7 Colours of the Rainbow Project 2017

Rainbow Project 2017 photo bombed by a rainbow!

It's that time of year again for the Rainbow Project launch! Now in it's fifth year, this event brings together breweries from other countries and the UK to create beers inspired by the seven colours of the Rainbow. The project started in 2013 but it was 2014 that was the most memorable. This was the year that the partnership of Omnipollo and Buxton were born with their Yellow Belly which still is produced today. This has lead them to go on to collaborate on the growing range of ice cream ales! Last year the UK were teamed up with seven New Zealand breweries however these didn't quite live up to the hype as the previous years had. Although the descriptions sounded amazing the tastes fell a little flat. That being said one did stand out to me - Black & Blue by Wild Beer and 8 Wired. This has some great spice from the peppercorns used in the brew and real lip puckering sourness. I do love a Rainbow a Project so of course I had to get a case and this year the project headed back to the US for some inspiration. I noticed from the descriptions that a few of the beers had a Mexican theme running through them. With that in mind my boyfriend cooked up some fiery soft tacos to accompany this Rainbow Project. 

Blue - Santo Del Frio by Siren and Sante Adairius

Sours are usually predominate styles within the Rainbow Project so it makes a change to see an American lager. Brewed using cryogenically frozen hops this beer has a crisp taste as well as light finish. The breweries put a lot of thought into the ingredients to give it a Mexican finish by adding blue corn tortillas and blue agave (barrel aged in tequila barrels) to the brew. I didn't really get much of the tequila but the overall finish of the beer was good. A very easy drinking lager perfect with spicy tacos! 

 

Red - Amancecer Mexicano by Magic Rock and Casita Cerveceria

This has some complex flavours running through it. The first flavours that you get are spice from the chilli and cinnamon followed up with some citrus notes. These flavours are all balanced with the sweetness of hibiscus which I suspect have also given this beer it’s colour. This sour was a great way to finish our Mexican meal but one can was enough. 

Green- Mojito by Hawkshead and Modern Times

Quite a murky looking beer from the pour and the most dominant flavour is mint. On the back of the throat I got a familiar rum warmth. I quite like this beer as I do enjoy a mojito and I think it stays true to the flavours of this popular cocktail. My boyfriend in the other hand didn't feel it was for him, “a bit too much like toothpaste” he commented! 

Yellow - Rex Apiary by Beavertown and Jester King

This beer is a bit more savoury in flavour from the rosemary, it reminds me of Walkers Roast Chicken crisps! For me though I feel this herb has overpowered the other notes listed in the beer description, honey and Texas dried lemons. I do like that Jester King have had their own culture shipped in from the US so that this beer truly had a piece added to it from both sides of the pond. 

Orange - West Fork by Partizan and New Belgium

I don't think there is anything groundbreaking about this beer but it is highly drinkable. I really like the background of the beer from my Rainbow Project leaflet. It tells a four year old story of wild fires destroying a beautiful area of Colorado where spruce tips grew. Despite the spruces not yet being ready for this brew the story is inspired by the Phoenix, rising from the ashes and being reborn. This is a really nice saison, pure and simple. 

Indigo - Indigo by Wild Beer and Side ProjectThis beer pours a pretty purple colour and smells like it is full of berry flavours. Unfortunately it doesn't live up to its promise and the taste is a little weak. The mild sourness is not something I would expect from Wild Beer so it is a little disappointing. Particularly as I am such a huge fan of their beers and the Black & Blue from last years Rainbow Project was my highlight. Hopefully they can bring it back next year! 

Violet - Burial Vault by Burning Sky and 3 Floyds

This wasn't a beer for me, I felt the flavours of the bourbon and the burgundy seemed to overpower my palate. My boyfriend however really enjoyed this white stout. He liked the balance of the burgundy and bourbon against the sweetness of the lactose. Not sure how this is linked to the colour violet but it is definitely the beer you want to finish the Rainbow Project on! 

All in all I've really enjoyed this years Rainbow Project. I think the Red and Green will have to be my favourites as they have interested me the most. Even though there was one or two from the collection that weren't to my tastes the Rainbow Project is all about being creative and having fun. It's also a good way of building relations with international breweries which can only be a positive thing in this growing beery world. 

Missed the Beavertown Bus? - Beavertown Extravaganza 2017

So it's the day after the end of Beavertown’s Extravaganza 2017 weekend and what a great festival it was. So many breweries spread out throughout the Printworks London which proved to be a great space for this type of event. 4,000 people were said to be attending the Extravaganza and to be honest it didn't feel like that many as it wasn't overcrowded. I went along on the first day on Friday and as I was getting closer to the Printworks I could feel myself getting excited. On arrival we were all given a short snifter style glass for the 100ml pours in this ‘all you can drink’ festival. I'd already looked at the beer list before arriving and I thought I had planned out where I was going to get my samples but as we filtered into the halls I was overwhelmed by the amount to choose from - it was like being a kid in a sweet shop. I saw lots of people had come prepared with their beer lists printed out. I even saw one guy had made a spreadsheet with colour codes for which room the breweries were set up in! I found it impossible to stick to a plan as breweries were rotating their beers on two taps each. You just had to get to the front of the queue and decide when you were there. 

My first beer had to be Rubus Maximus, a collab with Wild Beer and Beavertown which has been reprised from 2014 when it was special limited edition batch. I loved this beer when it first came out and was lucky enough to have one of the last growlers from Wild Beer so naturally I wanted to start my Extravaganza day with this. It was just as I remembered, fruity raspberries with a sour kick. It was a good job I went here first as within 25mins of the festival opening the Rubus was all gone! 

Some of the main events that got people talking at the Extravaganza were the Rainbow Project 2017 and Buxton/Omnipollo ice cream beers. As I have already sampled Buxton and Omnipollo’s ice cream beers I decided to give them a miss but from what I heard they were doing soft serve again! I had been looking out for the Rainbow Project beers during the Extravaganza as it looked like they would be served at their respective breweries however in the centre of the festival popped up a stand that was serving all 7. I only managed to try two of the colours, Red - Amanecer Mexicano by Magic Rock & Casita Cervecería and Green - Mojito by Hawkshead Brewery & Modern Times, but I have just ordered a Rainbow case to try at home so look out for that post! There was, however, another green beer doing the rounds at the festival. Troll So Hard brewed by J. Wakefield, a sour lemon and lime Berliner Weisse that certainly looked like it should have been in the Rainbow Project. I didn't get an opportunity to try this but from what I saw of it walking around the festival is that it was indeed an eerily green colour - hope nobody Hulked out after drinking it! 

I had even more trouble trying to pick what to eat as Kerb had supplied some really great street food stalls with so many different cuisines on display. After doing a few circuits of the food stalls I decided on a steak and chips with béarnaise sauce which hit the spot after a few beers. I also found an Indian street food stall that were selling onion bhajji bowls. These were amazing giant bhajjis served with a drizzle of mango chutney - I could see why the queues from here were so long! 

I saw on Twitter that some people had a few gripes about the Extravaganza, mostly about the queuing and that a few breweries sold out during the festival. To be honest the queuing at the beginning was a bit long but as everyone got into different rhythms the lines got shorter. Also because we were only having 100ml pours people were getting served quickly and you didn't mind waiting if it was a beer on your list! As for the breweries selling out you could see why as a lot of the big names had the longest queues, Other Half, Wild Beer, Buxton, Omnipollo and Cloudwater to name a few, so it was inevitable that they might be the first to close up. I didn't feel like this caused me any problems though, there were still plenty of breweries still serving up their beers and it was a good way of trying breweries who I had not heard of yet. 

Overall the Beavertown Extravaganza was well organised with a great display of beers from breweries all over the world. I had such a great time and tried quite a few beers, some I loved and others that weren't perhaps to my taste, but that is what it's all about. I can't wait to go again and hope to see you guys again next year! 

After the Beers of Summer have gone

Its been a busy couple of months over the summer for various reasons but I still found time for some beers. In August London played host to many festivals and fringe events, most notably the London Craft Beer Festival (LCBF) followed by CAMRA’s Great British Beer Festival (GBBF). Unfortunately I didn't make it to GBBF as the beer list didn't really appeal to me, however I was really excited to be able to attend the LCBF.

Held at the Electric Light Station in Shoreditch, the London Craft Beer Festival was overflowing with great names from the beer industry. My highlight has got to be Buxton’s newest Ice Cream ale range in collaboration with Omnipollo. Buxton kept us waiting with anticipation as they were only serving one keg at a time - when it was gone, it was gone! They were also running their slush machines offering iced beer toppings with each sample. If you’ve read one of my earlier blog posts you will remember that I already fell in love with Buxton/Omnipollo’s first range of ice cream beers - the classic Neapolitan which I was lucky to try whilst in the Buxton Tap. With my eye closely watching the Buxton stand at LCBF I got to try these latest additions to the ice cream range: Popsicle Ice cream Pils, Blueberry Slab Cake and finally the Raspberry Meringue. I honestly felt like a kid in a sweet shop with the range of beers on display. The great thing was that with the smaller servings I could get round and try as many beers as I could! 

Although August has been quite quiet for me on the beer front, my diary is packed with events to go to in September. First one on my list is Beavertown’s Extravaganza being held on Fri 8th and Sat 9th Sept. The event boasts a large gathering of breweries and friends of Beavertown from the UK and Internationally. I am really looking forward to the reprise of Rubus Maximus, which was a Beavertown and Wild Beer collab in 2014 and has got to be one of my favourite beers! The Rainbow Project 2017 is also making an appearance with UK breweries pairing up the US again this year. I can’t wait to taste the Rainbow! 

Next will be Bristol Craft Beer Festival (BCBF) being held on 15-17th September. In attendance is a range of independent and well known breweries from Bristol and the South West as well as some guests from around the UK, US and Europe. I do enjoy seeing what our local brewers have to offer so I will be looking to see whats new during this festival. 

To finish off my September I’m venturing back up north to Indy Man Beer Con at Manchester’s Victoria Baths. In my opinion a great venue for a beer festival with great cubby holes to explore in search for my favourite beers. This will be my third visit to the city and I intend to see what else it has to offer with it’s Indy Man fringe events.

Maybe I’ll see you there! 

Best of the West Women and Beer Dinner with Dea Latis

On Thursday evening I went along to the 'Best of the West' Women and Beer dinner hosted by Dea Latis, who's goal is to get more women interested and trying beers. Held at The Albion in Bristol and supported by St Austell, this was Dea Latis' first time holding an event like this in the West Country. I found out about the event via an email sent out by The British Guild of Beer Writers of which I am a member of. Despite the fact my boyfriend works for St Austell/ Bath Ales, I paid full price for my ticket and I am not affiliated with the brewery. I went along to the dinner out of my own interest and to challenge myself with food and beer pairings.

Annabelle, beer sommelier and host for the dinner, guided us through the history of women's involvement in beer production. She was very quick to dispel any misconceptions women may feel about beer, i.e. the dreaded beer belly. The main focus of the evening, however, was to look into food and beer matches that we could try for ourselves at home. From a previous blog post you may remember that I struggle with trying new foods. I was struck with fear as I realised that two out of the five courses were foods I wasn't particularly keen on but I went into the dinner with the mentality that I had to try to eat these dishes to see how they matched with the beers. I may not have eaten everything on the plates but I gave them a good try! My highlights if the evening were a chicken liver parfait teamed with Leifmans Kriek Brut and a lemon posset with prosecco strawberry jelly matched with Bath Ales' Dark Side. These two courses stood out to me as they were so contrasting and the flavours were really complex on the palate. 

A really great thing I came away with from the experience was seeing everyone eating and enjoying beers, so much so that spare bottles were being passed up and down the table. Our group had a good mixture of frequent ale drinkers and women who were new beer. I even saw a couple of ladies, who thought that they had a definite beer type, try a new style of beer and really enjoy it. I believe that most of us who attended were challenged in different ways and have all learned something about our beer preferences.  

This was the first 'Best of the West' Women and Beer dinner and I hope to be able to go again. It would be great to see some new faces next time! 

3 Tap Rooms - 1 City

Following my pub crawl around Bristol my boyfriend and I decided to check out a few of the local brewery tap rooms. The Beer O'clock Show this week held a poll and discussed whether or not pubs would be taken over by tap rooms. It appeared that the results of this showed that whilst tap rooms are increasing in popularity, people still believe that there is a place for pubs in our British beer culture. I visited three tap rooms in Bristol last weekend: Lost & Grounded, Left Handed Giant and Moor, to see what they are all about.

Lost & Grounded was the furthest tap room from the city centre and therefore was not an easy walk. Typically breweries and their tap rooms are found in industrial estates so you really have to make a special trip out to drink there. Good job Bristol has a good network of taxis! We decided to go here first as we had heard about Lost & Grounded's Summer Brewhouse Sessions. The sessions were showcasing a range of beers from Lost & Grounded as well as from invited guest brewers. On this particular weekend Verdant were on the guest taps and we couldn't wait to get stuck in.

We tried a beer made by the hosts called Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy which was a collaboration with Pressure Drop and has to be one of my highlights of this trip. You definitely get the lemon flavours on the nose and in the taste. A great beer to start on as, likes it name, it was such and easy drinker! I also really enjoyed Verdant's I Played Bass on that Tune which had a smooth, hoppy and resinous flavour well suited to my palate and a good mouthfeel that made me keep going back for more. 

I couldn't help but notice how impressive the brewery is. Lost & Grounded's tap room is within the confines of the brewery and so you are able to see all of the equipment and some of the brewing processes. Considering the brewery has only been open since July 2016 they have some very impressive kit. I really enjoyed my first visit here but I just wish it was more easily accessible, especially after an afternoon Summer Session!

A hop back into the taxi and our next destination was Left Handed Giant's brewery and tap room. From my last blog you'll note that I have often been into Small Bar, who boasts LHG beers on their taps, but I have never been to the brewery itself. Again the brewery is in an industrial estate but there is more of a 'hidden garden' feel to it with trees and vines surrounding the site. The inside of the tap room was a mixture of rustic and industrial decor - something I notice is quite a popular theme amongst modern breweries. I immediately noticed that the main part of the brewery is blocked off in a separate room and that the space has been purposely made for a tap room. I was surprised to see only three beers available on tap but I opted for the Lactose Tolerant. A tasty milky sweetness with a deep underlying red wine flavour. Definitely a sipping beer in my opinion.

Within walking distance of LHG is Moor Brewery. More often then not I end up coming here as it is only a short walk from Temple Meads train station. The only problem is that it is in the opposite direction to the city centre so again you have to make a special effort to come here but it is worth it. Moor have 10 keg lines all dispensing their own beers as well as one cask. Claudia was my tipple of choice as I needed something to quench my thirst after our walk over. This beer has the familiar wheat flavours I expect of a Belgian style but if you get the chance, try their PMA - definitely one of my favourites! I have to confess that Moor has helped introduce me to a range of different styles of beers such as porters/stouts/wheat that I ordinarily would not have tried before. The decor in the tap room is very clean and white with their own branding embellishing the walls. Another example of a brewery who have kept their tap room separate from the main brewery. They have also made the most of their outside space by producing a nice urban beer garden.

I feel like Moor have a good example of a modern traditional tap room and beers that compliment that idea. You still get a bit of that 'pub feel' when you are there despite the minimal decor. Despite this I don't believe that the tap room can over take the services of the pub. Each has its own qualities and I will continue to keep drinking in both!  

A Beery Bristol Pub Crawl

I quite often come into Bristol and being only a short trip down the motorway or a quick train journey it’s as easy as popping into your local for a drink. Despite this I have never really done a proper ‘pub crawl’ in the city so last weekend I decided to do just that. Theres so many places to go for a drink in Bristol but I concentrated on King Street as it is central and one of my favourite areas. I was joined by my beer loving boyfriend who was happy to take on the challenge with me!

First stop was at Brewdog Bristol - just a short walk from the end of King Street. I don't think I have ever been in here and struggled for a beer choice. As ever there was a buzzing atmosphere and the delicious smell of pizza filling the room is enough to make anyone hungry! After scanning the boards I decided to try an Elderflower Sour by Chorlton Brewing Co. for my first beer. Normally I don't like elderflower but I do enjoy a sour so thought I’d give it a try and it did not disappoint. Slightly floral on the nose as you would expect but a punchy sourness on the tongue. I felt that the elderflower helped mellow out the astringent nature of the sour flavour which made it much more drinkable and perfect for a warm day. I could have stayed longer but there was more pubs to visit and more beer to drink.

Next we moved to the top of King Street which I would say is the busiest end of the pub crawl. Theres a few bars here I have never been into, one of which being our next destination - the King Street Brewhouse. We had to try some of this brewpub’s own beer so opted for the Simcoe Pale Ale. First impressions were not great as our beers were served in plastic cups and it smelt like a barnyard - but not in a saison kind of way. Unfortunately the flavour was not much better as it was thin and tasted like a poor home brew. I’ve been to the Bath Brewhouse, which is within the same pub group, a few times before but always order from the guest taps which I realise now is a wise decision.


Moving swiftly on we avoided The Llandoger Trow as it serves a majority with a steady flow of commercial fizzy lagers which are not on my radar. We also skipped past the Duke and Kongs, again because it didn't suit our beery needs. 

The Beer Emporium is one of my favourite stops in King Street. I like the concept of the bar being underground in the cellar with the low ceilings and archways giving the feeling of intimacy. First cask beer of the evening had to be from local brewery The Bristol Beer Factory with their Milk Stout. Dark and chocolatey with a milky sweetness, it tasted like the last drop of a hot chocolate. The bitter notes of this beer help keep the milk stout from tasting too sickly so is far too easy to drink! 

Just next door is the The Famous Royal Navy Volunteer which was our next stop. Last time I came to The Volly with my partner we had to walk out as there was nothing particularly jumping out to us from the beer list. On this day the boards aren't terribly inspiring but I went for a safe option, the Biere De Saison by The Kernel Brewery. To coin a phrase - “there’s no such thing as a bad Kernel beer” - and it is absolutely true! We didn't stay long here as whilst the beers available were good there was nothing radical on the taps. 



At the end of our King Street crawl was Small Bar. I feel like there is a gravitational pull here every time I come to Bristol. I really like how the beers are presented on the boards with sections for the different beer styles - pales, sours and lagers to name a few. I remember when I first started drinking beer that this made it so clear and easy to choose at the bar. There is even a list called Crazy Stuff if your feeling more adventurous! Small Bar has the closest thing to a permanent line of beers from local brewery Left Handed Giant and you’ll quite often see the LHG team helping out at the bar. I’ve come to Small Bar for the Rainbow Project launches as well as other tap takeovers. It’s a firm favourite of mine and I will continue to make this a definite stop every time I come to Bristol. What a great ending to my King Street pub crawl! 

Smoke Free Anniversary

This weekend marked 10 years since the smoking ban was placed on the 1st July 2007 in the UK. At the time there was some protest from publicans and punters alike who claimed that this would mark the decline of the Great British Pub. 

Campaign group Freedom Organisation for the Right to Enjoy Smoking Tobacco (F.O.R.E.S.T.) released a report highlighting it’s concerns for public houses since the ban was put into place. They state that over the last 10 years there are 11,383 fewer pubs in the UK which they believe to be contributed by legislation. Despite this many landlords believe that the ban has been one of the best things to happen to our pub culture, and I have to agree with them. 

Since I have been of legal drinking age the no smoking ban has been in place. As a child I remember going to the pub with my family for meals and sitting in a room surrounded by smokers. I remember leaving and the smell of stale smoke clinging on my clothes and in my hair. Now because of the no smoking ban you can see groups of people from all ages as well as families in pubs feeling more comfortable and enjoying the atmosphere. Those who do smoke will go outside and I think that in a lot of ways this has helped deter people from sparking up in the first place! 

This is of course what the government intended - a reduction in the numbers of people smoking. Cancer Research UK state that there are now 1.9 million fewer smokers in the UK with the proportion of young smokers dropping from 26% to 17%. 

So 10 years on since the smoking ban was introduced and in my opinion it can only be a good thing. I appreciate that in the beginning pubs may have lost some trade but I think as people’s perceptions towards smoking changes then pub culture will start to improve too!

Southampton Beer Festival 2017 - Highlights!

Drinking beer in football stadiums doesn’t happen that much these days with rules abut taking it into the stands but CAMRA proved that they can be good venues for a beer festival. My trips to Southampton usually involve me being dragged to the football by my partner (who is a Saints fanatic) so it makes a change to go to St. Mary’s for something I would enjoy too! The festival was held in the stadium’s concourse with ample seating and space to move about – so no overcrowding! The thick brick walls and open stairs up to the main ground helped keep the room temperature cool and the beers in good condition. I had already marked a few beers I wanted to try on the train journey over so I was eager to get started, here are a few of my festival highlights.

Wild Weather’s Sublime 3.8% sounded like a good place to start with its lower ABV. This blonde ale had a very clean and light mouthfeel balanced out with a hint of lime. This didn’t last me long but was a good way to ease myself into the festival. The next beer needed to be something a little bolder...

‘When in Rome’ as they say so my next beer needed to be more local. I was eager to try Dancing Man and Eight Arch’s collaborative beer – The Lime and The Coconut. This was very tropical and had a strong coconut flavour – which I don’t normally go for considering I don’t enjoy coconut! I wouldn't say that this beer is particularly sour but there was more of a lime hit than my first beer. If it wasn't for the fact I was at a festival I would have continued drinking this all afternoon!

I decided to try a beer that was named after the Southampton FC legend Matt Le Tissier, particularly as I was at their home ground. On Le Tiss by Brewhouse & Kitchen unfortunately did not live up to the expectation of it’s name. I was disappointed by the flavour as it wasn’t to my taste and in my opinion I felt that it lacked any real mouthfeel. I felt like this beer was a little gimmicky but looking at other reviews from the event I could see there was a mixed bag of people who liked it and those who didn’t. A marmite amongst beers I think.

My last highlight of the festival was Jakehead IPA from Wylam. After having a few ales already I was finding my palate was starting to feel numb. I needed something with a burst of flavour and the Jakehead was it. A hoppy IPA with some citrus and grapefruit notes - this beer was the perfect end to a great festival. 

All in all a great turn out to a fantastic venue. The space was used effectively and the beers were well conditioned which is crucial for a good traditional ale. Definitely one I recommend and would be more than happy to go again in the future!

Tr-ale-ing new things

"How do you know that you don't like it if you don't try it?" I used to hear this a lot as I was growing up when it came to food. I have always had problems with certain flavours and textures which made me feel 'weird', particularly when I went to other people's houses for dinner. As I grew up I tried to overcome these fears and began to start tasting new things. Now the list of foods I will eat is longer than that of foods I won't touch which feels like a personal feat for me. What I didn't anticipate was how much of a psychological problem this was for me. This also stretches into my choices of beers. 

When confronted with a large choice of beers on the bar I find at first it can be quite overwhelming. I feel a sense of panic as the bar tender looks at me waiting for my order. I find myself always choosing something I have had before, I know I like it and it means I won't be a cause of delay at the bar. When looking at a shelf of beers in a shop I will always look for my favourite styles: sours, fruity, pales. The problem with this is that some styles of beers I wouldn't usually choose may have qualities from the types I normally enjoy. One of the best examples of this is with IPAs. 

When I first started drinking beers I tried quite a few IPAs and the recurring problem I kept finding was that they all tasted to me like a bar of soap. This then gave me a fear of anything labelled as hoppy and so I avoided IPA beers as a result. My opinion changed as I was recently encouraged to try Hypnotist by Magic Rock and I was pleasantly surprised by how fruity and juicy it was, not even remotely soapy! Since then I have been more open to IPA styles and have even chosen them for myself over my usual favourites. 

This fear has also stopped me from drinking traditional real ales. I have always been a craft beer sort of person and so have never really found any cask beers that I've really enjoyed. On a trip to Cardiff my boyfriend said I needed to try a Brains SA. Admittedly a trip to Cardiff would not be complete without trying their famous beer but I had my reservations. "Can I have just a half?" I said, not knowing what to expect. "No, you have to have a pint, it's the only way to have this beer" he replies. Next thing I know I am looking at a pint of the amber coloured ale and I'm committed. After the first sip I was hit with the sweet malty caramel flavours associated with this beer. I found myself really enjoying it and before I knew it the pint was gone. Since then I have been more open to having a go at some traditional cask ales.

So it looks like my list of beer styles I will drink is longer than those I won't! 

Brewing Nostalgia

Nothing is better than a beer on a late, warm afternoon which is exactly how I ended up at the Mawson Arms next to Fullers Griffin Brewery. As I sat down with my half of Sticky Wicket I couldn't help but find myself people watching around the room. What struck me was that I noticed almost half the people at the bar wore the Fullers Brewery logo. I then noticed that more people entering the pub were also bearing the brewery’s emblem, and it got me thinking…

When did we stop enjoying the simpler things in life? Most of us spend long hours at desks, in front of computers, and when we ‘clock off’ we’re rushing home to cook dinner or to pick up the kids from school to name a few examples. These Fullers employees were finishing their shifts and coming in to their local to socialise together over a pint of beer they have helped to brew before heading off home. I felt like I really had stepped back in time to when this was the norm. It has inspired me to stop worrying about all the things I need to do when I get home. I don't need to rush off the gym everyday after work. I should call some friends and meet them in the pub garden or local bar for a catch up. I might even get home before it gets dark! 

DEYA Tasting Fringe Event

One of the fringe events that I attended whilst in Leeds for the Hop City festival was a tasting evening with DEYA Brewery at The Turks Head. Ironically Leeds is a long way to travel for a tasting evening with a brewery that is fairly local to me but it was a great way to get ready for the festival. Having only had one of DEYA's beers, Steady Rolling Man, I was interested to see what else they brewed. 

The tasting session was run by DEYA's founder and brewer Theo. Don't be fooled by his youth as he is very knowledgable about beer and very passionate about what he produces. He explained to us that he wanted to create hoppy beers, particularly IPAs, that don't have an overbearing flavour. Something that I can relate too as I find very hoppy beers can sometimes end up tasting like a bar of of soap! Steady Rolling Man is Theo's flagship beer, of which he is very proud of and one I've blogged about before. You can see why it's so good when you taste it and so the first beer of our tasting went down a treat!

Next up was the Sunset Dreaming 6% Pale. A little hazier in appearance to Steady Rolling but just as easy to drink. I really enjoyed it's well balanced citrus fruit flavours from the hops to create something that is still quite session-able. Can easily imagine drinking this on a warm sunny day!

Then in quick succession came Into The Haze 6.6% and The Very Hoppy Caterpillar 7.1%. Both these IPAs gave a hoppier punch to the palette with the softer tropical fruit notes bringing up the rear. I found that Into The Haze was so juicy it could have been like a fruit juice drink. The Very Hoppy Caterpillar had a bit more mouthfeel which I'd expect from something stronger and like the others was so drinkable!

We finished on something a little different for the brewery, an oatmeal porter called Hokum Stomp 5.5%. By Theo's own admission, DEYA brew a family of beers with similar characteristics so this one was brewed to stand out amongst the others. Slightly thinner mouthfeel to what expected after reading the tasting notes but the charred roasted coffee flavours were definitely there. Oaty and malty, this beer reminded me of sitting in a cafe at breakfast. This porter definitely brings something different to the DEYA portfolio.

This was such a good night and a great experience to be able to meet the brewer of these amazing beers. I really felt that these beers all bear similarities of each other which maintain strong branding, except the oatmeal porter as this was designed to be different. I also feel that they have some subtle differences that make them great to drink on their own. For my personal taste I really enjoy the styles of these beers and it's great to find a brewery that wants to do good flavourful IPAs without the overbearing soapy taste. I look forward to seeing what else DEYA has to produce!

Hop City Leeds 2017

Opening night on Northern Monk's first beer festival, Hop City Leeds, and anticipation was hot throughout Leeds and neighbouring towns. Held at their brewery, the festival last night was sold out with the queue lining the streets. Spread out over three floors of an old Flax storage building, the festival brought together some big named breweries as well as some lesser known ones who all served up some hoppy beers from their collections. Northern Monk's Brewery itself was decorated with tons of hops so the tasting experience was heightened.

My first stop was to try a beer that Northern Monk had released for the festival, Northern Tropics Pineapple & Grapefruit IPA. This beer was sweet and citrusy with big emphasis on the grapefruit flavour. A great palette cleanser for what was about to come. Down on ground floor, amongst the brewing kit, there was a lot of hype as people queued for beers from The Alchemist. Brought in from America, these beers were limited to one can per person so were highly sought after at the festival. I managed to get hold of Focal Banger and Heady Topper and these did pack a hoppy punch.

I noticed on the beer list that Magic Rock had brought their experimental brew Psychokinesis and I had to give it a try. Having popped along to Huddersfield two days before to Magic Rock's Tap House I could see that this was fermenting in their brewery. I knew it was going to be fresh and it was highly drinkable. I'd never had a beer from Verdant so I decided to give their Putty a try. This beer was so juicy I could have happy drank this for the rest of the night.

The food court at Hop City had a really great selection of street foods. Burgers, Chinese style and Indian foods that definitely helped sort out the munchies halfway through the night. I had the Chinese style salt 'n pepper ribs and chips which were just what I needed after having all these hoppy beers!

To round off the night another beer from The Alchemist, this time the imperial stout Luscious. This was a great beer to finish on as it helped slow things down and give me time to appreciate the flavours of the coffee and bitter chocolate.

Looking around and the party was still in full swing as I left last night. I was really impressed with how well run Hop City was considering it's a new festival. I think Northern Monk have made best of the space they have and I feel it's an interesting setting for this type of event. I hope the rest of the sessions are just as successful this weekend!

A Steady Drinking Roller Man

On the first warm and sunny day of spring there is nothing better than having a beer. On opening the fridge I found a Deya Steady Rolling Man 5.2% which had been brought home straight from the brewery - well even the can says to drink it fresh! Following the three Us, unfiltered, unpasteurised, unfined, this beer pours out a light straw colour with a soft haze. Yes it's pretty, but it's the taste that is incredible. Inspired by the blues this pale ale infused with American hops boasts citrusy tropical fruits. It does not disappoint as it is so juicy and fruity you forget that it's an alcoholic drink!  It has tasting notes of sweet mango and peach with very little bitterness cutting through. This all adds to the tropical juice likeness. Like blues music this beer is so laid back and such an easy drinker. I could happily drink this on a hot summers day either in a beer garden or a sandy beach.

If you could only choose one beer to drink for the rest of your life this one has to be up the top of the list!

Stormy Tropic Thunder

Since my last blog post on Waitrose and Thornbridge’s Home Brew of 2016 I discovered that Tesco had also collaborated with a large brewery to run a similar competition. BrewDog founders, James and Martin first made success by entering a competition run by Tesco in 2008. It seemed only fitting that they would collaborate to run the HomeBrewDog Competition which awarded the 2016 title to Tropic Thunder by Tom Doyle. 

This 7% stout boasts that it has orange peel added to the final boil to give it a tropical flavour and on the first pour I was struck by the sweet smell of orange which instantly made me want to taste it. This beer certainly delivers on the orange peel as the first tasting notes are that of the tangy citrus fruit. Quickly the coffee and bitter dark chocolate flavours come in that are typical of a good stout and the hint of malty toffee helps smooth out the finish. The tasting notes on the label mention hints of liquorice however I couldn't really detect it as I think that the other flavours are so powerful that it perhaps gets a little lost. For my personal taste I would have liked the orange to last a bit longer, particularly as it is headlined on the front of the bottle.

This is quite a light and easy drinking stout of all the types I have tried before. Being a fan of a milk stout which can be quite decadent it was nice to try something with a thinner mouthfeel that still delivers on flavour. I could see this stout being a nice after dinner drink without worrying about it feeling too heavy on the stomach. 

After trying the Thornbridge/Waitrose winner Raindrops on Roses and HomeBrewDog’s Tropic Thunder I noticed how very contrasting the styles are. Raindrops on Roses was very quirky and had quite a complex flavour profile. Tropic Thunder feels like it has taken a much more traditional approach to the flavours used and because of this they compliment each other well. I think its great that large breweries are offering opportunities for budding home brewers and will continue to support them by buying their beers!

A few of my favourite things ...

This year for Valentines Day I was treated by my other half to a single red rose and a bottle of Raindrops on Roses from Thornbridge Brewery. Awarded winner of The Great British Homebrew 2016 by Phil Sisson, this was a lovely romantic gesture for a beer geek. 

The bottle itself states that it has tasting notes of rose, lemon, chamomile and coriander. With a list like this I did wonder if it might taste like Turkish Delight. On taking my first sip I was pleasantly surprised that the flavour was more savoury than expected. I found that the rose and the coriander were the most dominant flavours for the first few mouthfuls but as my tongue grew used to the taste I noticed that the lemon and chamomile helped keep everything well balanced. The beer poured out in a light golden haze that you’d expect from a home-brew with delicate lacing on the glass. To me the mouthfeel was quite smooth with a slight creaminess which was offset by the tartness of lemon. I found that the chamomile has a soothing quality that coated my tongue which worked really well whilst I was eating spicy food.
As I settled in with this beer next to my other half I was sure that I recognised the flavours but couldn't put my finger on where I’d had them before. It was then that I realised that the savoury and floral notes reminded me of being in the Greek Islands and the ingredients used in some of my favourite dishes. With every sip I was transported back to the sun, sand and souvlaki!This evocative beer is so complex in flavour and I can see why it has been awarded the best home-brew of 2016. I recommend that you try it next time you are passing a Waitrose. I would very happily drink this again and will be adding it to the list of my favourite things.