Author: Will & James, The Crafty Pint
Original Article published on 10 July 2024
The Hawkers Four Seasons series is one of the more unique trips through the calendar you’ll find in the local beer world. The annual project sees them brew four different spins on an IPA, each using the same lineup of malt and hops but in differing amounts and ratios to creste very different beers. Four Seasons Winter 2024 is the sort of IPA that’s certain to provide plenty of warmth: it's not merely a black IPA, nor even a black IIPA; nope, this is a triple black IPA (the second we've featured on this site this week – who'd have thunk it?). Though dark, bitter and laced with dark chocolate there’s plenty to light the way, not least thanks to the mix of hops – Nelson Sauvin, Simcoe Cryo, Citra Cryo, Cascade Cryo – which add fresh stonefruit alongside more classic pine and grapefruit.
Continuing the descent into darkness is Witching Hour, an imperial porter. It might not have touched a barrel (not yet anyway – you know what Hawkers are like) but there’s a touch of bourbon-esque vanilla sweetness present on the nose and across the palate, while a light spice also rises from the roasted, chocolatey body.
One beer that will already have been poured into various barrels is their Imperial Stout 2024. The naked version appeared early in winter and follows the brewery's well-trodden path when it comes to their "straight" stouts. Indeed, it does a pretty good trick of appearing to be just that: a straight-up stout, at least until you realise the liquid plans on sticking around for a while. It sits in that mid-point where choc sweetness on one side meets darker roast on the other without venturing too far in either direction, with a touch of boozy dark fruitiness the other indication of its double digit ABV.
