Steven Adams is no longer a member of the Memphis Grizzlies, but the local beer that pays homage to the New Zealand-born NBA center — Aqua Mane IPA — remains a top-seller at Ghost River Brewing Co.
Now, a new small-batch variety of Aqua Mane is hitting Ghost River’s taprooms this week, just in time for NCAA’s March Madness.
Ghost River head brewer Mark Crum has been aging Aqua Mane IPA in West Tennessee white oak bourbon barrels from Old Dominick Distillery for the past six months.
The result is a high-gravity beer that pairs stone fruit aromas from the beer’s New Zealand-grown hops with the oaky flavors infused from the barrels.
“I’m a big IPA guy, so I was looking for a way to add something a little different to our IPA lineup,” Crum told Memphis Beer Blog.
“To me, the New Zealand hops have more of an earthier flavor. I think that blends well with the oakiness … and the chocolatey notes that you get from the barrel.”
Ghost River’s traditional Aqua Mane, brewed with Motueka and Pacific Gem hops, is a 7.2%-ABV IPA. The new barrel-aged version clocks in at 9% ABV and offers a complex variety of hoppy, woodsy flavors and aromas.
After Crum aged the beer, he blended the barrel-aged liquid with fresh Aqua Mane to give the finished product more hoppy flavors.
Crum tested different blends before landing on a 60%-40% mix of barrel-aged and fresh Aqua Mane, getting feedback from his fellow brewers, along with some regular taproom customers.
“I took a lot of advice on what people thought about it before I settled on (the blend),” he said.
The barrel-aged edition of Aqua Mane goes on sale to the public starting Thursday, when Ghost River hosts a watch party for the first games of the NCAA tournament.
Ghost River will be showing the first and second rounds of the NCAA tournament at its Beale Street and South Main taprooms Thursday through Sunday this week.
At Ghost River’s South Main taproom, people will get an early look at the new outdoor space and massive television screen that are part an expansion that will eventually include a stage, indoor event space and on-site kitchen.
