malt and espresso drips alongside subtle pine-dank embellishments. The bitterness may not crackle in the groove as much as its early 2010 forebears, yet there’s enough hum to satisfy nostalgia, as well as the Perth Royal Beer Awards judges who handed this slab of Vinyl a trophy.
Sibling Redliner’s 2023 release charts a more moderating path than its predecessors, aligning with parent IIPA Headliner’s recent ABV dip towards what could be considered IPA levels. Are the festival stages getting bigger for these beer's quarterly tours? Are they garnering more hits and broader appeal? Maybe, but whatever the reasoning, the shift welcomes increased drinkability and new riffs.
Mandarin peel and soft amaro aromatics dance atop a rich caramel / toffee malt pulse. Initial juiciness and OJ-mango notes veil considerable bitterness, with a nonplussed berry coulis entourage along for the ride. Likewise, the ample 70 IBU bitterness barely seems apparent until the dry encore, showmanship which amplifies the urge for another sip.
Guy Southern
Published June 16, 2023 2023-06-16 00:00:00
