Zoo Feeder
Modus Brewing

Well one would think this little Australian-made American-styled IPA face-off between Bacchus Brewing JAF IPA and Modus Operandi Zoo Feeder IPA would be dead in the water after Bacchus JAF totally hit it out of the park, but then one would be wrong to doubt Modus. Don’t forget Modus are the brewers of The Former Tenant - still to this day my favourite Aussie Red IPA and #71 on my all-time list (ironically just bumped down from #70 by Bacchus JAF), so this little face-off is still in play. However I will admit my preference for East Coast over West Coast IPAs - I’m not a fan of overly assertive bitterness, nevertheless if anyone can bring home the bacon Modus can (they might even fry it in the pan if we’re lucky).

Poured from a 500ml can into a nonic pint.

A: Hazed copper-tinged amber body with a very respectable tight-packed 2 centimetre cream-coloured head that leaves a lace trail of near Guinnessian proportions... and yes: Guinnessian is now a word, thank you Colliers. 9/10.

S: Modus do like to bring the hop-stank, and hop-stank they’ve brought with this brew: Earthy, piney resin and cannabis hop notes to the fore. The freshness of these hops is uncanny - if I opened a bag of Simcoe hop pellets I wouldn’t be surprised to smell this aroma. Hints of citrus pop in for a visit as well. Much like the Bacchus JAF the malt base is obliterated by the hops. This is an outstanding West Coast IPA aroma - simply wow. 10/10.

T: Pretty f__king tasty, as we know Modus don’t do anything in half measures (apart from their shit Session IPA - but let’s be honest: all Session IPAs are shit), and this is another example of that gregarious hop ethos. Earthy/piney/cannabis/citric hops from start to finish - which is surprisingly not as bitter as most West Coast IPAs, at least it’s less bitter than their Sonic Prayer IPA. Malt base is in there providing a slight caramel FOB (Forward Operating Base) for those superb hops. This brew appears to be Modus’ love letter to American hops and I can certainly get on board with that. 9/10.

M: Medium bodied with plentiful hop oils, and a light but dense carbonation. 8/10.

D: Overall this is almost the perfect antithesis to that Bacchus JAF IPA, and the only real thing separating these two for me is my stylistic preference towards East Coast AIPAs, however if you’re west-side when it comes to your AIPAs you will dig this brew BIG time. PS: I love AIPAs. 8/10.

Food match: I would hate to say Thai again, so Cambodian or Vietnamese :P

 

 

 

Good drinker with good balance for the style. Slightly heavy with the resin feel but still recommended.

 

 

Big thanks to mulder1010 this is the coolest takeaway too its a crowler mostly just a massive take away 1lt can awesome and pours a burnt red copper hue with the rockiest three finger creamy head and lacing everywhere, the smell is piney resinous hops, blood oranges and candy, the mouthfeel is full bodied with moderate carbonation and perfectly suited with tastes of resinous piney hops, an array of different kinds of citrus, boiled candy and finished with a blood orange piney bitterness and overall its a big fresh hoppy red IPA well worth a visit and firstly for me I love these takeaway cans and secondly cant wait for more from this brewery cheers.

Big thanks to MrKennedy. Growler from brewery.
Sensational AIPA with emphasis on early, not late bittering, hops. Delighful looking with spottyy lace everywhere. Smooth tasting with hops to the fore, floral/grassy and good malt, but mainly hop driven. Quite akin to Riverside 77.
A new Wave of Sydney brewing???