Similar to a lot of new craft labels coming out this year, Old Wives Ales is a gypsy brewing company born from four mates sharing their love of beer and hombrewing.
The Melbourne craft beer industry have always been welcoming and accommodating to brewers without a home, proving time and time again that it is a real community that encourages, collaborates and supports itself. And, like most gypsies, the team at Old Wives Ales ultimately want to settle down and find their own home. After trying this beer, I bet that won’t be long at all.
Hair Of The Dog XPA was their very first release back in November 2015 and quickly gained a number of hard core fans. One quarter of Old Wives Ales is Nathan Keatch explains why that was. “We didn’t want to launch our brand with a pale ale but we wanted something that really showed what we’re about as a brewery. To us an XPA (Extra Pale Ale) sits somewhere between a pale ale and an India Pale Ale and this seemed just right at the time. Truth be told, a lot of breweries would have called Hair of the Dog an IPA. But to us an IPA is something bigger and bolder.
I love this beer because of the aroma. As soon as you pop the top you get a massive tropical punch in the face. Also, for a beer that is pushing 6%, it’s surprisingly easy to drink all day!”.
I would have to agree. The dense fluffy white head allows you to really get the best out of the aroma, its amber orange appearance is very sexy but for me it’s the rock star Aussie hops in there with some Ella, Vic Secret and Galaxy giving the beer its tropical melon fragrance with some added US West Coast piney punch courtesy of some Chinook. It’s has a pleasant bitter finish that still lets you know it means business.
You can find Old Wives Ales around Melbourne and regional Victoria at good beer venues and bottle shops. Cheers!
Old Wives Ales – Hair of The Dog XPA
ABV: 5.8%
Style: Extra Pale Ale
Serving Temp: 4-6 degrees
Food pairing: Burgers / BBQ
Origin: Melbourne, Victoria
Price (RRP): $24 / 6 pack 330ml
Buy it here: www.oldwivesales.com.au