Sledgehammer IPA - Nail Brewing Australia Pty Ltd

laituegonflable

Australia

3.68/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a golden amber colour, clear with foamy cream head. Retains nicely with a steady bead. Pretty good-looking IPA.

Smells oddly sweaty for some reason, but lots of floral US hop character coming through towards the back. An odd blend really although the hops are nice.

Yeah, a bit salty on the palate too, maybe just a savoury grain character. US hops come to the rescue late-mid giving tangy fruit, floral notes and there's an unrelated slight toasty note on the back. Not bad, but a bit odd.

Body is slightly thin, but carbonation is mild and just provides a bit of texture. Decent mouthfeel.

Yeah, there's something slightly off-kilter about this beer, but I can't deny it's a pretty solid IPA nonetheless.

Serving type: on-tap

12-22-2012 00:53:39 | More by laituegonflable

lacqueredmouse

Australia

4.1/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had on-tap at the GABS festival in Melbourne.

Pours a lovely burnished golden colour, quite clear, with a firm fine head of white. Moderate weighted body, but not a hint of lace from the head, or carbonation from the body. Odd. Otherwise it looks good.

Pleasant nose from the start, with a big fresh fruit-salad aroma, with twinges of sweet lemonade. Overall, it feels a little overwhelmingly sweet—as though you'd like something sharper to cut through it—but it's clean enough, and makes a heady aroma.

Light entry on the palate, although the fruit is noticeable from the start, and continues towards the back. On the mid palate comes some firm grain notes, giving an amber or perhaps sugary crystal malt quality. Finish is nicely served by some clean crisp bitterness, just what is required on the finish.

Feel is smooth but light.

Overall, it's very drinkable and pretty tasty. It's perhaps a little light for an IPA, but even as it is, it does a good job to stand out at the festival with such a generic style.

Serving type: on-tap

06-09-2012 05:35:25 | More by lacqueredmouse