Number six in the Critics’ Choice Top 100 is Little Creatures’ The Big Dipper.
The Creatures’ Single Batch range, is very limited release, true single batches. They have released a few of these single batches now and the undercurrent in the beer world for their previous releases was a little underwhelming. Unfairly so, in my view and I suspect any feelings of disappointment were because of the lofty expectations created by their mighty Pale Ale more than any lack of quality of the releases. Even so, The Big Dipper exceeded these high expectation and generated real buzz, culminating in a Top 10 finish in this year’s Critics’ Choice.
WA based Critics’ Choice contributor, Vic Crossland, describes The Big Dipper as ‘Smelling like an explosion in a grapefruit warehouse and tickling the tastebuds with lemon and passionfruit, the Single Batch double IPA conjured up by the Fremantle brew team screams American hops.’
The Brewer’s proudly note that ‘it’s about the biggest charge of hops ever seen in the Creatures brewhouse and has ended up with an IBU of 55, a EBC of 24 and a massive alcohol percentage of 7.8%.’
The problem with a single batch beer…once the batch is sold, it’s gone. At least if you missed it you can read about it in the Critic’s Choice.
Select venues around the country will be launching the Critics’ Choice by featuring the top 12 beers on March 30, including an event hosted by Critics’ Choice Editor-in-Chief and Radio Brews News’ EP, Pete Mitcham.
The Critics’ Choice: Australia’s Best Beers
RRP $14.95
Available April 2
from newsagents & bookstores