Emelisse: Smoked Rye IPA Bought from Cellarbrations at Carlisle (Perth) There is one danger that can befall a craft beer writer such as myself: sticking to the well beaten path of sampling beers from breweries that are well established. I will be the first to admit that as I am the messenger rather than the message, I am doing the newcomers and underdogs a mighty disservice. To that end I found myself feeling eternally grateful upon the recommendation (made by the friendly chaps at Cellarbrations at Carlisle) that I try a smoked rye IPA by Emelisse. This relatively unspoken of Dutch craft brewer should be making more noise than it is on the strength of this brew alone. Emelisse smoked rye IPA pours a highly alluring apricot-orange colour with a minimal head that quickly dissipates. Its mouthfeel is surprisingly on the smoother side and carbonation is rather low. Nevertheless, Emelisse have defied the subsumed logic that the only refreshing beers are those high in carbonation. On a very warm Perth evening this smoked rye IPA is doing very well in slating a properly earned thirst. Very subtle aromas of smoke, ash and spice drift politely toward the nose like the sort of gentle breeze that suggests an imminent change in season. What the aromatics do not suggest is the heatwave that follows. The first few sips suggest that this is a polite but no less complex rye IPA. Flavours of chewy dried tropical fruit transpose to earthy smokiness before the aftertaste reveals slightly resinous pine and sharp(ish) tropical fruit. Then the heat really ramps up! As the beer warms the rye influence makes its presence known like a deepening surface trough off the WA coast. A big smack of hickory and peppery spice dominates until the brew during the middle of proceedings. The malt bill here provides a bready warmth underneath. Tropical fruit such as mango and kiwi fruit ring in the cooling balance of the sea breeze across the palate toward the end of the glass. Grapefruit (this is an IPA after all), hoppy notes and one last kick of black pepper only make an entrance at the 11th hour.
Posted on: Mon, 29 Dec 2014 11:27:14 +0000
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