Back again. Although it’s been a few days since the 1st drink review, it’s been seconds for us. We’re monopolising our free time, and yes, that does mean that the rest of the afternoon is going to be a blur. But whatever! We’re having fun and we hope you’re having fun too. So without further ado, let’s get straight into it.
Initial Brewing’s ‘X’ XPA. 4.2% alcohol, 1.2 standard drinks and a can that screams simplicity. It hails from Goulburn, NSW just like the Zypho that we loved so much. How can we lose?
J: It smells Earthy. Yummy and creamy. Quite delicious. Has that natural fruity finish. Well-balanced. Well-crafted. Hats off to the Goulburn brewers.
L: Smells absolutely terrible, but tastes delicious. Perhaps it has something to do with the water in Goulburn, but tastes just as creamy as the Zypho White Stout from our first drink review. Does however, smell like gym socks mixed with Butter Menthols. Usual XPA’s tastes like a smack in the teeth, however this is like a smooth caress of the teeth.
Panhead’s Sucky Monmon Japanese Lager. 5.0% alcohol, 1.4 standard drinks, this can cannot be faulted for its artwork. Hailing from Sydney, NSW, Panhead has been a favourite for craft beer drinkers for a while now. So how does this cute little number hold up?
J: Like a soft drink. Easy drinking — a bit too easy. Predict that it will sneak up on me. Sugary. A flat / watered-down creamy soda. What I imagine American beer to taste.
L: Not much of a scent. No real flavour. Quite hollow. Don’t hate, but I can’t narrow down any redeeming features. A confusing one to say the least. Upon further sipping, have decided that it tastes like Lucozade. Reminds me of a “house beer” — like some pubs that have their own little logo on a tap. Cannot be faulted for its appearance. Definitely the prettiest can of all the beers tried so far.
Bridge Road Brewers’ Hazy Bling NEIPA (which obviously stands for New Economist’s Instant Political Analysis) is a cheeky 6.5% number from Beechworth, Victoria.
J: Smells like fruit gone bad. Earthy but pungent. A full-bodied, heavy flavour. The marmalade of beers. For someone that likes full-bodied flavours like blue cheeses and gamey meats. Taste like quince paste.
L: Yeah, not great. Not gonna lie: I’m not overly fond of it. It’s not terrible, I just don’t have much good to say about it. Citrus preserve. sums it up.
Well, that was super fun wasn’t it? We aim to not waste too much of our readers’ time, but rather give them a good time. We’ll be back at some point soon with some more drink reviews and maybe even something more special. Take care ‘til then.
