Beer – #768 – 8 Wired – Fresh HopWired 2016
Fresh Hops are amongst us! This one from 8Wired, and why change a good thing when you can go again with Fresh HopWired. Mad if you don’t!
A wet hopped version of our flagship IPA, HopWired.
From the fill station I got me a 1 litre bottle of a beer with 65 IBU, 7.3 % ABV, that’s 219 calories a serve size, this is 5.76 standard drink units in NZ.
Brewed by 8 Wired Brewing this one in the style that is of India Pale Ale (IPA) and they were last seen in Warkworth, New Zealand
Fresh Fresh is best
A fresh (wet hopped) version of our flagship IPA,
HopWired. Brewed to the same recipe but with fresh hop cones straight from the vine.
Needless to say this is a very limited release.
So, what could possibly go wrong?
That’s not a comfortable aroma, it’s like wet barn hay, and it’s very lively with a fountain of head forming at the neck.
And it’s lively in the glass, with a lovely deep deep crispy white head on a paler than expected yellow golden beer. I had a listen too it’s not that noisy.
That’s a pretty raw taste, rough almost, but not rasping rough, a deep aggressive raw, it’s fresh raw, wet. But at the same time it’s not harsh, overly dry, nor an assault on the taste buds that ends with fatigue. There is a lovely sweetness in the body that offsets and balances it.
I’m not at all disappointed with this, even with that raw hop taste, it is rather different and for that unusual, and I’d be pretty sure not easy to pull off.
Also enjoying the lingering sweet stickiness that this leaves in the mouth.
Surprised that it isn’t dryer at the finish, pleasantly so, because that can get a bit wearing. Also surprising is that this is a stronger beer than normal, and there isn’t a lot to suggest it, other than if you went for bold flavour as an indicator. A beer that could easily get you in strife if you were imprudent.
You perhaps could make a case that this errs too much on the side of sweetness though, for me that seems to end up with me drinking more, or quicker and more, and you know that never ends well.
That’s the worst thing I have to say about this though, I really am enjoying it. It’s an assault on your taste buds but it is a friendly assault, there are unusual and unexpected tastes but they’re all doing what they ought to, and that really is a bit clever.
A really good beer done really good.
The pdubyah-o-meter rates this as 9 of its things from the thing. Head and shoulders above many IPA beers available, in a good way, not hop heavy, IBU intense, or some other push the boundary concoction just a really good beer done really good.
The double dip review
- Where did I get it? Liquorland in ForrestHill had this freshly tapped.
- Am I enjoying it? I am, but then I seem to like the sweeter malt beers
- Would I have another? I should it’s very good.
- Would I share with a friend on a porch and set the world to rights? Yes, totally, because as an IPA this brings a new dimension to the table, that was earthy aggressive thing, but in a nice way, and it’s nice drinking too.
Music for this: ‘ Ellie King’ ‘ Love Stuff ‘ of course on Spotify
Elle King is an American singer, songwriter, and actress.
INDIA PALE ALE & IPA
India Pale Ale gets its name and unique style from British brewers who were making beer for export to India. This style has an intense hop flavor which was used to preserve the beer for the long voyage. India Pale Ale has a golden to copper color with a medium maltiness and body. The aroma is moderate to very strong. IPAs work especially well at cutting the heat of chili, vindaloo or Sichuan cuisine.
A life just as ordinary 