PRIMARY FLAVOURS
- Coffee
- Hot Chocolate
- Earthy
- Bitter
Story
Surprisingly, the Hunter Valley doesn't have many breweries. Wineries, no problem, but places to get a decent beer? Pretty limited. Which makes a stop at Maltnhops in between Newcastle city and the Hunter Valley vineyards in NSW an important stop.
With 11 taps serving an assortment of constantly changing beers, with the award-winning brewery pizzas the cherry on top.
Indeed, beer diversity is what makes Maltnhops stand out, with head brewer Phil Lyne lobbing up a range that dips with the seasons from crisp Pilsner and juicy hazy in summer (with a legendary hazy NEIPA) to moody dark ales, stouts and red ale in winter. For what is hardly a large brewery, it makes Maltnhops a hidden gem, especially in what is a pretty industrial part of NSW.
Oh and the pizza? That's the work of co-founder Cam McDonald, who is every bit the face of Maltnhops. A lover of Dare iced coffee (when he's not having a beer), he's an important part of the reason why this small brewery has made such a big stamp.
There's a big hit of flavour in this Dark Ale too, which feels like the ultimate late-winter or 'a cool day in spring' beer. With rich, dark malt driving the flavours, there's a hint of a hot chocolate vibe to this lovely brew, although with a life-affirming bitterness rather than the sweetness of marshmallows. Importantly, all this darkness weighs in at just 5% alcohol, which is seriously impressive for so much flavour.
Specs
| key | value |
|---|---|
| Country | Australia |
| State | NSW |
| Region | Hunter Valley |
| type | Dark Ale |
| Brewery | Maltnhops Brewing |
| alcohol | 5.0% |
| size | 375ml |
| Hops | Cascade, Centennial |
| Ingredients | Water, Yeast, Hops, Barley |
PAIRING GUIDE
We were mightily impressed by this crisp yet flavourful dark lager, bringing a real Eastern European charm to this brilliant NSW brewery. Packing a seriously refreshing bite, it’s ideal with deeply savoury and fattier dishes - think ribeye steak, pork sausages, bone marrow and rich stews or pork, beef or lamb. It’s also going to work well with vegetarian favourites like breaded and fried cheese, creamy pasta recipes and vegetable lasagna, and works every bit as well with charcuterie, salami pizza and pork chops with mustard.
| key | value |
|---|---|
| FOOD | Soy Noodles, Caramelised Vegetables |
| TASTES | Hearty, Smoky |
| MOODS | Contemplative, Mood for Something Different |
| SEASONS | Cooler Months, Spring |
