The Delmont
Mountain Goat Beer Pty Ltd

This was a 640ml bottle dated best before 3 May 2015 and poured into a pint glass.

A: The beer poured a clear copper amber colour with a one finger white head with good retention.
S: The aroma is easily pineapple, grapefruit and pine with light caramel malts in the background.
T: Grapefruit is most prominent at the beginning, then pine followed by a caramel malt finish. It has a medium bitterness throughout that is nice.
M: Medium bodied with medium carbonation.
O: A nice IPA overall. The bitterness and light caramel malt in the background is well balanced and enjoyable to drink. I would buy this again.

 

 

Another Rare Breed (i.e. single batch) from this fine brewer - worthy of the many accolades I have bestowed upon it, such as: “alf decent”, “yeah alright”, “good on a hot summers day”, and “better than a swift kick in the dangly bits”. I must admit ever since my first sip of Hightail Ale, and their many Rare Breeds, I have awaited each new goat with the anticipation of a school kid before the summer break, and this West Coast styled IPA, The Delmont, is no different.

Poured from tap into a Schooner.

A: Clear deep copper body with a thin wispy white head. Pretty decent body, the head is a little weak but we generally expect that with most beers over 6% ABV (and this is a hearty 7% brew). 7/10.

S: Citric/pine/earthy hops in plentiful abundance. There is a hint of a malt base in there as well, but rightfully so they take a back seat to what is hopefully an assertive hopping. 8/10.

T: Great big grapefruit/pine/earthy hop characters with a nice toasted biscuit middle, which finishes with a medium bitterness. Slightly more bitter hops than I like in the aftertaste, though this is generally expected with such a bold hopping. Surprisingly the alcohol feels much lighter than 7%, they hid it well at least. 8/10.

M: Medium bodied with a creamy carbonation. Spot on again Mr. Tap. 9/10.

D: Pretty damn drinkable, not as great as Feral’s Hop Hog or Little Creature’s Pale Ale (those are two of my all-time favourite Aussie brews as you may well know) but Mountain Goat has pulled together a big hoppy brew, shame it's a Rare Breed. Another thing about this beer is it really sneaks up on you with the ABV, if they ever release this one again do yourself a favour and catch a bus in to your local craft pub (in my case The Durham, Kingston), take a load off and enjoy a few other good craft brews while you’re at it ;-). 8/10.

Food match: Again you can’t go wrong with Thai or Vietnamese cuisine with a nice hoppy IPA, or a decent Indian curry for that matter.

640ml bottle poured into half pint glass. 'The delmont' - a west coast style IPA, dedicated to the brewery's beer salesman. Nice little story on the label, as with most Mountain Goat in-breeds and cross-breeds. Lets see if its a worthy tribute.

A - honey coloured, clear. Interesting head - fizzy on the fringes, with a white frothy islandd in the centre. good retention

s - sweet, fruity hops (passionfruit, pineapple) mixed with bready malts and yeast.

T - tropical fruit hop flavours (passionfruit is the most potent), with a noticeable pepper spicyness. Feels like a more neutral pale ale till halfway through, when the potent resinous dollop kicks in, and a hint of caramel malts.

M - medium to full carbonation for style, medium bodied, slick texture until the dry finish.

O - Alas a worthy tribute, a head about Mountain Goats' IPA. Nice fruity resinous hop flavours, not too overpowering, and the hint of malt in the background in nice. Maybe if the salesman had this beer to flog at the beginning, Mountain Goat would be even bigger by now.