Hairyman Pop Ale

Hairyman Pop Ale is a creaming soda-inspired beer but tastes almost like the real thing.

This beer from the Sutherland Shire’s Hairyman Brewery would go down a treat at GABS. It’s so ludicrously close in taste to real creaming soda it’s almost stupid.

That said, there’s just a hint of a beery aftertaste confirming that this is definitely an adult drink, albeit a pretty damn approachable one at 4.6% ABV and with very little bitterness.

No Normal Beer

The first thing you notice that reinforces the fact that this is no normal beer is the colour. It’s so incredibly light. It can’t be described as yellow or gold. Even “straw” evokes thoughts of sunshine and dried grass. No, this is lighter still.

There’s a frothy, bubbly white head and that’s about all that suggest that this is an ale rather than a soft drink.

The sweet vanilla nose hits you with a punch. It transports you back to childhood times, with saccharine sodas serving only to exaggerate that natural highness that comes with being a child experiencing everything in life for the first time.

A Magical Moment

Judging Hairyman Pop Ale in the context of other pale ales does it a disservice. What’s great about this beer is the pure novelty. There’s a magical moment a split second after your first sip where you zoom through time and space to a simpler time filled with comfort and glee. For anyone who’s seen the Disney-Pixar film, Ratatouille, you’ll be able to relate to the visual metaphor from the final act.

It’s sweet, it’s fizzy, it feels like it’s not good for you. These things typify childish delights. Stuff a bag of lollies deep into your pockets and stay out until the street lights come on.

Have you tried Hairyman Pop Ale? What did you think? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.