Feral Imperial India Pale Ale

Great full-flavoured beer. Cloudy but that doesn’t detract from the superb nose and deep, satisfying palate. This is a king of beers.

This was the first beer of the day, at 10am no less. And it put everything else to shame for the rest of the day. Pours hazy due to the huge hopping, which is about on par with Stone Ruination IPA. Aromas are huge hits of high AA american hops, with a strong malt sweetness to balance. Try it if you have the chance, it’s one of the more unique beers in teh Australian micro scene.

Finally got my sneakers on for a day trip into the valley to find that the new brewery I had set sights on was not yet open (Mash brewing, West Swan Road). A little travel and a bit of road rage later and my wife (driver) and I (err, passenger) arrived at the all too reliable Feral. IIPA on tap, sweet; unfamiliar new bar-staff, not too sweet, but still this was a beer to free off all surrounding thoughts. This was a beer to bounder quenching with contemplation. Autumn had finally hit, sun was shining and a beer like this would be a good poison for the arvo sunset. Poured a hazy fiery gold with a big, rocky and creamy beige head that showed some firm lacing. Also big was the citric grapefruit, hoppy nose that had balancing bitingly spicy toffee, sweet caramel and doughy, bready yeast notes that were generous enough to fight off the wailing crowd into the background (beer garden was packed). Now lowered to a meagre 7.0% it was still supercharged in the mouth. Smooth in mouthfeel and almost oily, treacly thick in body. Very pronounced hopping plays a part to balance the sweet crystal malts, toffee and prominent alcohol warmth. Juicy grapefruit and oranges follow into the fresh and warming fruity swallow that heated me up through into the thorough depths like a glass of strong liqueur. As it warms it shows flavours of pine-nuts on the mid-palate before a sharp bitter bite on the swallow. This was deadly easy to drink, but once the alcohol hit in it all slowed down for me. A lovely Pale ale that gives some insight into the original gravity of the brews sent to the eastern colonies. Though a beer like this present to the workers in India I fear no work would have been done. A pleasure to drink, and a trip to the Swan valley still holds its treasures!!!

Huge grapefruit and spirity nose, fruit and spice flavours come through as it warms up. So dry it’s almost gingery and bitter enough to blow your socks off.

Had this on tap with Sully. This is my first try of a IIPA. Wow! I like this style. Hops. This is what you notice from the start right to the last drop. Hazy amber body, hops on the nose (or have I already mentioned that) and lovely hop bitterness in the taste. This beer was very well balanced with the malt playing a great supporting role and the alcohol is noticeable but very user friendly. Had a bit of a session with this beer, it was a good day and great company.