Having just spent a week in Cornwall, where the craft beer scene apparently hasn’t caught on too well (at least not where I was staying...lots of ales though), it was nice to come back in time for the West End Beer Festival last weekend and check out some more interesting brews by a number of Scottish producers. Obviously there was a much wider range on offer than I can talk about now, but here are some of the beers we have in the shop that were available on tap at the festival too.
Out of Town: ‘Telford Road’ Extra Pale Ale
330ml/ 5.5%/ £3.20
There are many Telford roads across Scotland (and Shropshire), all named after the 19th Century esteemed civil engineer - Thomas Telford, famed throughout the British Empire (and Shropshire) for his road building expertise. One of these roads happens to be where the Out of Town chaps have located their brewery, and so this Extra Pale Ale was born. It has a nose of pine resin and grapefruit zest with a hint of caramel which carries through to a palate that is crisp and clean with a slight bitterness on the finish. There’s a bit more floral hop notes coming through as well. It’s unfiltered, so all the beery goodies are left in the bottle and keep the flavour intensity going, making this an ale that is definitely worthy of bearing the great man’s name.
Tempest: ‘Drop Kick Me Jesus’ Sour Pale Ale
330ml/ 5.2%/ £3.00
This is a great one for a sunny day in the park. Tart and peachy, sour but well balanced. It’s been dry hopped with Amarillo - adding the hops after fermentation to get those lovely floral characteristics without the bitterness that develops if they’re added earlier in the brewing process. There’s definitely some tropical fruit kicking around on the nose, alongside some orangey mandarin citrus notes too. ‘Drop kick me Jesus through the goal posts of life’, that country and western classic, refers to Jesus helping you to enjoy life to the full…well, religious or not, this beer will definitely help you do that.
Up Front: ‘Ishmael’ IPA
330ml/ 6%/ £2.80
In a previous column I was musing about the possibility that Up Front were using Babylonian kings for inspiration (two of whom being Ahab and Ishmael), but I’ve since been reliably informed that they are actually both characters in Moby Dick, and that it was in fact Mr Melville who did the biblical inspiration thing. So I’m glad I can finally clear that up for you; phew. On to the beer then: this is a cracking wee IPA sporting a big and bold floral aroma with a very slight sweet note on it. The palate has a piney resinous character, hints of sweet malt, good hops and a wee bit of funk going on too. I was told by a customer the other day that ‘funk’ is a Good Spirits Co. favourite adjective - I’m not sure how to describe it better but if you taste this beer then you’ll understand!
Alechemy: ‘Bad Day at the Office’ Red IPA
500ml/ 4.5%/ £3.40
IPA number two this week comes on the shape of Alechemy’s Bad Day at the Office. I remember once (true story) taking a delivery in the shop and the driver, who had been having a tough time of it apparently, dropped a case and smashed it. Upon realising that it was in fact this particular beer that had been dropped, hilarity ensued. Oh the irony. The actual beer though is anything but bad. Nice, strong bitterness coming from a good amount of hops is supported by peachy apricot stone fruit flavours. There’s a citrusy note as well and maybe a bit of tart green fruit too – gooseberries perhaps…all coming together to make a great fruit filled bitter IPA.
Fallen: ‘Just the Ticket’ Hoppy Extra Pale Ale
330ml/ 4%/ £2.50
This is another unfiltered number for you, courtesy of Fallen brewery. We did a Fallen tasting in the shop a while back and this was one of the best received that we had on, apparently it really is just the ticket. It’s light and refreshing with some serious citrus action going on. Lemons, limes and orange zest are all there with some of the sharper tropical fruit flavours too. It’s got great hoppy characteristics (as you’d expect) and the abv won’t blow you away either so you can happily sit down for a few, guilt free.
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