Posted on 14/12/22
Craft breweries continued to deploy the big guns this week, with Vault City releasing a mad glitter stout and – naturally – a face-puckering Bucks Fizz Sour for Christmas morning.
Plus there’s Northern Monk’s last EVER version of Smug to discuss and some seasonal specials perfect for Christmas. So let’s get into it!
The headliner this week has to be a mash-up of two of my favourite breweries this (and any) year. Vault City knocking heads with Amundsen and creating not just a 10.1% stout but one with glitter in it!
Diamonds in the Mud is a huge stout with chocolate and vanilla and lashings of tonka bean in the mix too, alongside those golden glitter sparkles!
If you want a bit of drama in your festive drinking this is the beer for you!
Mad Squirrel specials. These are just so full of flavour and so well priced considering the crazy ABVs they’ve always got going on, and Bust Le Milli and Double Truffle do not buck the trend.
Bust comes in at a moderate 8% but has that big salty caramel hit to it, whereas Double Truffle is loaded with huge decadent flavours.
Dig in.
I also managed to bring back two of last festive season’s best sellers for you in the shape of Northern Monk’s Heaven and Wasted Christmas Pudding.
Heaven is aged in bourbon barrels, and those warming whiskey notes shine through.
Wasted Christmas Pudding tastes just like the pud it’s aiming to be. Loaded with burnt raisins, dark treacle and amber honey. Yes!
While we’re talking Christmas, New Bristol Brewery’s Dark Chocolate and Ginger Stout is in the house, with plenty of warming spice from the ginger coming through.
Even better in my eyes is this Irish Coffee Ice Cream Affogato Stout – Christmas in a glass!
I also topped up on hoppy bangers from New Bristol, with a pair of classy IPAs in Duvet Vous and Macho Mucho. Duvet’s amarillo keeps proceedings smooth and sessionable, while Macho Mucho offers “macho flavours” from “mucho hops”, plus a truckload of oats for a hoppy, creamy wonderland.
Talking of hops… The end of an era!
We’re told the last ever Smug from Northern Monk has arrived with us!
Personally I’m so, so sad to see the end of this series. Monk knock out a lot of great beers… but it’s always stuff like this that grabs my attention.
The final chapter is brewed in collaboration with none other than Other Half Brewing in USA, and it’s got all the big juicy IPA vibes in waves, with a cheeky bit of bitterness in there too.
A cracking hoppy beer to bow out on. Collectors, you know what to do.
Also alongside the cracking dark brews from Mad Squirrel I picked up some of their hoppy stuff too.
Splash is the beer for you if you want a straight up huge-hop-hit, but if you want something more out of the park then Jackpot is a Cherry Milkshake pale with a cherry Bakewell edge.
Or there’s Mr. Sipling – with oodles of fresh lemons in a regular DIPA for a seriously fresh, zingy edge!
Crazy Energy City “Berliners” are back in business!
Again these new beers are just mega smoothie beers – Bistro Blueberry Pancakes is maple, blueberry, blueberry and more maple.
The Bistro Smoothie Mango Pineapple Banana is even more out there, mango, pineapple and banana all blitzed up in a beer. What’s not to love?!
Remember to tip this before pouring – essential given how much fruit these have going on.
Away from the madness there’s… well, Vault City’s new Buck’s Fizz sour, obviously!
This classic cocktail inspired sour beer combines orange zest and Valencia orange juice for a fresh zing to get you up for the big day.
Plus, a ‘sessionable’ 4.8% ABV means you can crack it Christmas morning!
For all those who’d like to give the gift of quality beer, you can now get Craft Metropolis gift cards – to let your giftee delve into the stash.
You can also send someone a hoppy, dark, sour or even mixed Craft Beer Gift Box, curated our end. These are only ever filled with the beers we advertise to our regulars – so every beer that goes in is top drawer.
As always thanks so much for supporting our small business, cheers & happy drinking!
Oli, Olly & Charlie
(The three people behind Craft Metropolis)
Step 1
We trawl the globe tasting great beer
