For all the hop-heads out there in craft beer land, FreshChoice
in association with Epic Brewery brings you the greatest taste-off since barley
and hops were fermented: a taste comparison
between the hugely popular ‘Epic Hop Zombie’ and the newly-created ‘Epic Stone
Hammer’. Arguably two of the most hop-audacious
beers in the craft kingdom.
Epic Brewery started their first brew 10 years ago with their
simply-named Pale Ale and added an epidemic of amount of hops for the time, which
resulted in them winning the supreme champion beer award 2006 and creating a
beer with what is now of cult status. This beer has a huge amount of citrusy,
grapefruity hops but is equally balanced with rich toffee malts; resulting in a
beer that caters to all palates.
(They’ve celebrated their decade of brewing by brewing a
celebration ale called Epic Celebration Ale 10.1%. She’s a big Barley Wine beer
that tastes like port and liquid fruitcake. Buy some before she goes then bring
her out for your next significant celebration, hmmmmm!)
Anywho, back to the taste-off…
Hammer time: First up
was the ‘Stone Hammer’ - 7% and from first pisst of the bottle I was
hopsmacked. Hit with pungent hop aromas of
tangelos and orange peel wafting from the glass. The first sip then immediate tongue-curl from
a bitterness that almost stripped the tastebuds from the tonsils, then a hop
banging wallop of tamarillo, apricots and melons. A brash hit of hops and an aroma that lasts to
the final drop, epic.
A quick Heineken to cleanse the palate then straight into
the Epic Hop Zombie. This monster
carries more ABV at 8.5%, so I was expecting to be mauled to death from bitter
hops but instead was enlightened with a rich body, smooth mouth-feel and
refined bitterness. Flavours of
marmalade, green grapes and kiwifruit, all with a creaminess that belied the
high alcohol. Definitely sweeter than
the Hammer with smacks of that Epic Pale Ale malt coming through resulting in an
unabashed elegance.
So there it is: the
Brash Hammer or the Elegant Zombie? My
pick is… the one that happens to be in
front of me!
Hop down to FreshChoice this Friday arvo where I’ll be
giving out free tasters of Epic proportions so you can decide your own taste-off!
Denis kept craving hops so got a skipping rope Cooper
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