I’ve waffled on about the deep enjoyment I experienced with each of the beers I tell you about each week.
From the lightest pales, to the richest stouts and a couple of more curious concoctions, this week I’ve tried to pick something for every palate.
Wild Beer Witness (£3.10/5.8%/330ml)
Not unlike Orval (which I think it’s safe to say some of the folk at Wild Beer may be aware of), how long you hold on to this one can have a huge effect on the flavours that you’re going to experience. It’s a bretted pale, and tasted fresh it’s delicate and light with a little toast & honey on the nose, a lovely balance of lightly bitter and slightly sour on the palate with crisp, clean and fruity flavours that are easy drinking but never boring. Left to age the complexity deepens, the fruity funk is ramped up a little and the bitterness eases off markedly but if you can wait that long then you’re a more patient drinker than I am.
Dry & Bitter Dank & Juicy (£4.40/6.2%/330ml)
The first of this week’s beers that does exactly what it says on the label. This is very dank and earthy indeed on the nose, with a hint of tropical fruit character at the back that really comes into it’s own in the flavour with oily orange, tropical fruit and zesty citrus coming to the fore, starting sweet before a long lasting bitterness which lingers on in the dry finish. Fans of the classic American IPA style will find much to enjoy here.
Weird Beard Don’t Worry Bee Heavy (£3.80/7.8%/330ml)
All too often in the world of modern beer the limelight is hogged by those bitter little show-offs the hops, as if it’s only lupulin that imparts any flavour in a brew. But as a man who enjoys a well made fruity 80 shilling I’m glad some brewers still make time for malt. This collaboration between Weird Beard and Brussels Beer Project is their honey-laced take on a 90 shilling, or Wee Heavy and is a sipper to be savoured. Peat smoke, wood, treacle and dark berries on the nose. The taste is bittersweet, with lots of roasted malt character, more treacle and juicy berries, herbs and smoky tobacco notes. It’s rich and long lasting on the palate with the honey sweetness and smoke lingering beautifully.
Tempest Brew Co The Old Fashioned (£14.60/9.5%/660ml)
This is Tempest’s much loved (not least by me) Marmalade On Rye, aged in Bourbon barrels for their take on a classic cocktail. Cloudwater released a similarly titled take at almost exactly the same time, but for my money this is superior, and as Cloudwater are well known as one of the most outstanding breweries in the UK – if not the world – then that’s not a statement to be taken lightly. Pouring with warming ginger and oily orange on the nose initially, before the woody and vanilla notes from the barrel become more apparent. The palate is dry with slightly tart orange and flavours of vanilla, bourbon, caramel and herbs which last well into the smooth and slightly boozy finish. Only a handful of these made it out into the wild, so pick one up if you’re lucky enough to see it.
Left Hand Milk Stout (£2.90/6.0%/355ml)
When I heard that Left Hand had started canning some of their core range the thought of milk stout in an easily quaffable train beer friendly package was almost too much to bear. The lactose gives it both a sweetness and extra body which matches perfectly with rich and roasty malt character for deep chocolate pleasure. I could go on, but I really don’t have to. Stout fans, buy this beer.
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