Venom Double IPA
Wig And Pen

 

 

On-tap at the Courthouse Hotel during Good Beer Week 2013. I got the last pour of their one keg (free as a result), so the head was frothier than usual. I promise I won't hold it against it—certainly not as it was a freebie.

Pours a very clear copper colour, solid in the body. Head is a creamy white crest, obviously exacerbated by the keg blowing into a frothy mess. This does settle down though, and leaves some solid speckled lacing. Overall, it actually looks pretty damn good.

Nose is excellent: big, sharp, fruity and bright. Lemon sherbet sweetness mixes with a tart and sharp passionfruit character, more bright orange citrus characters, all underpinned with a mild toffee note to give is some basis. Overall, it's good stuff, and very nicely weighted.

Palate follows similar lines, but is a lot less full and flavoursome. Light orange with a touch of spice comes through on the entry, followed by some grainy cahracters, a suggestion of earth and some muddled copper metallics. There's even a suggestion of smoke. Finish is quite light, with a very restrained bitterness.

Feel is very light and smooth.

Overall, it's a very drinkable IPA with a truly lovely aroma. It misses a little bit more on the flavour side, but it's still exceptionally smooth and enjoyable.

Had on tap at the Wig and Pen

A-- Poured a dark amber color with tints of orange. Nice looking fine carbonation beads showing after being given the glass. Half finger of light brown head that sat at film through drinking. Really nice lacing left while drinking. Lots of webs on the side of the glass.

S-- Quite a strong Carmel nose. Big hop flower nose (I think Riwaka hops). Quite floral smell after the carmel.

T-- Quite floral with some pine, orange and tangerine. Once again a big carmel backbone to smooth out the hops.

M-- Creamy and smooth. Long lasting feel to this. Medium bodied and medium carbonation. Lots of resin with this. Solid stuff.

O-- Thought this was double pale ale. Not a DIPA. To me more of a double pale ale by the ABV and body. Anyway, solid as heck beer. Not as floral as other beers using NZ hops are and has more of the US characters you would taste in a beer. Not all hop flower and perfume like. Really big malt body suited it quite well.

A - Pours a crystal clear deep bronze colour with a short lasting creamy pale head. Decent lacing on the glass.

S - Sweet malts and some earthy hops on the nose but aroma is lacking and could be much better.

T - Deep hop bitterness is clearly evident. There is a strong malt backbone to keep up the beer but the bitterness is definitely the primary focus. This is pretty good for an Australian beer. It is missing the really good punchy flavour of some DIPAs but overall is not too bad.

M - Average carbonation and a medium to heavy body. Very good.

D - This is not a session beer and one is probably enough. This is a sipper but nice to drink.

A - Pours a clear, bright copper colour with 2cm of off white head that slowly falls away leaving a bit of lacing.
S - Stonefruit, piney and floral hop notes with a caramel maltiness.
T - Fruity & piney hoppiness also in the taste up front followed by a sweet caramel/toffee taste.
M - Medium bodied, carbonation higher side of medium. Quite a resinous, sticky feel.
D - Dangerously drinkable. Enough flavour to keep things interesting, yet not too full on. Very well balanced.