Beer – #739 – Bannockburn – Killarabbit Double IPA
Bannockburn Killarabbit Double IPA. This has as many buzzwords as I’ve ever seen in a beer description, and of course that’s quite attractive, right?
A double I.P.A fermented and aged in Pinot Barrels
This is a 330ml bottle of beer that is of 7.2% ABV, that’s 216 calories a serve size, and 100 IBUS of beer, this is is 1.87 standard drink units worth
Brewed by Bannockburn Brewing Co. of cours in the style that is: Imperial IPA and that happens in the glorious Bannockburn, New Zealand
Killacoldone is how I feel
Barrel fermented and bottle conditioned, unfined and unfiltere
Brewed proudly on the banks of the glacial Kawerau River in Bannockburn, using pure spring water from the mountains behind, and fermented in victorious Pinot Noir barriques.
A rich malt backbone and intense hop purity
So, what could possibly go wrong?
Lovely grassy hop and a note of bitterness in the aroma.
Then there is absolutely jaw dropping gorgeous pour of the brightest orange brown with brilliant white head of depth and substance. Aroma settles into a light grassy hop thing, but again with a hint of a pinot bitterness perhaps.
For me you and really get the dryness given by the barrel aging and it sits will bringing a slightly sour note to a brilliantly bitter beer.
This is a beer that packs a lot of punch in a small bottle, of course it’d pack a big punch in a big bottle though. But it really is an all taste all action experience.
Did I mention that dryness of finish. Did I mention the lovely head, and the great lacing? That Pinot sourness?
This then is a very pleasant and enjoyable drinking experience in the journey of all the beers, an unusual departure from a hop-forward IPA beer this has introduced a lovely pinot barrel note which makes this a beer that is slightly a bit good really.
Don’t know however that you could drink a lot of it at once, the tiger ABV notwithstanding, I recon this might need a food thing to temper your palate against. As it warms that woody pinot note gets a bit louder, not overly, and the aroma more so.
I’d still say this was the most exciting beer I’ve had in a while, because it was so unexpected, so enjoyable and rather memorable.
The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 8 of its things from the thing. 8 is an arbitary very good, Not the best beer I’ve ever had, but perhaps one of the most memorable beers, a lovely IPA with great aroma and flavours that are slightly unusual and well delivered, I’d tell people to buy this because I think it could appeal, on the other hand it might be those things that make people think it’s a bit weird. Barrel aged beers, who knew that it could work out so well?
The double dip review
- Where did I get it? Liquorland in Forrest Hill, they have a lot of fine beers, always.
- Am I enjoying it? Oath yes, this is a corker!
- Would I have another? I would and might snag one next time I’m up there, does it age?
- Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? I would too, this is a really nice experience of a beer that should be enjoyed by a lot of people, because it is very clever.
Music for this : ” New Desert Blues” and ” To Be My Own ‘ on Spotify , there’s a free download at their website, and heaps of stuff on Soundcloud. They are a 6 piece band influenced by the likes of The National, The War on Drugs and Ennio Morricone.
“Not unlike someone simultaneously playing a Neil Young album and something by Sigur Ros, and are extremely warmly received”
IMPERIAL/DOUBLE IPA
Imperial IPA, Double IPA or DIPA is a strong, often sweet, intensely hoppy version of the traditional India Pale Ale. Bitterness units range upward of 100 IBUs and alcohol begins at 7.5% but is more commonly in the 8.5-10% range. The flavour profile is intense all-round. Unlike barley wines, the balance is heavily towards the hops, with crystal and other malts providing support
