Posted on 08/02/23
It’s another week of heavyweights this week, with ABVs creeping past 10% in all corners. The faint hearted may wish to look away now. Those up for quality, though? Here’s what to check out.
Last week’s Polly’s QIPA flew out so what did I do? I went out and reloaded the shelves with another beast, this time from Track!
Above Our Heads is a heavenly mix of Citra, Enigma and Galaxy. The smoothness of this beer is the first thing to note – even at 12.5% – but there’s a backbone of bitterness and a slight woodiness behind it that really beefs it up. There’s booziness there but in the battle with mango and pineapple it loses out and the fruitiness wins through – a belter of a QIPA.
You’re utterly blessed with the output from Track at the moment and they’re fast becoming many drinkers’ fav UK hop-slingers – me included.
Check out Everything Illuminated too, a classy single hop DIPA with Motueka as the showcased hop, again, insanely good brewing from the Manchester outfit.
If you’re really in the BIG beer mood then Overtone should be on your radar too this week.
I snaffled two 10%ers for you. The first is an improved version of Big Yin, a rebrew of their first ever TIPA.
It’s a corker and has everything good about Overtone going on – smooth, juicy and balanced.
Out The Zone is the the second Overtone monster to check out, and this Arpus collab has more body and bitterness but is equally as quaffable. Yummmm.
I promise I’ll get onto more sessionable beers at some point but that can wait when there’s a Finback/Burnt Mill DIPA on the agenda.
Swimming Giants is another rebrew and another insane beer.
It’s one of their greatest hits and with one of the USA’s best breweries. I can’t recommend this beer enough.
Dropping down the ABV scale I have a trio of Azvex brews for you this week, with Unreadable Metal Logos being my pick…
Lots of El Dorado helps make this a slammable IPA but, as always, it’s hard to fault Azvex’s current brews.
Bang the Elephant really took our taprooms and website by storm when first in, so we’re hot on their heels for new beers as soon as they make them!
The Sherry and Whiskey Many Worlds Hypothesis is a must for lovers of pecans, chocolate and big barrel flavours.
Not enough for you? How about Red Velvet Revolver? This collab 100% NAILS all the flavours of the famous cake and is an utter dream of an indulgent beer.
BIPA fans should also catch BTE’s Electric Worry, as well as the peerless Elusive’s Juxtapose…
Elusive bring an absolute A-game when it comes to BIPAs and West Coasts.
Their offering perfectly balances the hoppiness and roastiness, but then it’s Elusive so it’s always gonna rock.
I also managed to get hold of some of Emperor’s latest concoction which is a collab with Arundel and Sussex Small batch.
Never Tell me the Odds is a barrel-aged rum monster that’s been developing for a year in the wood and is mega-mouthful of a marzipan hit.
If that’s not enough we have Brew York Empress Tonkoko back in the mix this year and also a trio of BA versions too.
Some of Brew York’s best work gets done in the dark beers and these are super.
I’m a rum fan so the Planation BA Rum variant is the one for me, but all versions have that cheeky choc-caramel-tonky-ness and oodles of rich deep flavour!
The big winner this week is the 0.5% Monk & Mash Gang Gacha Squishy Supreme Sour.
I’m not sure what to make of this – all the cans are different colours and all are supposed to taste different.
Mine was like a fruit-sweet cherry cola with a touch of vanilla. Bonkers and banging!
That’s me for another week, hope this mega list has something for you in it?
Cheers again for your amazing support and custom you legends!
Oli, Charlie & Agnes
(The people behind Craft Metropolis)
Step 1
We trawl the globe tasting great beer
