I am not the biggest fan of hoppy IPA’s etc but I still like a beer with assertive hop flavours that jump out at you. The Boat Rocker Alpha Queen seems to fit this category perfectly, brewed in Melbourne, they add loads of Cascade hops late in the kettle and then dry hop loads more afterwards, giving intense flavour without the intense bitterness.

Decanting into a glass the Alpha Queen is clear amber colour with an off white head that stands around 1cm tall. The smell is bountiful with intense pine, toffee and grapefruit aromas predominating.

On the palate the hops start mild tricking the drinker into thinking that is all there is, but around the halfway mark they kick in with a no holds barred attack before subsiding to a assertive yet mildly bitter after taste. Grass, spice and citrus ( mostly grapefruit ) are the main flavours noticed from the hops, with caramel and biscuit malt acting as a base to keep the bitterness in check.

Verdict: Very refreshing, unbeatable on a hot summer day,leaves the drinker hanging for a second. Would be awesome to enjoy with a nice big steak or similar.

Rating: 8.0 / 10

Link: Boat Rocker Brewing Company