Number eight in the Critics’ Choice Top 100 is the Kooinda Black IPA. Finding their “happy place”, the boys from Kooinda Boutique Brewery upscaled from the residential licenced brewery in their backyard to the current brewery in Heidleberg West. With such great demand for their beers they may need to upscale again.

Matt Kirkegaard argues that we shouldn’t ‘get caught up in the debate about whether you can have a black ‘pale’ ale, get caught up in the flavour that a powerfully hopped, US-inspired IPA inlaid with a rich malt bill can bring, and thank the craft brewing inventiveness that throws up the occasional new style ‘keeper’.

The brewer’s notes describe this hand crafted and unfiltered ale as a new world beer which is beautifully balanced and boasts 70+ IBUS. It uses dehusked malt to provide its black colour and is combined with 6 specialty malts to provide a black beer with the body and flavour of a traditional India Pale Ale. The predominant hop aroma is provided by late additions of hops in the kettle and dry hopping for 7 days. A beer for the biggest of hop heads.

The Critics’ Choice: Australia’s Best BeersRRP $14.95 +pp

Available fromwww.beerloversguide.com.au