Coopers Brewery officially launched its special edition 2014 Extra Strong Vintage Ale today, at three key events in Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne.
The fourteenth in the Vintage series, the Vintage Ale is driven by the choice of hops.
Coopers’ managing director and chief brewer Dr Tim Cooper said “This year’s selection of hops has been given careful consideration to ensure the best combination of bittering and aromatic varieties.”
“Four varieties – two Australian and two American – make up the 2014 Vintage Ale. American variety Bravo provides the foundation for the bitterness of the brew, while Galaxy and Ella from the hop-growing regions of Tasmania provide fruity aromas and flavours of peach, grapefruit and passionfruit. There are also layers of spicy notes to complement the citrus and tropical notes," he said.
"The other American variety, Cascade, harmonises and emphasises the floral and fruity undertones arising from the Tasmanian hops and from our distinctive ale fermentation.”
The yeast strain used for primary and secondary fermentation is from a family of strains used in the brewery for more than 100 years, and will enable the beer to survive a cellared journey of five years or more.
As it ages, the 2014 Vintage Ale will develop subtle flavour changes.