My first drop is St Peter’s India Pale Ale, anyway. An interesting company this one- organic hops and ingredients, yadda yadda. The bottles themselves look like they could have been designed by a druid. Not that you have to buy it off a druid, because this is a brew you can find in several of the bigger supermarkets. Their organic ale is decent, but I reckoned this might be a bit old school for my tastes (although bonus points for the little history lesson on the bottle, rather than the usual “aren’t we edgy” branding).
Actually, this is good. Quite a zesty nose, and a nice rich ale middle. Quite floral, and nothing like as bold as a new world IPA, but still pleasantly hoppy and with a reasonable hit of bitterness. This has depth, balance and plenty of flavour.
IPA MONSTER RATING: 8/10
SUMMARY: Nothing crazily daring, but a lovely, balanced flavour to this aromatic, old school IPA.
As for that final Sunday bottle (oh, go on then), I also had my eye on a last little bottle of suspiciously dark character. Nightmare on Bold Street is a milk stout from the Mad Hatter Brewery in Liverpool. In collaboration with Bold Street Coffee, they mix fresh beans into this dark beer.
It’s more interesting than it sounds too. You can taste that obvious hint of coffee, but there are other layers too- an earthy, sort of licorice quality to it. Other bits you can’t quite place. Beautifully malty too. As a devout IPA fan, I realise that I might be straying from the path, but this is great stuff.
IPA MONSTER RATING: 9/10
SUMMARY: A really fine alternative stout, with bitter, spicy depth.
Ok, that is probably last orders. Or time for just one more?
