This week I have been party to both sides of the craft coin. By day the shop was overcome with the not inconsiderable fever generated by limited edition beers from some of the UK's most exciting breweries and by night – out with some pals in a small Ayrshire pub - I was looked at askance for asking if there was anything other than that one with the glowing T on the tap. Needless to say I enjoyed a gentle ribbing from said pals and in fact enjoyed a pint of all that was on offer.
I often forget that I live in a little beery bubble with so much choice available to me at virtually all times. So, this week I thought I would look at what I’m going to call ‘gateway gluggers’, some options for those that might want to open their minds and palates to new things without being scared off by anything too out there.
Beavertown Neck Oil
£2.40/4.3%/330m
For me this is the quintessential beer for those who fancy dipping a toe into the world of more exciting beverages without assaulting their tastebuds with terrifying levels of bitterness or extreme new flavour sensations. With Neck Oil what you get is an extremely refreshing crisp Pale Ale with a good citrus and tropical punch up front, a refreshing dose of medium bitterness on the palate and an additional hit of herbaceous and spice notes on the finish. Come on in, the water’s lovely.
Wylam Bliss 332K
£3.60/6.8%/330ml
Now, Wylam have produced some pretty oddball beers in the past – their black Wit ‘Haxan’ which was like an alcoholic take on traditional herbal colas being a personal favourite – but I reckon this hopped wheat beer is perfect for anyone with a taste for the likes of Blue Moon or Hoegaarden who is looking for something new. It leads with a good hoppy juice burst before the more traditional bubblegum, citrus and spice that you would expect from a wheat beer arrive in the mix. This is soft and smooth on the palate, with more spice and some floral notes in the finish. Bliss indeed.
Cloudwater Pilsner Mandarina Bavaria
£4.10/5.4%/440ml
As I mentioned earlier, there was a certain amount of excitement in the shop and online about the latest batch of Cloudwater, which has become pretty customary over the course of the last year or so. The highest levels of delirium are usually reserved for their DIPAs, but not everyone wants to drink murky hop soup (I mean, it would appear that most do, but not all) so I like to keep a close eye on their less hyped styles. A well made lager or pilsner is undoubtedly a thing of beauty in my eyes, and this is a cracker. Hopped with Mandarina Bavaria – as is the equally wonderful and more widely available Tempest Helles – this has sweet grain and bright citrus on the nose, is crisp, clean and suitably refreshing on the palate and finishes dry with herbaceous and mineral notes.
Cromarty Udder Madness
£2.30/1.6%/330ml
I would have to say that mentioning the words ‘sour’ and ‘milk’ on the label of any beverage is a bold move, as the fact that the previous iteration of this occasional release from Cromarty hung around the fridge in my local pub for months after it was long gone everywhere else possibly proves, or perhaps that was down to the low ABV. It is indeed a lactose sour, but put all thoughts of curdling from your mind, this is a real cracker and one of my favourites from Cromarty. Sitting somewhere between a zesty Berlinerweisse and American Cream Soda, it puts me in mind of lemon cheesecake and delivers plenty of flavour despite the low alcohol content.
Torrside Fire Damage
£2.30/5.0%/330ml
Finishing with something for fans of the darker side, this is a jet black stout with plenty of roast notes on the nose and cocoa, coffee, a little liquorice root and just enough of the smoke that the name suggests in the flavour. If you fancy trying a smoked beer then this is a great place to start.
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