Introduction

It’s not every day that a couple of beer making acquaintances hop on a plane and head to Africa to find their next big idea. Phil Markowski of Two Roads Brewing travelled to Ethiopia, meeting up with Evil Twin’s Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergsø and Omnipollo Brewing’s Henok Fentie to collaborate on this beer: Thirteen Months of Sun. A beer built on Ethiopian ingredients: Teff - a grain similar to poppy seeds and one of the oldest mankind has ever cultivated - and Sidamo coffee beans. The result is a beer with many of the lovable qualities of an IPA but tempered to achieve a smooth, sweet flavour and enticing aroma. Thirteen Months of Sun is based on the common style of the IPA but diverges in all the best ways. Juicy tropical fruit flavours including pineapple, fresh and zesty hops, and a touch of acidity and earthiness from coffee beans to round it out. Serves well at 8°C and should be enjoyed immediately.

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How it looks

Pours the colour of apricot juice with a murky, opaque body and low carbonation. A frothy, bubbly head of bone-white foam forms up top, clinging to the glass.

How it smells

A subtle combination of muddled tropical fruit aroma and fresh, green leafy hops. A slightly sour, yeasty aroma is detectable if you breathe deep.

How it tastes

The flavour of this beer follows suit with the aroma, delivering on subtle but sophisticated elements. It starts off with a sweeter biscuit and caramel malt that is overtaken by the tropical fruit - citrus and pineapple - which join hands with a hop flavour that is slightly more aggressive than the aroma. The hops have more of the fresh-cut leafy flavour and bitter roots, adding some earthiness. The taste fades quickly, leaving on the fruit notes.

Recommended food pairing

This is a mild IPA and slightly sweet, so aim for something spicy but not “melt your face off” spicy. A hearty chili is always a nice dancing partner.