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[title]They say change is the only constant, and that's certainly true for James Squire Brewery's Hop Thief series. Each year the famed Camperdown brewer releases a new edition of their American Pale Ale, flavoured with fresh hops from that year's harvest.
There was no lack of fans of the Hop Thief 7, which had a little taste of summer in every bottle thanks to the tropical fruit flavours and citrus tang coupled with aromas of grapefruit, spice and flowers. But now it's time for a brand new brew, and this time head brewer Chris Sheehan searched out across the Atlantic Ocean to bring a taste of Washington State to this Australian-made ale.
The hops in question hail from the Yakima Valley, USA, whose desert-like conditions at the base of the Cascade Mountains combined with the regular water source from the Yakima River provided ideal conditions for this fast-growing, aromatic plant.
Cascade hops and Crystal hops are responsible for the flavour palette of the new series Hop Thief, which is characterised by spice and floral aromas and is a lighter-coloured brew than in previous years.
Sheehan assures dedicated drinkers of the 7 series that the full mouthfeel and body of the beer is identical. They've just controlled the flavours a little more and raised the bitterness a touch. Think easy drinking with a clean finish.
If this sounds right up your alley, the Hop Thief 8 is available now in James Squire Brewhouses and will be available nationwide from mid-August 2016, so cheers to another year of good beers.