Beer Review: Skidmark Imperial Brown Ale

BROWN BEAUTY: Panhead and Liberty have joined forces to produce their Skidmark Imperial Brown Ale. PHOTO/MATTHEW MARTIN

Yes, I do review other beers instead of IPAs. It just happens I like IPAs and there are plenty of great New Zealand IPAs to try.

But this week I was tempted to try two of my favourite Kiwi brewers - Panhead Custom Ales and Liberty Brewing Company's - collaboration brew, their interestingly named Skidmark Imperial Brown Ale.

The term Imperial usually means there's more hops in the brew.

In fact more of everything, including flavour, malt and alcohol content.

Their Skidmark's also been aged in old bourbon barrels, that being said there was not a lot of aroma but that was made up for by the taste.

It was initially quite sweet but the longer it stayed in the glass it turned a bit more malty and woody.

There are lots of lovable caramel, chocolate and molasses flavours to enjoy and at 8 per cent it's also nicely balanced between the malt and hops and has a nice bittersweet aftertaste.

Beer kindly supplied by Brew Craft Beer Pub, located on Eat Streat in Rotorua and The Strand in Tauranga.