Thus Let Us Drink Beer – Sanctus & Seasonal Brewing
What’s in a name?
With Sanctus Brewing and their crew’s claim that their brews are crafted in “God’s country”, i.e. Clarence Valley, it echoes the anaphora, paying homage and hosanna to the God and transcendent quality of beer.
Apart from Sanctus Brewing’s solid core line-up, I specifically like their seasonal and experimental expressions, with their birthday brew and ode to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, i.e., the Californication West Coast IPA, being a particular favourite and not an exception:
Avalanches of hops merge with resinous, piney-citrus zesty grapefruit notes and dance with butter cookie flavours against the backdrop of a solid malt backbone, with an assertive bitterness being accentuated by a spicy piquancy.
A well-balanced and very drinkable IPA that proves to be a wonderful companion to a dram of Ardbeg 10.
Sanctus’ Altitude Hazy IPA is not merely a visual feast for the eyes with its cloudy and foggy appearance but is dominated by a fullness of flavour and hop character that is decidedly fruity and ripe citrussy in nature.
Low in bitterness, hints of pineapple, tangerine and orange meet enough of a malt body to balance the fruitiness of the New Zealand hops, with the overall drinkability remaining crisp. The resinous, fruity kick make this little number a moreish one.
One of the more exotic emissions from Sanctus Brewing is its Ginger Beer Extra Hard:
With a solid ABV of 8%, this ultra-fizzy hybrid between beer and soda also packs a potent punch in the flavour department, which is enhanced by a warm cinnamon and nutmeggy spiciness blending in with a zesty bite. A borderline perfect beverage to quench thirst during the warmer days of the year.
Western Australia’s craft beer scene is emerging as a veritable equivalent to the what the East Coast has to offer on terra australis and if you are following this series, you’d be cognisant of the fact that we have yet to come across a brewery from one of the most remote regions on this earthround that has not convinced us with its liquid emissions.
Exploring Perth’s craft beer scene is a gratifying exercise as it rewards one with gems like Seasonal Brewing Co.
Having evolved from Nick Southwell’s and his better half’s Emily ten Raa homebrewing efforts, the pair eventually teamed up with the owner of the gin-focused Northbridge bar Frisk and pizza bar Alfred’s to establish their own digs.
What I like about Seasonal Brewing’s approach to channelling their alchemy is that it is holistic, i.e. it is not merely centred around the creation of quality craft brews but an extension down to the careful curation of the artwork of its beer labels and innovative merch range, which pays homage to the natural environment and cultural heritage of the local area.
With the name being a telling one, Seasonal Brewing’s focus is firmly set on rotating its offerings to align with the ebbs and flows of the year, with especially its experimental range pushing the boundaries with expressions complementing the solid core offerings.
An immensely enjoyable example par excellence for Seasonal’s progressive efforts is their recent spin on the pale, top-fermenting wheat beer that is the Gose variety.
Cloudy yellow colour in appearance, the Passionfruit & Guava Gose is reminiscent of Berliner Weisse and provides a refreshing crispness and Guava twang with natural saline taste courtesy of the addition of sea salt. Clocking in at 4.3% ABV, this little number is a moreish, immensely sessionable smasher for hot days.
Situated on the more traditional side of things is Seasonal’s Juicy Pale Ale:
Based on the triumvirate of Azacca, Amarillo and Idaho 7 hops, the aroma is informed by bright and refreshing juicy mango, tropical fruity, and citrussy nuances, which on the top of the mouth materializes in form of zesty tangerine flavours reminiscent of marmalade dancing against a backdrop of a light bitterness.
My current favourite of the Seasonal Brewing range, however, is their crisp and lean Cold IPA.
Fermented at lower temperatures, a melange of Nelson Sauvin, Mosaic and Idaho 7 hops infuses the ale with hop-forward ale characteristics common in a West Coast IPA, yet with an added dimension of vibrancy and crispness, which is married with complex stonefruity highlights.
With an ABV of 6.3%, Seasonal’s Cold IPA not only packs a bit of a punch but leaves one lusting for more with an idiosyncratic, reverberating herbal piquancy.
Given the quality of what I have been able to sample from Seasonal Brewing’s so far, I look forward to their future Double IPA and collaborative releases.
