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The Sip #52 - NBC Mango Wheat

Long-time beer drinker and The Sip editor Ross Lewis puts some of Australia's top drops to the test.

Catch up with other beers on The Sip Archive

One of the key ingredients behind brewing brilliant beer is the market.

Not the fruit, vegetable and spice shops. The customer base is just as important in determining what is mixed in the tanks.

Ken Arrowsmith can make just about any drink on the chart. But the veteran understands the Northbridge Brewing Company clientele.

Arrowsmith could easily produce a Porter or Saison. However, he isn’t packaging his products for wider release. It is all about the walk-in customers to the new but increasingly popular venue in Perth's entertainment district. And they can be grateful for his wise judgment.

His first four beers from the new NBC enterprise and its 1200 litre capacity – the Beerland Wheat, Pale Ale, Lager and Mild – were as well received as a cold brew on a hot day.

And with summer just around the corner Arrowsmith wanted to again appease those that attend the inner city venue. So he has added a Mango Wheat to the NBC list – but for a short time only.

“This isn’t a brew for the beer geeks,” Arrowsmith said.

“It is a beer that will appeal to both genders. We think it is a refreshing beer, especially with the warmer weather around the corner.

“There is a sweetness on the taste but we’re happy that it isn’t over the top and it finishes well.”

It is impossible not to recognise the new brew as a Wheat-based drop but it doesn’t have the strong banana flavour that might have got in the way of the Mango.

A tropical element hits the nose straight away but this is unmistakable a (great) beer because it has a slight bitterness and a dry finish. It provides the best of both worlds.

The only issue is that Mango Wheat is only on the NBC menu for a short time, the first of the short-term brews from NBC.

Arrowsmith, who has 30 years of brewing experience, is keen to have another specialty release out next month. The veteran beer maker has hinted at a Christmas Ale with the taste of the traditional fruit cake.

However, a Mango Wheat will help start the mood of the festive season as it reminds the consumer of the summer around the corner.

The Sip Snip
Mango Wheat
Brewer: Northbridge Brewing Company, Perth
Style: Wheat Beer
Alcohol content: 5%
Standard drinks: 1.2
Bitterness: N/A
Bottles: 285ml glass
Estimated calories: 125 over 330ml
The Sip Tip (rating): Top shelf

Average prices: $6.30 a middy or $11.30 for a pint