Friday 15 January 2016

Happy New Beers

Hello again, beer fans. I hope you entered the new year with nothing more than a mild hangover? On the ale front, I'm glad we've moved on. Like the tacky songs, Christmas ales tend to be bad for the mental and physical health. Rich and oversweet, so many taste like they've been filtered through a Christmas pudding, when what an IPA addict really wants is sharpness.

So is there anything good kicking round the supermarkets this year, or is it just bottled real ale or eighty cans of Carling for a tenner? Well, some good stuff has been sneaking through, and for me the absolute recent standout has to be Meantime Brewery's India Pale Ale (ABV 7.4%).

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At 7.4% it should be brute, but it's actually deceptively drinkable. It has a zesty, lime nose. Malty caramel in the middle and a juicy, tangerine like sweetness in the mix (yes, I know that sounds odd, but just try it). And like all good IPAs it just keeps working on you with a mouthwatering, bitter finish. This is bold, satisfying stuff.
IPA MONSTER RATING: 9/10
SUMMARY: Bold, zesty, complex and beautifully balanced.

The trouble with so many IPAs is that they cost so much in comparison to canned beer. But some of the bigger stores are now addressing the niche with their own label craft beers. The evil empire of Tesco now have their tentacles in the brewing vat and nowproduce several own brand IPAs, such as the imaginatively named Tesco India Pale Ale (ABV 4.7%). But is it the real deal?

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Well, it's sort of light and fresh, like the dumb blonde friend of a real IPA at a staff party. Plenty of zest there, clean and bitter but just not quite enough of a punch. But it's still a passable session pale ale for the price
IPA MONSTER RATING: 6.5/10
SUMMARY: Affordable IPA that will appeal to most beer drinkers, just nothing exceptional.

If porter is more your thing, however, there are now many more available, just like with the IPAs. Cutthroat Porter will win fans among the angling fraternity just for the bottle. But this American brewed special is more than just a pretty label. It's malty and dead smooth, but with a twist you just don't expect- a sort of ripe, sour, hoppy edge at the end that contrasts beautifully and quite unexpectedly

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IPA MONSTER RATING 8.5/10
SUMMARY: Refreshingly different, this is a real curve ball of a porter.