Posted on 15/02/23
This week saw the return of one of the daftest series of beers ever and some brilliant hoppy German brews – plus a Neon Raptor impy that never disappoints. Check it out!
The sours section is utter madness this week! First up we have a beer that splits opinions, starts debates and WRECKS glasses for goodness sake!
Centaur Wrecker is the newest Wrecker that leaves your chosen vestibule in such a state you wonder if it’s worth washing or wanging in the bin!
8.5% of thick peanut, toffee, blackberry, raspberry and apple bubbles. If you’ve had one of these before you’ll know of their greatness.
And if not… what are you waiting for?! Bust your Wrecker cherry now!
Elsewhere the list doesn’t get any less out-there, with two epic new drops from Poland’s finest craft purveyor, Maltgarden.
The outstanding Baking Addiction boasts Glazed Banana Bread and Blueberry among its pudding-sour flavour profile.
Meanwhile Pool Party Ecstasy is lighter, with white guava, passionfruit and coconut 🤤🤤🤤
Looking for something more down-the-line?
If so, you’re reading the wrong blog post – Vault City’s Raspberry Roulade keeps the beery weirdness ticking along, and the same brewery’s Pear Drops Keep Falling on my Head is yet more bonkers brilliance from everyone’s favourite Scottish sour slinger.
Unreal, incredible silliness. Get involved!
Frau Gruber have grown from two friends (Enzo Frauenschuh & Matthiaus Gruber) gipsy brewing to a brewery pinging wicked beers to over 20 countries.
Their hoppy work really is sublime and this week’s new output is as good as I’ve tasted so far.
We have four new brews but Head in the Clouds with Mosaic, Idaho and Bru-1 probably just about takes top spot thanks to intense, rich hoppiness and a rounded and smooth finish.
Mind you, Field of Dreams with Citra and Simcoe is equally great hoppy brewing.
Back on home soil we’re not short on mega hop-output and Beak bring us another set of fantastic beers.
SO IPA is where my focus is. I was sold when I read the blurb explaining “just how we like our beers, loaded with hops and oats for a big creamy body”.
Trademark Beak, this one will be popular.
Talking of cream, Track continue to smash it when it comes to pillow-like hop drops and the continuation of their excellent Dreaming Of… series this week proves it.
Better still, Dreaming Of… “DDH Bg Skies” moves away from the single hops so we get Citra, Simcoe and Amarillo in this, bringing all the stone-fruit vibes. Juice, it is.
Abandoned Dragons is one of those beers that seem to define a brewery for me. It’s a beer where branding, visuals and flavour all come together in unison.
Originally labelled a “hazelnut pie” stout the beer has settled into folklore as a must-try huge, rich, dark, sweet and sticky offering each year… and it’s back!
This incarnation is as good as ever. Go!
Elsewhere in big-ABV land this week I’m loving both Maltgarden Middle of Silences 2022 (in 330ml cans this time round!).
One is a straight up Peanut Butter beast and the other is a Maple version of the same.
Both are big and sweet and indulgent but I’d say a side-by-side tasting session is a must!
Also in cans for the first time on our shelves are two imperials from the Gate No. series.
Gate No.2 is a BA brew with BA aged coffee bomb and Gate No. 6 is loaded with maple syrup and toasted almonds.
They’re one of Europe’s best dark beer brewers so, again, it’s hard not to jump on both beers at once.
I hope this over-the-top selection has something for you this week! Cheers again for your support and custom – we can’t do this without you!
Oli, Charlie & Agnes
(The people behind Craft Metropolis)
Step 1
We trawl the globe tasting great beer
