Panhead Custom Ales has one of the most iconic core ranges on the market, with beers such as the super-classic Supercharger APA and the indomitable trophy machine Port Road Pilsner. Whether it’s across the bar or across the supermarket aisle, this timeless range is immediately identified by nothing but the distinct shade of their matte, coloured design.
It’s also a fairly static range as they go, with hazy pale ale Sandman being the last addition back in 2021. But (just as I have) the Panhead team has been tracking the arc of hazy IPAs ascendance and — like Parrotdog recently — decided that now is the time to put a bet on bright IPA.
Panhead head brewer Pat Sharpe expands on the direction Panhead took with the new beer.
“With Hardtail, we wanted to emphasize some of the characteristics IPAs have historically been known for. Big assaults on the taste buds! Bitter, hop-forward. However, we also wanted to keep some of the approachability and juiciness of a hazy.
“We have kept this IPA Southern Hemisphere focused, with hops and malt sourced from NZ and Australia. We think the result is a pretty yum beer that is a nod to IPAs of old, while also maintaining the drinkability and juiciness of Hazy IPAs.”
The other prime consideration was the price point, which has never been more of a stress factor in the craft beer market than it is today. Released in a four-pack, Hardtail is targeting a sub $20 (it’s $19 before any specials) retail price. Personally, I have a knee-jerk habit of assuming anything smaller than a six-pack format is going to be bad value, but, if you do the maths and add the couple of extra bottles back in, it still rounds out at barely more than $25 for a six-pack equivalent. Consider that it’s a full-on 6.5% IPA and you’ve got yourself a serious IPA at a seriously good price.
As for my take on Hardtail? It’s right up my IPA alley. Utilising Australian Eclipse and Galaxy hops, the aroma has a huge upfront mandarin, with honeydew melon and sweet stonefruit further in. The palate is snappy and surprisingly nimble for a the ABV, with an expansively fruity finish and final cleansing bitterness. This is truly bright IPA, in the style that requires technical precision.
Hardtail is currently on the market as a trial release, but if it proves successful then it will see its induction into the ranks of the Panhead core range proper. Available nationwide, just look for the red box.
(Ed’s note: long-time beer fans will remember that the first incarnation of Hardtail, as in Hardtail Henry, an oak-aged stout!)