We’ve got a fun edition of beers of the week this week featuring a beer from none other than Brewdog that I’m very excited for, and a couple of other stars as well. Let’s dive in to this week’s beers of the week!
Crazy Like A Fox – Totally Brewed
Type: Copper Ale
Percentage: 4.5%
Aroma: Is there anything like the smell of a copper ale to bring one around to the idea of autumn? That slightly vinegary (in a good way) note that these ales come with whispers to the nose and is hushed softly by the following sweetness. This beats anything “pumkin spiced” in my books.
Taste: Heavy, creamy and velvety in texture, the gentle rolling bitterness is the first thing you’ll taste. But before I start waxing too lyrical, it’s worth calling this what it is – a good, traditional ale. An exemplar of a classic variety that, while not “out there” with flavour, offers instead a reminder of long wintery evenings in a pub with a fireside. It’s refreshing, and the aftertaste does not wear out its welcome. A good, standard beer, this.
Who is it for: Real ale drinkers looking for a traditional hit done very well.
Pair with: Dry roasted nuts, or a hearty roast dinner.
Double Fruited Sour – Shiny Brewing Co
Type: Sour Beer
Percentage: 4.5%
Aroma: Have you ever opened a packet of love hearts and taken a sniff? That’s what this beer reminds me of. There’s an almost watermelon-like juiciness to it, despite being flavoured very much by raspberries and blackberries. You can catch the faintest whiff of sourness, hiding behind those fruity aromas.
Taste: It’s gentle going in with just that soft fruity taste hitting your tongue and then BAM! That sharp, sour flavour cuts through as you begin to swallow. But it’s not a citrus sharpness – it’s gentler than that. Nicer even. It’s bursting with flavour, but it’s not cutting into your tongue like many sour beers are in the habit of doing. What’s more, the aftertaste is all about those berries – it’s almost like the aftertaste of a delicious berry-yoghurt. Lovely stuff.
Who it’s for: It’s a great intro to sour beers and good for anyone who likes a fruity beer.
Pair with: Petit Filous Frubes or a summer fruit salad
Parma Violets – Brewdog
Type: NE IPA
Percentage: 5.5%
Aroma: Sweeties! Yep, that’s Parma Violets alright. I love Parma Violets though I know they are a bit of a Marmite sweet and many people hate them so be warned – this smells wonderfully of these classic sweets.
Taste: I mean, who really cares about the taste – that glorious aroma of Parma Violets is almost impossible to get past. When you do get through, you’ll find a mild flavoured beer that’s very refreshing and you can taste the strength a little here too, but the aftertaste is laced with sweets as well. By all accounts this is only available for a limited time at Tesco in the UK, so if you love these sweets, you need to try this beer. Alternatively, if you want to torture someone who hates Parma Violets, this will do the trick.
Who is it for: People who like Parma Violets
Pair with: Sherbert dabs and Black Jacks
Ye Olde Pub Painter 