3 RAVENS NEWWORLD
A stitch in time saves nine. These suds for sewing are the perfect lubricant to get your inner Singer going!
Origin – Thornbury, Victoria
ABV- 5.8%
Size- 375mL can
Style- IPA
So, is it life imitates art or art imitates life? In 1997 the 3-eyed raven was printed in the pages of George Martin’s book. In 2011 network HBO brought us Game of Thrones. And in between those two dates, in early 2003 Ben Pattison and Marcus Cox established their own take on the 3-eyed raven, launching 3 Ravens Brewing Co. Similar to the instant success of the show that cost upwards of $10 million per episode to produce, it was only a matter of months before Ben and Marcus were the talk of the town with every inner-city Melbourne hipster.
Unfortunately, as the brewery approached its 10th birthday celebrations (with an anniversary beer in the tank), like Daenerys Targaryen and Jon Snow, the lads had a ‘falling out’. With the brewery on the edge of being put to the sword, riding to the rescue was WA's Mash Brewing. As luck would have it, they were looking for a home to brew on the east coast – is that north or south of the wall? Following the Jon Snow style 'back from the dead' moment, the new owners set about pouring cash into the brewery. They started with a rebranding and also installed some new equipment. The move paid off with 3 Ravens later that year named Champion Small Brewery at the IBA’s. While Mash and Ravens uncoupled, it didn’t slow the growing numbers of silver wear in the trophy cabinet. Folks still talk about award winners such as the English style hand-pumped British Ale or the Ale Noir – a dark beer that was aged in French oak barrels previously used for pinot noir.
Yet it’s this Newworld IPA from the recently introduced ‘caw’ range, the handy work of Ravens brains trust Alex Henderson and Nathan Liascos, that had heads turning at the 2019 Perth Royal Beer Awards. Brewed by Brendan O'Sullivan, it rose above over 700 other entires. How? Take a sip of this new offering from Melbournes oldest independent brewery, and you’ll soon see. From a bold can comes a suitably bold aroma of pine, lime, peach and pineapple. The party that started on the nose continues in the mouth with loads of tropical and juicy fruit flavours sitting on top of a lean malty base. The finish itself is light and dry, with perhaps the masterstroke being found in the assertive lingering bitterness.
Life? Art? Who’s to know. I guess 3 Ravens can just be themselves, after all everyone else is already taken. Thanks, Oscar.