INNATE BREWERS BABY JUICE
Whilst it might be some ore that’s financially holding up Australia's reputation as the lucky country, it’s through sharing conversations over ales such as this that we can hold up mates during such an unlucky time for so many.
Origin – Spearwood, Western Australia
ABV – 3.8%
Size – 440mL can
Style – New England India Pale Ale
“Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon ’em” wrote William Shakespeare. Whether you were born with it, achieved it, or had it thrust upon you, the idea of greatness can be pretty intimidating. We reserve the word for only the best, the likes of the Michael Jordans and Fred Hollows of the world. Although he is far too humble to admit it, based on the greatness he has achieved, it’s clear that head brewer and Freo local Joel Nash was born with it.
Notwithstanding his innate ability to brew incredible beer, the brewery’s name isn’t a reference to Nash’s prodigious talent, rather the "eight" owners that laid its foundations. None of them brewers by trade, after experimenting for a year the group approached Nash, who was with Indian Ocean Brewing at the time. Having previously developed his craft through stints at Colonial and Gage Roads, Nash jumped at the opportunity and with little more than their oversized homebrew kit, went to work.
Seemingly overnight he had stamped his mark on WA’s craft beer scene, collecting a silver medal at the 2016 Perth Beer Awards at Innates first showing. Proving it was no fluke, he delivered a gold medal winner in 2017, more award winners in 2018, and in 2019 walked away holding the Champion Small Brewery of the Year trophy – no small feat! Although Innate is beginning to expand beyond the 50,000 litres it produced in a year, the demand for every beer that Nash brews is so immense – often resulting in a line out the door on brew day – that until recently there was no core range, instead a series of limited releases and seasonals, such as the legendary Snow Leopard Imperial Stout or the Watch This Space IIPA.
The most recent of those limited releases is this Baby Juice that Nash has spent the past 18 months experimenting with. “While others are pushing to do more volume, we are just focussed on making delicious beer, which can take time to get right" he shares with me. The first sip of this refreshing bundle of joy confirms it was worth the wait. The triple blend of Enigma, Amarillo, Galaxy hops serve up inviting aromas of ripe pineapple, citrus and stonefruit. The mouth follows the nose, with the tropical mix wrapped up in pillowy oats and rolled wheat. With a touch of lactose added, the mouthfeel is silky and the finish long and lingering.
You might not have been born great, but at 3.8% ABV there’s plenty of room to have another can of this greatness thrust upon you!
