Coopers releases hops-driven new Extra Pale Ale to tempt the palate of craft brew drinkers

Coopers Brewery has released a crafty new beer, an “Extra Pale Ale” with a hoppy twist, in a clear bid to take on the flood of new brews on the market.

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Coopers Brewery has released a crafty new beer, an “Extra Pale Ale” with a hoppy twist, in a clear bid to take on the flood of new brews on the market.

The Australian beer industry has transformed markedly both over the past few decades and more recently, as independent brewers such as South Australia’s Prancing Pony and Pirate Life steal market share from the big players.

Coopers itself experienced its first fall in sales in more than two decades last financial year, after 24 years of averaging 8.9 per cent growth.

Managing director Tim Cooper said at the time that the “increasingly active craft beer market” was a factor.

Coopers Brewery has released a new beer, the Extra Pale Ale. May 17, 2019. Supplied.

Back in the 1980s if you were drinking a beer in South Australia it was most likely West End or Victoria Bitter, with the large brewers dominating the market to an overwhelming extent.

But beer consumption has been falling in recent years, and with it, the selection of beers has exploded, with American-style India pale ales among the more popular new tipples.

Coopers marketing and innovation director Cam Pearce said the XPA “sits somewhere between an American Pale Ale and India Pale Ale’’.

“Our XPA is all about highlighting the citrus character of the American hops and balancing this with our malt to create a smooth and very drinkable hoppy beer,’’ he said.

“The brewers have chosen combination of Simcoe and Lemondrop hops which provide bright citrus undertones with aromas of grapefruit, lemon and a hint of mandarin.

“Being a Coopers ale, it is naturally conditioned and free of preservatives and additives.”

The beer comes in at 5.2 per cent alcohol, and 37 international bitterness units.

For comparison, VB has an IBU of 25.

The XPA will initially be available on tap and is available from today.

India pale ales were so named as they were hoppy ales originally exported from England to India, and designed specifically to be able to last the trip, with the long sea voyage said to improve their quality.

American pale ales are traditionally lighter and more citrus-driven on the palate.