Red Rye IPA by Quakers Hat Brewing

When you think craft beer and Northern Beaches, you would generally first think of Modus Operandi, and for good reason.  Modus’ reputation for big, delicious beers is well earned.  But there’s a new brewery on the Mona Vale scene.  Quakers Hat Brewing may not have the resume Modus does just yet. But if their Red Rye IPA is anything to go by, they’re certainly heading in the right direction.

Red IPA’s and rye IPA’s tend to be a bit of variable beer genres in my opinion.  Some brewers simply rely on the base hoppiness of an IPA to be so overpowering that it doesn’t really matter what they do with the red or rye components.  Now, as I’ve mentioned previously, overpowering hoppiness is something I’m personally very much in favour of. But with a red or a rye, you kinda want something with a bit more depth and complexity.

In terms of this Red Rye IPA from Quakers Hat, I reckon it tips much closer to the rye end of the spectrum taste-wise.  The hops are gloriously prevalent.  And the malts and rye here are even a bit bitey and serve to reinforce the hops.  As opposed to the rich malts of some red IPA’s that can often counterbalance the hoppiness instead of reinforce.  Where the red IPA side does shine through (somewhat literally) is the glorious ruby red colour of the beer.  Aside from being absurdly tasty, it’s just a beautiful beer to look at.

This is the first beer I’ve had from Quakers Hat, but I’ve got to say, the Red Rye IPA is really really freaking good.  Once all the lockdown craziness has passed, I fully intend to get up to Mona Vale to have a try of their entire range.