Once Canterbury brewers have picked it up, then a style has officially hit the mainstream… that might be a slightly facetious take in these modern times, but as a Canterbury drinker, I think I’m qualified to say that’s still a little bit true. Nevertheless, Cold IPA has finally reached our cautious brewing enclave, and this release — Yeti Fuel (6.5%) from Chinchiller (Kaiapoi) — is a splendid example.
An all-American hop bill of Citra, Mosaic and Idaho 7 drives a powerfully tropical aroma of sweet orange, pineapple and Hawaiian punch. Extra maize amongst the malts lightens the palate and amplifies the sublimely fresh and fruity hop notes, while a commanding bitterness holds sway over the finish. A Cold IPA that most confidently occupies the West Coast end of the style’s emerging spectrum, and (perhaps consequently) one of my favorites so far.
