Endeavour Stacked IPA

Endeavour’s Stacked IPA is a limited release IPA that uses 100% Australian ingredients.

Disclosure: I received a four pack of this beer free of charge from Endeavour.

Stacked IPA is a product of Endeavour’s Brew Bar at their venue in The Rocks. It’s a recipe that’s been trialled in the brewpub over time. It proved to be a hit so the team at Endeavour have scaled it up for a release in cans.

Aussie Hops

While this beer is pitched as a bridge across the various IPA styles, from English to New England-ish, it uses all Australian hops. There are plenty of aromatics from Ella, Vic Secret, Australian Cascade and the nation’s favourite, Galaxy.

That said, it’s surprisingly resinous for an all-Aussie hop IPA. This dank flavour profile is so often associated with beers from the West coast of America; from California and Oregon.

Move past the piney resin and it opens up to present more floral and tropical fruit notes. This what you might traditionally think of with the Australian hop profile. It has the unmistakeable passionfruit notes of Galaxy.

These hops are added late, in the whirlpool and in the fermenter. This dials up the aromatic attributes of these hops, accentuating those tropical flavours and aromas. The floral notes are likely from Ella hops, while Vic Secret presents a balance of earthiness and fruit.

Using these hops in combination imparts a well-rounded flavour profile that is perhaps the most successful part of this beer.

Balanced & Approachable

It has a gnashing bitter bite and a clean, crisp body. It’s quite lean and any malt presence sits so far towards the back that the hops take over. That’s quite impressive considering it does contain a bit of Crystal malt, which for so long was the bane of IPA lovers and brewers.

Measuring in at 6.3% ABV makes it about right for this style of beer, but the alcohol is not as perceptible as you might expect.

Importantly the brewers have tied these characteristics together elegantly to result in an incredibly drinkable and balanced beer.

Endeavour’s Stacked IPA received a bit of a launch during GABS 2019 but between the brewpub and the can release, it’ll find a much wider audience among both beer nerds and casual drinker. It’s bold and delicious.

Have you tried Endeavour Stacked IPA? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts on Australian hops.