Welcome to the March 2024 Pale & Hoppy Beer Box, a curated selection crafted exclusively for members of Beer Dad's Craft Beer Club. This month, we invite you to embark on a journey into the vibrant world of hop-forward beers, featuring eight cans of expertly brewed brews that celebrate the bold and captivating flavours of hops. From classic pale ales to innovative hop showcases, each beer in this collection promises to tantalize your taste buds with its unique hop character and aromatic complexity. Join us as we explore the diverse spectrum of hop flavours, from tropical fruits to citrusy delights, and raise a glass to the artistry and creativity of hop-forward brewing. Cheers to bold hops, hoppy adventures, and unforgettable beer experiences!
Introducing Abbeydale's Okarito, a New Zealand Pale Ale paying homage to the iconic Nelson region. Crafted with Rakau and Motueka hops, including the futuristic lupulin liquid SubZero Hop Kief™, this ale invites a sensory journey. Upon pouring, aromas of sweet stone fruits greet the nose, leading to a palate enriched with plum, fig, and apricot notes. A lemon-lime citrussy flair dances in the background, culminating in a clean, cutting bitterness that lingers on the finish.
Interesting Fact: The Nelson region of New Zealand is renowned for its distinctive hop varieties, known for their intense fruity and citrusy flavours, making them sought-after ingredients in craft brewing worldwide.
Pair this aromatic pale ale with grilled white fish or seafood pasta to complement its fruity character. The beer's clean bitterness also makes it a great match for spicy dishes like Thai curry or Mexican tacos, providing a refreshing contrast. For a lighter pairing, serve it alongside a salad of mixed greens, mango, and avocado, accentuating the beer's tropical notes and creating a harmonious balance of flavours.
Cloudwater's What Happens To Photons at Night? is a hazy pale ale that delivers a juicy punch of tropical stone fruits balanced with piney undertones. Brewed with Citra, Mosaic, and Idaho 7 hops, this ale offers a tantalizing aroma of big tropical fruits, with hints of pineapple and pink grapefruit. As it caresses the palate, flavours of mango and peach mingle with a subtle bitterness, leading to a lingering piney finish. At a modest 4.5% ABV, it's the perfect thirst-quencher for any occasion.
Interesting Fact: The Idaho 7 hop variety is named after the state of Idaho in the United States, where it was developed by Jackson Hop Farm. It is prized for its complex flavour profile, which includes tropical fruit, citrus, and pine characteristics.
Pair this hazy pale ale with spicy dishes like chicken curry or fish tacos to complement its fruity sweetness and balance the heat. The beer's tropical fruit flavours also make it a great match for grilled pineapple or mango salsa, enhancing the beer's vibrant character. For a refreshing pairing, serve it alongside a citrusy ceviche or shrimp cocktail to echo the beer's citrus and piney notes, creating a delightful contrast of flavours.
Dark Revolution's Check This Pale Ale offers a hazy delight with floral, citrus, and fruit notes, showcasing a masterful blend of malts and hops. Brewed with a combination of Extra Pale, Vienna, and Dextrin malts, this ale lays a solid foundation for the hop showcase. On the hot side, Citra and Mosaic hops contribute to the beer's citrusy and fruity aromas, while Loral hops on the cold side add floral complexity. With each sip, the palate is greeted with a burst of floral and citrus flavours, followed by a subtle fruitiness that lingers on the finish.
Interesting Fact: Loral hops, also known as HBC 291, were developed by Hop Breeding Company and released in 2016. They are prized for their unique aroma profile, which includes floral, herbal, and citrus notes, making them a versatile choice for both aroma and bittering additions.
Pair this hazy pale ale with spicy Asian cuisine like Thai curry or Vietnamese pho to complement its floral and citrusy flavours. The beer's fruity undertones also make it a great match for grilled salmon or citrus-marinated chicken, enhancing the dish's natural flavours. For a vegetarian option, try pairing it with a roasted vegetable salad or a quinoa bowl with mango salsa to echo the beer's vibrant character and create a satisfying flavour combination.
New Bristol's Wonderland beckons with its sessionable NEIPA boasting mild bitterness, a silky-smooth texture, and a big juicy blast of flavour. Brewed with a blend of Citra, Mosaic, and Sabro hops, this ale offers a tropical paradise in a glass. Upon pouring, aromas of ripe mango, pineapple, and coconut tantalize the senses, leading to a palate-enveloping experience of juicy goodness. The creamy texture enhances the beer's drinkability, while the balanced bitterness ensures a refreshing finish that leaves you craving another sip.
Interesting Fact: Sabro hops, known for their distinctive coconut and tropical fruit flavours, were developed by the Hop Breeding Company and released in 2018. They have quickly gained popularity among brewers for their unique aroma profile.
Pair this sessionable NEIPA with grilled shrimp skewers or Hawaiian-style poke bowls to complement its tropical fruit flavours. The beer's creamy texture also makes it a great match for creamy cheeses like brie or camembert, providing a refreshing contrast. For a light and refreshing pairing, serve it alongside a mango salsa or coconut ceviche to echo the beer's tropical vibe and create a harmonious flavour experience.
Gravity Well's Solar Filament offers a fruity and hazy pale ale experience, featuring a vibrant blend of Citra, El Dorado, and Superdelic hops. With each sip, this ale presents a symphony of tropical fruit flavours, including juicy mango, pineapple, and passion fruit. The hazy appearance adds to the allure, inviting the drinker to explore its depth of flavour. Despite its modest 5.0% ABV, Solar Filament delivers big on taste, making it a perfect choice for those seeking a refreshing and flavourful pale ale experience.
Interesting Fact: El Dorado hops, named after the mythical city of gold, were developed by CLS Farms and released in 2010. They are prized for their intense tropical fruit flavours, including pineapple, mango, and stone fruit, making them a popular choice for hop-forward beers.
Pair this fruity and hazy pale ale with grilled chicken or fish tacos to complement its tropical fruit flavours. The beer's refreshing character also makes it a great match for spicy dishes like jerk chicken or Thai curry, providing a cooling contrast to the heat. For a vegetarian option, try serving it alongside a mango and avocado salad or grilled vegetable skewers to enhance the beer's vibrant flavours and create a satisfying meal.
Brass Castle's Vast Dreams presents a Galaxy IPA experience, showcasing the captivating flavours of one of Australia's most renowned hop varieties. With its celestial-inspired artwork, this beer promises a journey through the cosmos of flavour. Galaxy hops contribute vibrant notes of tropical fruit, including passion fruit, peach, and citrus, creating an explosion of flavour with each sip. At 6.9% ABV, Vast Dreams offers a robust yet balanced drinking experience, making it ideal for savouring the complexities of Galaxy hops.
Interesting Fact: Galaxy hops were developed by Hop Products Australia and released in 2009. They quickly gained popularity among brewers worldwide for their intense tropical fruit aroma and flavour, earning them a place among the most sought-after hop varieties.
Pair this Galaxy IPA with spicy dishes like Korean barbecue or buffalo wings to complement its fruity and citrusy notes. The beer's robust bitterness also makes it a great match for rich and savoury dishes like braised pork belly or grilled steak, providing a refreshing contrast. For a vegetarian option, try serving it alongside spicy tofu stir-fry or lentil curry to enhance the beer's tropical flavours and create a satisfying meal experience.
Quantock's Noisy Cricket may be petite in ABV, but it packs a flavourful punch that defies its size. Crafted with a silky pale base and New England-inspired yeast, this sessionable pale ale boasts a blend of US hops that deliver delightful notes of melon and citrus. Despite its modest 3.4% ABV, Noisy Cricket showcases a bold and robust flavour profile, making it a contemporary masterpiece in the world of sessionable beers.
Interesting Fact: The term "sessionable" refers to beers that are lower in alcohol content, typically around 3-4% ABV, allowing for extended drinking sessions without feeling the effects of alcohol as quickly.
Pair this petite yet flavourful pale ale with light and fresh dishes like grilled chicken salad or vegetable stir-fry to complement its fruity and citrusy notes. The beer's lower alcohol content also makes it a great match for spicy cuisine like Mexican street tacos or Thai curry, providing a refreshing contrast to the heat. For a sweet pairing, serve it alongside a fruit salad or lemon tart to enhance the beer's fruity flavours and create a harmonious balance of tastes.
Pretty Decent's Big Metal Bird presents a hazy pale ale experience with a thrilling nod to air travel. At 4.5% ABV, this beer embodies the excitement of catching your first glimpse of the "Big Metal Bird" as you prepare for take-off. Brewed with Galaxy and Ella hops, it offers a tantalizing aroma of tropical fruits and subtle floral notes. With each sip, flavours of ripe mango, passion fruit, and citrus dance on the palate, delivering a refreshing and satisfying drinking experience.
Interesting Fact: Galaxy hops, one of the key ingredients in Big Metal Bird, are prized for their intense tropical fruit flavours, including passion fruit, peach, and citrus. Ella hops, known for their floral and spicy characteristics, add complexity and depth to the beer's aroma profile.
Pair this hazy pale ale with grilled seafood like shrimp skewers or fish tacos to complement its tropical fruit flavours. The beer's refreshing character also makes it a great match for spicy dishes like Thai curry or buffalo chicken wings, providing a cooling contrast to the heat. For a vegetarian option, try serving it alongside a mango and avocado salad or grilled vegetable kebabs to enhance the beer's vibrant flavours and create a well-rounded meal experience.