Mountain Culture Brewing, based in the Blue Mountains of Australia, has partnered with New York's Other Half Brewing Company to create a trans-Pacific collaboration beer: Snakes on a Bus Double Dry-Hopped IPA. This beer showcases the expertise of both breweries, combining Mountain Culture's local brewing prowess with Other Half's pioneering techniques in New England-style hazy IPAs.
Collaboration Details and Brewing Techniques
Other Half Brewing is renowned for popularising double dry hopping, a process that infuses beers with intense tropical fruit flavours while minimising bitterness. Snakes on a Bus employs hand-selected hops, including Nelson Sauvin, Mosaic, Motueka Strata, and Strata Hyperboost, to deliver a complex and fruity profile. The beer pours a thick, hazy bright yellow with a frothy white head, reminiscent of breakfast juice.
Aroma and Flavour Profile
Upon opening the can, the aroma is a fruit explosion of sweet mango, passionfruit, and lime. The brewers note hints of strawberry and cream lollies, though these are subtle beneath the dominant juicy notes. The flavour begins with a dank, resinous quality that gradually gives way to mango, passionfruit, and citrus, balanced by a gentle bitterness. The mouthfeel is velvety with a creamy aftertaste.
Alcohol Content and Pricing
With an ABV of 6.7 per cent, Snakes on a Bus is a balanced hazy IPA that avoids sticky sweetness, encouraging another sip. It is priced at $9 per single can or $31 for a four-pack, making it suitable for both individual enjoyment and sharing.
