I’ve been hearing a lot about dry January and after being woken by the rain lashing off the windows and then soaked through on the station platform I thought it sounded like it had appeal on my soggy saunter to work this morning.
However, a little asking around led me to discover that it has more to do with temperate alcohol consumption than escaping to more temperate climes and the appeal soon faded.
As you’re reading this I’m guessing that you’re not too worried about it either (or that we’re related and that you therefore feel obliged), so I’ll go on furnishing you with some suggested suppers as normal. Raise a glass to moderation in all things.
The Kernel Biere De Saison Perle Simcoe (£9.50/4.4%/750ml)
The first beer to pass my lips this year, and a perfect start to proceedings. Light zesty orange and soft citrus on the nose alongside more earthy character from Kernel’s yeast strain and the hops on show. There was more of that zesty citrus made for a real refresher on the palate. Not as heavy on the farmhouse flavours as many a saison that I’ve had recently, and all the more drinkable for it with crisp green apple and tart lime notes, before the earthy spice notes from the nose returned in the finish.
Fruh Kolsch (£2.50/4.8%/500ml)
Get the heating on, as this big summer beer is now in cans. Be still my beating heart, and indeed taste buds. Kolsch is a lager/ale hybrid that can only be brewed in Cologne, and the balance of crisp clean and dry refreshment with a light malt sweetness makes it almost too easy to drink when the sun is shining or indeed when you’re relaxing in the bath reading a travel brochure.
Magic Rock/Cloudwater Big Dipper (£5.00/8.3%/500ml)
Not content with bringing out a new double IPA of their own every month, Cloudwater have teamed up with Magic Rock as part of their small batch collaboration series. The result is this dangerously drinkable offering, but I recommend not rushing it as the beer really showed extra depth and complexity as it warmed up a little. Heavy with oily orange, pine and dank earthy hop aromas on the nose, there’s a lot more fruit in the flavour, with both citrus and tropical punch followed by a deep bitter bite.
Dry & Bitter Still Lifestyle (£4.40/7.3%/330ml)
This coffee laden porter from Denmark is deep, dark and delicious (I’m sure there’s a coffee and Danish joke to be made here, but I’m not the man to make it). Initially it’s all coffee on the nose, before dark chocolate and rich malt notes make themselves known. Medium bodied and slightly oily on the palate, with a great balance of coffee, salted caramel sweetness and slightly bitter liquorice in the flavour which lasts.
Moor Stout (£2.60/5.0%/330ml)
In a world of increasingly daft names for beer I was drawn to this one due to it’s no nonsense approach, let’s call a stout a stout. As usual from Moor it’s a beautifully made beer. Rich roast on the nose with notes of dark fruit, toffee and those Lotus biscuits that I always look forward to with my coffee. Medium sweet and lightly bitter on the palate, with rich flavours of chocolate, treacle and vanilla lifted – and well balanced – by a slightly unexpected zesty citrus finish.
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