Thus Let Us Drink Beer

Akasha Roundup

If you follow this series, our appreciation of the Akasha Brewing Company should not come as a surprise, given their love for hopped out, accessible American varieties. 

Akasha’s rebranding two years ago further accentuated their approach by incorporating their loves for hops even into the visual aspects of their logo and, much to my delight, the launch of Akasha Projects, which serves as a launch pad to release experimental, limited releases for connoisseurs and hop forward beer aficionados.

Needless to say, there is always a sense of excitement when new Akasha Projects drop, let alone when the name alone suggests a classic release like the IIPA homage to the West Coast and Dr Dre, i.e. The Chronic.

Bright golden in appearance, the nostrils are tickled upon approach by tropical yet sweet aromas with hints of melon scents mixed with pineapple and orange oil. The flavour profile of this little number is comprised of resinous piney, citrussy and delicate molasses informed notes, which dance against a backbone of solid bitterness and only the faintest touch of malt. 

Paying homage to Shakespeare’s star crossed lovers, Akasha’s Romeo & Juliet DIPA sees Akasha Projects marrying East and West Coast Styles and excelling at that: In flavour territories where opposing individual aspects could easily cancel each other out, this well-calibrated experimental brew allows for both bitter and tropical bits to shine. 

A slowly building bitterness and warming alcohol notes rest on a foundation of floral and tart sweetness, which is counterpointed by a wonderfully dank, spikey herbal piquancy.

Akasha’s Wooden Leg is a Triple IPA that has become an unrivalled classic in its realm of turning things to 11, not just with the 10.5% ABV but with the best the trio comprised of Centennial, Amarillo and Simcoe hops have to offer and set in scene by malty caramel and a mild bitterness.

Compared to the aforementioned variants, The Shape of Hops to Come is a relatively tame hazy IPA, with the melange of Citra, El Dorado and Azacca hops resulting in a fruit forward, tart lemon informed flavour profile.

Lupulin Fog is one of my favourites when it comes to riffing on the New England approach to IPAs: Focused on the fruitier spectrum of hops, overripe passionfruit, guava, papaya, mango and pineapple reign supreme and render bitter flavours secondary.

Delish.

Nowhereman

Given that I have yet so sample a craft beer from Western Australia that I have not enjoyed, I am always intrigued when a new brewery pops up on my radar, especially if the brewery in question has been around for five years yet I somehow did not manage to visit them during the last times I held court in Perth.

My first exposure to Nowhereman was not via their no doubt excellent core range but through a limited release that has been brewed with half a ton of fresh local blueberries and an adage of of oak chips. 

What sounds exotic pours visually interesting a strikingly purple hue topped with pink foam  and unveils a complex sweet taste with just a hint of acid and sour notes dancing on a solid backbone of oak, maple syrup and vanilla notes. Culminating in the driest of finishes,  reverberating peppery and slightly astringent notes leave one lusting for more.

Clocking in at an ABV of 7.6% ABV, it makes the perfect companion for a dram of a smoky Islay whisky.

Stepping things up a notch or three is the heavy hitter that goes by the telling name 
Mr Otter’s Barley Wine . 

Apparently I have missed two previous incarnations of this premium limited release that proves to be as expected rich, boozy and flavourful: Toffee, raisiny, nutty, toasty oak flavours with hints of biscuit are rounded out by a balanced fruitiness that leans heavy on the hops.

While boozier than most beer with a veritable 11% ABV, Mr Otter’s Barley Wine leans much heavier on malt flavours than hops and is a surprisingly smooth affair that goes down a treat during colder months.

Given the quality of what I have tasted so far from Nowhereman, I can only hope that they are planning to dabble in IIPAs.