2015 is going to be a big year for beer, wait, actually what year isn’t? Specifically, 2015 is going to be huge for hop and IPA lovers. I predict more session IPA beers will be brewed, these are beers with IPA flavor characteristics but with low ABV, and as more American craft breweries expand into other countries there will be a greater influence overseas and domestically (all of which is great for beer reviews!). This weekend I am enjoying an American craft beer but one that is brewed using Australian hops only! This weekend, The Schlafly’s Tasmanian IPA is What’s on Tap!
Brewing beer for the past 20+ years in St. Louis, The St. Louis Brewery is Missouri’s largest independently owned brewery and brews over 7 different series a year. Tasmanian IPA–part of their Special Release series–is their “winter IPA” and one to look out for before the supply runs out!
Right from the onset Tasmanian IPA smells like a brew from “Down Under” should, the heavy citrus and fruit notes give off an aroma akin to tropical white sand beaches. There is also a hop presence within the brew’s aroma but the fruit is at the forefront. Tasmanian’s taste is very similar to its aroma the hoppy citrus dominate each sip, I am getting mostly pineapple along with passion fruit and mangos, but what I am enjoying the most is the brew’s understated finishing bitterness, not too overpowering as I was expecting.
This weekend I am making Italian style pork tenderloin and Tasmanian IPA will pair perfectly with it. I am cutting the tenderloin, scoring it and injecting garlic cloves and marinating it and cooking it in homemade pesto. But regardless of what you are enjoying at 7.2 ABV and a great citrus smell and taste, you cannot go wrong with a Tasmanian IPA.
Cheers!
Beer Stats
Style: American IPA
Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 7.2%
Bitterness (IBUs): 65
Color: Golden Hazy
SRM: 6
Malt: Pale, C-80, Munich, Victory
Hops: Galaxy, Topaz (Both Australian)
Grains: Pale
Yeast: American Ale
Beer Review Stats
Beer Advocate: 95
Rate Beer: 99
