Aurora Australis is Karl Strauss’s southern-hemisphere answer to its flagship Aurora Hoppyalis. Where Hoppyalis leans on Simcoe, Mosaic, Amarillo, and Citra, Australis turns to imported New Zealand Nelson Sauvin hops for a tropical character that stands apart from the brewery’s usual West Coast profile. At 6.5% ABV it is a full-strength American IPA with an assertive bitter edge, and it is one of the more interesting entries in the Aurora family.

The basics

• Brewery: Karl Strauss Brewing Company (San Diego, CA)
• Style: American IPA
• ABV: 6.5%
• IBU: 35

What to expect

Aurora Australis pours a clear golden amber with a white head and steady lacing. The nose is all Nelson Sauvin: vibrant tropical fruit, white wine grape, and a gooseberry note that immediately marks it as a New Zealand-hopped beer. On the palate the tropical character carries through, with passionfruit and citrus over a firm malt backbone. Aggressive hopping gives it an assertive bitterness that stands out rather than hiding behind the fruit, and the finish is dry and crisp with the tropical aroma lingering. It drinks like a West Coast IPA that spent a semester abroad: familiar bones, different accent.

Our rating

7.0/10

Rated by Sam (6.5) and Nick (7.5). Nick scored this one higher than Sam did, and the split makes sense. The Nelson Sauvin character is the draw here, and Nick clearly loved what it brings: a tropical, wine-like lift that most San Diego IPAs do not offer. Sam scored it a touch lower, and the assertive bitterness is the likely divider: this is a hop-forward beer that bites back a little, and drinkers who want their tropical fruit soft and juicy will find it firmer than expected. We think the score lands about right. It is a distinctive, well-made IPA with a clear point of view, and at 6.5% it earns a second pour.

Sources: TapHunter, Karl Strauss Brewing Company beer list, https://www.taphunter.com/brewery/karl-strauss-brewing-company/4025 ; BeerAdvocate, Karl Strauss Brewing Company beer list, https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/4146/?view=beers