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Posted on 27/07/22
I checked the weather the other day. It’s looking like sun for the foreseeable, so you might think it weird to kick things off with dark beers.
Still, it’s not every day you get a new Emperor’s collab. And it’s even rarer that said collab is with Nerdbrewing.
That, then tops the pile. Check it out. These are the best new beers out this week.
The latest Emperor’s collab is here! And with Nerdbrewing, no less!
Yoda Condition Coconut & Maple Imperial Stout is a lauded rebrew of one of the greatest dark beers many of us will ever try.
Sticky maple syrup, rich toasted coconut, proper roasted nuttiness… and despite its 12.3% ABV, this remains astoundingly smooth.
Lucky are the ones who get to snap this rare gem up. (Max 1 per customer, so as many people as possible get to try it!)
Next on the hitlist is something a little bit different, from Neon Raptor and Pastore.
These are two breweries I’ve always had a lot of time for, who take so much care over their brews they regularly top league tables, and their latest Moustache!! Coffee and Donut Imperial Stout is both brewers at the top of their game.
Boozy, rich, with mountains of sweet jam, this is a proper heavy hitter.
Then there’s Azvex!
We know how good this brewery’s dark game can be, and after a brief hiatus they’re back with Madagascan Infusion Double Chocolate Imperial Stout.
This is so thick you could fold it, and the rich indulgence pulls you in without ever being overly sweet.
Aside from there being a new haul of Verdant and Beak just in, TRACK RELEASED TWO NEW GOLD TOPS THIS WEEK!
Those who like their IPAs thick will flock to Together At Last TIPA, but I’m all about OG Meet Me In The Middle DIPA.
Squishy mango, ripe blueberries and white peach, all loaded with a rich sweet cream.
Still scoring at 4.33 on Untappd… even after more than 1500 reviews! That just proves how great this is.
Sticking with the DIPAs, we received our first ever haul from Apex this week, and Asmodeus DIPA is pretty damn special.
Super rich, super thick, super soft, and then there’s the hops: gargantuan levels of Columbus, Vic Secret and Mosaic make for a pineapple and passionfruit punch topped with a subtle, woody, spiciness.
Pure class.
And there are still three more Apex beers waiting for me to try!
Elsewhere Northern Monk teamed up with Other Half and Equilibrium this week! Are you as excited as I was when I heard?!
Your excitement is not misplaced: The Final Vortex DDH IPA is just as you’d expect.
Smooth as a velvet cloud, backed up by a five-hop mega combo that takes this into thick orange juice territory, then a final dank flourish opens your eyes wide.
Warning: this will sell out quick.
Over in sourville, Pomona Island’s Such Intense Dance Vibes Guava and Pineapple Gose continues to prove these guys are back at their best and not letting things slip.
The sour pineapple sounds like it might be a bit much, but with the fruity guava things balance so well.
Then there’s the sprinkle of salt that brings it all together – so, so good, sour heads, get in!
I haven’t even mentioned the new drops from Tartarus yet!
To be honest, that’s mostly because I was saving things up – because Inari Japanese Rice Lager deserves all the limelight!
This is what you want after a sweaty day; ice cold, it’s basically enough to give you brain freeze. Super crisp and clean, and then the subtle, floral jasmine comes in, just smashing the quench levels into the stratosphere.
I say it every week, but if you’re still eschewing craft lagers, what are you doing?!
And finally, Overtone proved they can do no wrong with Pina Coco this week, which joins their impressive hops and indulgent darks in terms of quality.
This pours a thick, creamy yellow that’s totally opaque – trying to see through this thing is like trying to see through a brick wall.
You’ve got pineapple, you’ve got coconut cream, and a twist of lime juice makes this a Pina Colada sour that oozes summer.
On the lager front this week you’ve got a lot of new Lost & Grounded, who are contenders for the best craft lager breweries nationwide. Atom pitch in, as do Baron and – no strangers to keeping us refreshed – Burning Sky.
At the other end of the spectrum there’s a LOT of imperial dark goodness from Nerdbrewing. Think vanilla, dark chocolate, fresh roasted coffee – take your pick. Atom’s States of Matter is equally indulgent – and with orange peel and bergamot, it’s pretty original, too. Let it Flow Impy Stout completes things, and with cacao, fruity coffee, maraschino cherries, flaked coconut and honey, it’s certainly not a bad way to finish.
There’s also an IPA from Azvex, a NEPA from Atom, there’s Pomona Island hoppy goodness, I’ve already mentioned Beak and Verdant, Tartarus have joined the New England charge – there really is no shortage of brilliance, so dive on in, get involved, and discover something immense. I bloody love beer!
As always, I hope you get to try some of these gems this week.
Cheers & happy drinking!
Oli, Olly & Charlie
(The three people behind Craft Metropolis)
Step 1
We trawl the globe tasting great beer
