Coopers 2019 Vintage Ale uses a single origin malt and new combination of hops, but the combination was still driven by “what we liked the flavour of”, chief brewer and Coopers CEO Dr Tim Cooper said. Cooper, marketing and innovation director Cam Pearce and operations manager Nick Sterenberg launched the new vintage in Sydney this week.
The beer features a single origin malt produced from Compass barley, grown in the Murray Mallee region of South Australia. The hops was a combination of varieties, but highlighted by the American Mosaic variety. The Mosaic was paired with Cascade hops which Cooper said resulted in apricot, berry and pine aromas. The roasted malt provided nuts and toffee notes which were enhanced by a bitterness and smooth velvety finish, he said.
Cooper explained the Compass barley was a hardy, high yielding variety so has good extracting potential. “It means it is suitable for a vintage as you get a good conversion of the starch to fermentable sugar in the brew house. It allows the brew to deliver a heft alcohol content yet still retain a fine malt sweetness.”
Judicious blending with a dark crystal malt has given this year’s Vintage its alluring copper hue, and a rich, creamy head. This beer drinks well immediately, but will evolve and develop over time with bitterness levels gradually receding and sweet malt and toffee flavours emerging,” he said.
Last year, Coopers used malt from single origin Westminster barley grown on Kangaroo Island.
Like all Coopers ales, the 2019 Vintage Ale undergoes secondary fermentation and natural conditioning. Coopers 2019 Vintage Ale retains an alcohol level of 7.5% ABV.
Coopers 2019 Vintage Ale is priced from around $90 per carton, or around $30 per six pack of 355 ml bottles.
