Thus Let Us Drink Beer – 3 Ravens
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Every now and then one cannot help but think that certain alcoholica are covered. Been there, tried that, the rest are variations. Then you come across an entity that infuses the game with its idiosyncratic twist and makes things exciting again.
Enter 3 Ravens.
Based on a common core range, i.e. European style brews and ones inspired by American Ales, that was established in the early noughts, the fine people behind 3 Ravens ventured out and upped the ante with speciality ranges on either a seasonal or limited basis.
3 Ravens’ New World IPA was the first of the range that came across my palate and boy, was I in for a treat. Claiming that it is “hop forward” would be an understatement par excellence and the resulting limey, piney dankness has made it an instant favourite for boilermakers as its tropical flavour prove to set a great canvas on which a peaty scotch can unfold its nuances.
Now, IPAs tend vary quite a bit in terms of tastes, which keeps things interesting, however, the innovative approach which informs the liquid emissions of 3 Ravens take things up a notch or two.
Take Simcoe Juicy, where not only the name but even the appearance is reminiscent of a lemonade-y beverage, but its fruitiness combined with the core IPA flavour profile makes for one refreshing beer.
The Coffee & Blueberry Shake IPA – yes, you read right, is not just alluding to berry flavours but is based on blueberry puree combined with fruity hops, fresh roasted coffee beans, lactose, vanilla and a creamy base of oats and wheat. Add Mosaic and Bramling Cross hops and you got yourself something an intense yet immensely aromatic and drinkable West Coast IPA to have a whole lot of fun with.
3 Ravens’ Double IPA is more conservative in flavour yet no less fruity – a melange of grapefruit, pineapple, peachy flavours and honey is complimented by a delicate bitterness that makes it for one smooth NEIPA.
While some of the names and flavour profiles might have you think that these are novelty beers, the opposite is the case:
3 Ravens is a brewery that has mastered the alchemy of brewing high quality IPAs and then experimented to create nuanced and well-calibrated brews with subtle nuances that take you on a journey and make drinking beer fun again.
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photo by T
