“I don’t think craft beer drinkers want to drink the same thing all the time,” says Ryan Nilsson-Linne, head brewer at Bootleg Brewery in Margaret River. By the same token, brewers love to get creative, brew new beers and, let’s face it, have a play in the brewhouse. Enter Hop Swap - Bootleg’s new limited release series of beers.
When Bootleg Brewery revamped their branding in mid-2013 they also made a couple of changes to their range of beers. The biggest change was the decision to evolve Settler’s Pale Ale into something bigger, hoppier and more American. Hence the long-running pale was usurped by the bigger and bolder Speakeasy IPA, a homage of sorts to the sort of West Coast USA beers Ryan's brewery boss Michael Brookes loves to drink.
Almost two years since Bootleg introduced Speakeasy IPA they are now returning to the pale ale game with the launch of Hop Swap. The Hop Swap beers will feature single hop varieties showcased in a pale ale and will be available in a limited number of kegs and short packaged run.
The Margaret River's longest established brewery has a history of switching hops around in its limited release beers, most notably in its popular Black Market black IPA which has been used to showcase various hops – old and new – over the years.
The first hop variety to be featured in the new range is the popular Aussie Galaxy. Ryan selected this for the first Hop Swap as it was the main variety used in Settler’s Pale Ale so it seemed fitting to kick off the series with it.
Bootleg have completed bottling for Hop Swap #1 Galaxy this week ready to send to good beer bottleshops. It is currently available on tap at the brewery and a handful of kegs will make their way into beer loving bars within the coming weeks.
“It’s simple and easy going,” Ryan says of the first Hop Swap. “It’s approachable for all, but crafty people will still find it interesting.”
For the series Ryan will source hops from all over the world as well as seek new varieties as they become available. Ryan has the next three in the Hop Swap series beers planned out. The second release will use New Zealand hop variety Riwaka, the third will showcase new US hop variety Equinox, which Ryan was lucky enough to secure early, and the fourth will be another new variety, the Aussie-grown Melba showcased in Nail Brewing's just released "Gareth Skywalker" Golden IPA.
Bootleg’s Hop Swap series will not only give the brewery's fans something different every few months but also allow Ryan to build on his own knowledge of hop varieties for future brews.
Look out for Hop Swap #1 Galaxy on tap at the brewery, Ace Pizza in Mt Lawley and other craft beer bars around Perth. Bottles will be available from Mane Liquor, Cellarbrations Carlisle and Cellarbrations Capel. Ryan will be driving up to Perth to host a few sampling sessions in June too. Find him at Cellarbrations Carlisle then Left Bank on June 4 and at Mane Liquor on June 5.
Pia Poynton is the girl in girl + beer and also handles the Crafty Pint WA Twitter account.
