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Overview
The seasons are changing, beer lovers. And true to form, the brewers at James Squire’s Malt Shovel Brewery are changing with them. Mixing up their methodology yet again, the craft beer company have just announced the latest iteration of their mercurial American-style Pale Ale, with the uniquely flavoured Hop Thief 7.
Described by James Squire senior brewer Rob Freshwater as "probably the number one beer of choice amongst the brewers," the Hop Thief variety began as something of an experiment, but has quickly evolved into one of the company's best loved beers. What makes the beer stand out is its constantly changing recipe; each Hop Thief instalment is made with a different combination of hops, allowing the brewers to essentially reinvent the beer each time.
This most recent iteration combines Galaxy and Mosaic hops. According to head brewer Chris Sheehan, the first strain adds "a vibrant citrus and passionfruit aroma," while the second adds "pine notes and a strong, earthy undertone."
"Our last Hop Thief release was incredibly popular, so we needed to make sure we came up with a unique and equally flavoursome successor," says Sheehan. "We've worked hard on this brew and believe we've created a beer adult Australians will love."
Certainly, Hop Thief 6 will prove a tough act to follow. Not only was it a hit with the general public, but it also took home Bronze at the 2014 Australian International Beer Awards. Still, no one at James Squire seems too worried. Hop Thief 7 will available in-pack and on-tap nationwide in March.
