Thief Brewing continues to prove that there’s IPA in them thar hills of Banks Peninsula, adding this West Coast style to the range. West Coast by way of New Zealand anyway, being driven by Nelson Sauvin, Rakau and NZ grown Chinook.
The mouthwateringly sharp citrus aroma is stunning, with the dominant grapefruit note coming across so powerfully ‘real’ that it almost presents as a fruited IPA. The palate is smooth and clean, with a robust but unobtrusive malt base providing plenty of room for the hops to get out and flex, which they do in style. The initially moderate bitterness gently builds with each sip, lengthening the dry and deeply aromatic finish as the glass goes down.
Genuine IPA elegance from a style rarely known for it.