Posted on 02/11/22
From the top, you need to know that the stuff we grabbed this week was absolutely insane! Seriously – Nerd’s Xmas brew, Amundsen, the strongest beer we’ve ever sold in Kees’ Ice Bock, and oodles of insane new Pinta… plus so much more!
I can’t remember such a strong week of new releases for a long time, so scroll away, take it all in and, if you like, pop one or two in your basket. Seriously, this week, you will not regret it.
I simply have to kick this off with THAT 25% brew – the Kees Ice Bock.
It’s barley wine and that sometimes puts people off but this one has been put in the deep freeze and all of those dark chocolate notes have come out and it’s mellow and smooth and waaaay too easy to drink for a quarter of a century’s worth of ABV!
The delicious flavour is backed up by a huge unique booze buzz. A crazy and cracking beer.
We also secured some brilliant beers from Pinta this week. They all sound amazing but I gravitated straight to the Pinta Reputation.
Mega dark chocolate and a touch of milky goodness with that edge of almond chocolate bar. Mmmmm.
For something more sessionable(!), Kees have also created the Kees Saint Brandarius at a mere 10%.
These guys seriously know their way around using those barrels and this is a whiskey lover’s dream having been housed in Dutch wood to get that deep beastly flavour out of them.
Rounding up an insane dark section is the latest Nerd, Xmas Override 2022 edition.
It’s basically a Terry’s chocolate Orange in a bottle!
I’ll be having one on Christmas day without a doubt, it’s a ritual of mine, make it one of yours too!
I’ve got in there early with the Amundsen fun this year for a little extra treat for you all. Jump in now for those Santa cans!
You know the score by now, all the Desserts in a Cans are big impy strength and as crackers as they are fun.
The Super Santa and the Christmas Morning Breakfast Waffle are both classics, but my attention is firmly on this year’s Barrel Aged Upside Down Christmas Cake.
This is another one on my Christmas wish list – big, naughty and full of crushed dark fruits, a festive winner every year!
I’ve managed to go out and grab more than a DOZEN new Sureshots for you and they’re already flying out!
The biggest highlight has to be that collab with Verdant. Imagine mixing the huge fruity dank DIPA that is Tim the Human Fish and the lemon-sherbet of the Cornish classic Even Sharks Need Water. Hey presto – Even Tim the Human Shark Needs Water!
Sometimes these don’t work as well as you hope but this delivers all the best bits in spades from both sides. One of the best big hoppy beers this year!
We also have new Polly’s Fuzz Generator Pale Ale just in, an easy drinker crammed with creamy hops El Dorado and Idaho 7. Both of those are two of Polly’s brewery’s favourites, and it shows.
Creamy pineappley top-hop class.
Elsewhere Azvex bring us Clown Car Horns Pale Ale which throws citra and riwaka at us in equal measure.
Expect fruit but bitterness too, it’s what they do so well and a perfect ABV to showcase both the hops. Get in!
The release of Neon’s Vampyre Disco is fast becoming an important annual date in the diary… you simply cannot ignore this huge, jammy, nutty monster.
It’s got huge Funky Fluid vibes, and that’s about as huge a compliment as a brewery can get!
Indulgent and daft, I love it more every year.
I’ve also been so encouraged with you guys and your appetite for Pastore. Long may it continue as it means I can buy more and try more of their incredible beer!
This week is no exception with Baklava Pastry Sour being my pick. Just a hint of that pistachio nut alongside the puckering but mature ripeness of apricot.
Pastore are one of the UK’s best and their quality levels seem to never drop.
If you’re looking for something even more crazy then Vault can oblige.
It is halloween week so jump in on the Gosebumps Lemon & Slime Sour even if it is just for the awesome name and the funky can design!
What a week, right? What have I missed? Maybe the fantastic DIPA from Gravity Well – Universal Theory 3.0. It’s a beer for people who love hops and are looking for something a little different. There’s a funk and a skunky edge to this beer that feels very unique.
Hop fans should also check out the fresh Santa’s Hop Sack IPA which has lashings of orange pith in with a hazy complexion.
Or what about the Polly’s Linnu Red Ale which uses the utter classic Hook Island Red from Five Points as it’s inspiration for a malty yet jammy and hoppy ale. Could this be another modern classic??
There’s a Neon and Funky Fluid collab Jet Set Billie that should be on anyone’s hit list. Funky are one of the leading sour makers in Europe and Neon aren’t too shabby either so expect all the red berries in a fruity overload of a beer.
For the (possibly) more refined of you out there please don’t miss the Pinta Curiosity Apricot & Peach and Pinta Mystery. Perfectly judged beers, both have easy-drinking ABVs but also funky smooth smart & wild flavours. Fun for any and every beer aficionado.
Enjoy picking and, as always, thanks so much for your support!
Oli, Olly & Charlie
(The three people behind Craft Metropolis)
Step 1
We trawl the globe tasting great beer
