The Zeppelin All Hop NEIPA
Prancing Pony Brewery

 

 

Another bottle of a Prancing Pony donated to my cause (reviewing beers natch) by the super-friendly Prancing rep whose name I should know by now (regardless she’s an absolute gem). So this is the beer Prancing Pony took to last years GABS (Great Australian Beer Spectapular), and I heard it’s a tasty brew: The Zeppelin All Hop NEIPA. As to why they needed to say “All Hop” in the beers name [pretty much all beers have hops in them apart from Gruits, Kvass and Sahti’s], I guess they were using a shorthand version of “full hop flower”… anyway, only Prancing Pony knows the answer and all I’m getting out of him are neighs and whinnies – uh-huh Prancing Pony, uh-huh, I totally understand whatever it is you’re trying to say. Anyhow, now is the winter of our NEIPA content made glorious summer by this beer of Mt Barker!

Poured from 330ml bottle into a nonic pint.

A: Murky AF golden/mango-coloured body with a light foamy white head that dissipates fairly quickly leaving a smattering of lace inside the glass. Not the greatest looking NEIPA ever, but not half bad either – head and lace could be better. 7/10.

S: Funky stewed green mango, bit of a grassy tone, orange-peel and a spicy/piney hint – this aroma reminds me a bit of CoConspirators The Matriarch NEIPA, which was tasty-times to the factor of ten, good start Prancing *horse snort*. 8/10.

T: Yep, we’re in “juice-box” NEIPA territory: begins with an orange/mango juice note, mid-palate dryness from a light biscuit/cracker malt, towards the finish hints at piney/green hops – but that doesn’t eventuate – finishing crisp and with a light and well-restrained herbal bitterness. This is about as classic NEIPA as it gets, the balance is a touch on the sweet side but otherwise well managed. Not as bold as other recent NEIPAs I’ve had though still tasty. 8/10.

M: Medium bodied with a nice creamy/dense carbonation – very German-beer-esque with this chunky Deutsche mouthfeel, das ist gut! 8/10.

D: Decent effort from the guys and girls at Prancing Pony, though it’s not mind-blowing, this is simply a well-crafted and straightforward NEIPA that proponents of the style can relate to and enjoy. Yes there are better NEIPAs out there, in fact there are better Prancing Pony beers out there too, I would still drink this any day of the week and be reasonably satisfied… unlike Mick Jagger, terrible stuff what with him getting no satisfaction. And thanks again to the lovely Prancing Pony rep for taking a punt on me reviewing their beers, cheers. 8/10.

Food match: The roasted pork belly I had for dinner is a winner with this brew.