Posted on 15/09/22
Fresh Verdant IPAs, a debut Baron TIPA and a To Øl dark monster you can’t miss – it’s been one helluva week on the new beer front, so without further ado let’s discuss the very best on offer anywhere this week!
Recently I’ve been taken with a sexy new hop that’s just come on the scene. Currently (and forgetfully) known as HBC 586, me and the whole CM gang have been loving the guava notes it gives off, so naturally I was thrilled to see Verdant showcase it in all it’s glory in Endless Horizons IPA.
A 6.5% single-hop NEIPA in the classic Verdant style, it’s hazy, juicy, and the perfect way to sample what is fast becoming one of my favourite hops!
This is one of two killer Verdant NEIPAs I picked up this week, the second being Making Global Sound Local IPA. Packing a slightly more powerful punch, this one’s creamy, dank, and an absolute joy!
Make sure to give these a go.
It’s great to see Baron ramping up their production schedule lately; seems they have new beers out every week at the moment!
Not that we’re complaining when they taste this good, and they’ve outdone themselves with Breeze Block TIPA – their first triple IPA!
A medley of Calypso, Citra, Loral and Talus hops gives a deep tropical and citrus fruit flavour against a light, clean body. Not too bitter, not too sweet, this one really hits the spot!
And finally on the hops front, I’m singing the praises of a brewery who rarely get the recognition they deserve – Howling Hops – who are always pumping out the killer brews.
I’ve just picked up a bunch of their wares and for us this week it’s got to be their latest collab with Amundsen, Hauketo Kveik Pale Ale.
Big stone fruit flavours from the Kveik yeast compliment the piney hop character at a most session-friendly strength of 4.8%.
A meeting of two great minds = great beer!
We’ve been pouring Howling Hops Crisp Flaxen Damson, Quince & Pear Sour at our Brixton taproom over the weekend and it’s been going down a treat – so good news is we have cans too!
This unusual trio make for a tangy, juicy, and somewhat biscuity little number.
Another cracking brew from Howling Hops this week.
Falling firmly into the ‘oldie but goodie’ category, it’s great to have BBNo’s 19 Solero Gose back in stock.
A triple-fruited gose which, as the name suggests, is inspired by the famous ice cream, it’s got exotic juice, creamy vanilla and a subtle salinity all wrapped up in a single can.
Plus, at £4.25 for a 6.5% sour it’s probably the biggest bargain of the week so grab one while they last.
If you like your lagers with a little extra oomph then you need to get your lips around a Kernel Pils: Taiheke.
Light, crisp, malty, as you would expect a Pilsner, the addition of the New Zealand hops gives this lager a floral, fruity edge that makes it stand out from the pack.
You’ll need to grab these quick, otherwise I will 100% have drunk the whole case! Kernel nail a pils. It’s official.
There’s only one place to start with the stouts, and that’s To Øl Mash Test Yummies Bourbon BA Imperial Stout.
A heavenly combination of hazelnuts, cacao nibs, coffee, vanilla, sea salt & lactose, aged in bourbon barrels.
It’s thick, rich, salty, nutty and creamy; easily one of the tastiest brews I’ve tried in a long time. And I try a lot! Research purposes, I’m sure you understand.
If that sounds aggressively adjunct-filled, then Brew York & Overtone have you covered.
Continuing their pun-tastic tradition, the awesomely named Winona Ryeder Imperial Rye Stout is both a team-up with the great Overtone Brewing and a top example of a no-nonsense dark beer that relies solely on its giant malt bill for it’s deep, dark depth of flavour.
To finish this week, we’ve topped up our low/no options with some fresh Big Drop and Lucky Saint.
It’s getting easier and easier to find great beers with low or no alc in them these days but much like the booze-filled scene the ones on offer are not all great.
I rate Lucky Saint as one of the best lagers in the sector and if you’re looking to cut down on your units then it’s an absolute winner.
We finally have some cider back in stock! It’s September and the evenings, although darker, are still warm and muggy so stick some of these top level apple-smashers in the fridge and enjoy the late rays.
There are two Nightingales to choose from, both are medium dry – Wild Disco is my pick for that balance of sweetness and bite. Luke’s Original Sin is also a cider go-to for me with a funk and a twang that saison and sour beer lovers will be familiar with. Give ’em a go!
If the TIPA is a bit much for your tastes then check out Baron Lark Pale Ale, which delivers just the same on body and flavour but at a more respectable ABV.
A bunch of Boundary Brewery came in this week. While there were some great looking pales, To Here Knows When Cherry, Plum & Tonka Berliner Weisse was top dog for us. Tastes like Grandma’s crumble.
Kernel have been chopping bricks like Bruce Lee, cutting down their classic Red Brick Rye to give us the Half Brick Red Rye Ale, which comes in at a super-sessionable 4.5%.
After some fresh gluten-free? Czech out Czech Mate! Dry Hopped Pilsner from 360° Brewing for all the flavour but none of that pesky gluten. And sorry about the pun.
As always, I hope you get to try some of these epic beers this week.
Cheers & thanks so much for your support!
Oli, Olly & Charlie
(The three people behind Craft Metropolis)
Step 1
We trawl the globe tasting great beer
