Stay Present is a birth child of the Covid era. The brewers of this IPA, Richmond Hill Brewing Company (RHBC) realised that the coronavirus induced lockdown was very tough on peoples psyche and they wanted to help lift their patrons’ spirits.
Niall Cook, the master brewer at RHBC says, “We realised that people were really suffering emotionally during the various lockdowns and we wanted to produce a beer that would demand peoples’ attention and take their thoughts away from their troubles. Stay Present, as the name suggests, keeps you in moment of enjoying a great beer. Beer is often associated with good times and that’s what we wanted people to experience.”
The beautiful esoteric labelling depicts whales floating through a starry night sky over a shadowed mountain range – the kind of things of which happy dreams are made. As with many of RHBC’s lovely labelling, this was designed by Ashley Reid.
What’s in Stay Present West Coast IPA
Firstly, this is a rather powerful brew with 7% alcohol and after even one beer you really start to feel great!
Niall says that in keeping with an American style ale they used American hops, namely Cascade, Mosaic and Citra.
I found this IPA to be crisp, dry and effervescent. The taste is complex but delicious and goes rather well spicy chicken wings and fatty biltong.
You can order Stay Present from the RHBC website by clicking here or from their Taproom’s takeaway fridge off Alabaster Street, Baakens Valley, Gqeberha.
