STRONG IMPRESSION
This sessionable drop will appeal to those who love a good Indian pale ale, but its strength can creep up on you
AN obsession with IPAs has proved to be healthy for the beer lovers behind Fixation Brewery. Starting out in Byron Bay with support from Stone & Wood, Tom Delmont has manged to turn his passion for the style into a going concern.
The result is a small but flavoursome range of beers, which is making its mark on a highly competitive section of the market. One of the mainstays, Fixation IPA, typifies what the brewer is all about.
As you may expect, this IPA offers a very floral/citrus nose suggesting a high content of hops. It is a hazy golden colour with a tight, white head.
From the first mouthful, you are under no illusion that this is anything but a full strength, full bodied IPA where nothing is compromised.
There is a distinct citrus flavour thanks to the hops, filling the mouth, but leaving the palate with a good degree of bitterness.
The Fixation IPA isn’t a beer you’d grab first up to quench a thirst after a hard day’s work, but rather more suited to being enjoyed at leisure to appreciate its body and depth.
This is a strong beer at 6.4 per cent so be wary, yet it doesn’t hit you hard.
Its balance makes it a cunning brew that will creep up on you because it is more-ish and very sessionable.
It does sit a little heavier in the gut than other IPAs but it won’t make you feel bloated despite its strength.
I would suggest it would pair well with pork belly or a glazed meat dish.
Fixation IPA is a drop that could easily become an obsession, so consider yourself warned.
“... THIS IS A FULL STRENGTH, FULL BODIED IPA WHERE NOTHING IS COMPROMISED.”