Posted on 22/11/22
This week, Azvex turned one, and brewers began to turn their attention to those all important Christmas brews.
This list gets better every week!
It’s the 1st birthday of Liverpool-based legends Azvex, and somehow we’ve become one of their official partners for their new birthday brews!
It’s hard to believe these guys are still only babies… their output has been outstanding from day one. Their celebration beers are no exception, and in the hops section we have Azvex Development Hell 2 which is a rebrew of one of their first DIPAs and it’s goooood!
It’s a collab with Track so you’re getting two of the best in the business hitting you with 8.3%’s worth of creamy hops, mouthfeel and bitter bite. Exactly what a modern DIPA should be.
Another collab I had to snag this week is Northern Monk & FLOC’s – The Latest Thought Bubble IPA.
Hopped with Eclipse, Nelson Sauvin and Motueka, this is lashings of lush all round.
I also had a trio of Beak beers drop in this week and it’s the usual brilliant offering of sexy hoppy brews.
As good as the Pig DIPA and the Songs Fuerst Wiacek collab IPA are (Beak really are one of the best around atm) Bop IPA is gonna be my pick.
Big on flavour and soupy in it’s body, it’s a winner.
There’s also a fascinating brew in the hoppy section from Duration & Verdant – Pression IPA.
This not only blends the breweries together but adds dessert and cider to the usual hoppy mix of a traditional modern beer.
It adds a sweetness and a drinkability to the beer and certainly one for the curious.
The birthday love for Azvex continues in the dark section this week with Maple Cream Donut Imperial Stout, Strategic Reserve.
To quote Charlie, “Pastry stout in every sense of the word. Can actually taste the donut… I CAN ACTUALLY TASTE THE DONUT?!?!?!”… which I’m sure you’ll agree says it all.
A base of light and subtle maple and a sweetness that hits you then mellows is yards short of heaven. There’s ripe banana coming from goodness-knows-where and very little hint of the 13% ABV.
This is how you brew a birthday beer!
Two new Basqueland Barrelworks beers also line the shelves this week, and they’re everything you expect from a brewery of such esteem.
These are two I’m saving for Christmas Day… if I can resist that long!
There’s a Bourbon Barrel Aged version and a Brewers Cuvée 2022 which have been crafted to showcase the best of three barrel types: Canadian Maple Syrup, Caribbean Rum and Port Wine. Get in my face!
I also ordered in the latest couple of collab Beers of Christmas from New Bristol Brewery.
The Pentrich collab with Maple and Pecan is big on both flavours, so expect a huge nutty moody hit from this one.
For the more crazy flavours the Fallen Acorn collab with Salted Caramel Popcorn Stout comes at you with all the fun!
It’s brilliant to have Three Hills back in the mix for the festive period; they’re a brewery that really embraces this time of year with what they do and I simply had to get the Chocolate Orange Yule Bock and the Forbidden Christmas: Cranberry & Cinnamon Yule Sour in.
The bock has a classic German malty bock base but then includes addition of zingy orange zest & indulgent chocolate essence that the brewery say “elevates this special bockbier to a level worthy of St. Nicholas, Father Christmas & beyond.”
The sour stuff Pomona Island make has to be some of the most underrated in the UK, and Fandango Fresh Sour is a perfect example.
Fresh blackcurrant puree with fresh blueberry puree and bay leaves make it a smashable drinker but also with an edge of quirk and tons of innovation.
Pie for Maureen Round Her Shed is very similar but the lemon balm dives in at the end to give this dark-fruited dream a citrusy finish. Fresh!
Neon have got in on the World Cup action with the usual high quality pale ale Liquid Football. Try drinking it without going full Partridge – it’s impossible. Back of the net!
In the dark section is one of the best sellers of last year but a Christmas version – Brass Castle Christmas Kitty is a 5.5% festive-spiced vanilla porter. Expect all the class of the original but with a sprinkling of cinnamon and spice and all things nice!
As always thanks for supporting our small business!
Oli, Olly & Charlie
(The three people behind Craft Metropolis)
Step 1
We trawl the globe tasting great beer
