Drop Bear Beer Co. Bonfire Stout

Wow!  This is one very impressive alcohol free stout that’s brewed in the UK with Chinook hops.

It’s a dark brown beer with a frothy, loose tan head that disperses quickly to leave a patchy layer.  It is very aromatic with a burnt caramel, malty, smokey and roasted nut aroma.  It has a very crisp and dry flavour with roasted nuts combining with malt and the perfect level of smokiness.  It has quite a smooth mouthfeel with low carbonation and a thin body.

The smokiness is absolutely perfect.  It’s often done really badly and I’ve had a lot of smoked beers that taste of ash or bacon but this one is divine.  I have to applaud Drop Bear Beer for brewing a smoked beer that I like and it doesn’t even have any alcohol in it!

You would not guess that it only has an ABV of 0.5% as it looks, smells and tastes like a stout.  The low ABV has the benefit of being low calorie too and there are only 55 calories per can.

I don’t think I have ever rated a zero/low alcohol beer so highly; it’s definitely one I’d recommend and Ale Be Seeing You again!

Brewed by Drop Bear Beer Co.,  Haverfordwest, Wales
0.5% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 4/5

Find out more at Drop Bear Beer Co.

Drop Bear Beer Co. New World Lager

I am super impressed with this alcohol free New World Lager from Drop Bear Beer.  It’s brewed in the UK with three New Zealand hops: Motueka, Rakau and Wai-iti.

It’s a deep golden beer with a small, loose off-white head that quickly disappears to leave a very patchy layer.  The aroma is honey, caramel and hops with a hint of citrus fruit and this is replicated in the taste with notes of honey, biscuit and hops followed by a dry and slightly bitter citrus finish.  It’s well carbonated and thin bodied, as you would expect from a lager.

It looks, smells and tastes like a beer and I don’t think you would guess that it only has an ABV of 0.5%.  It’s really very impressive; it’s a full-flavoured lager that’s surprisingly tasty and it only has 46 calories per can.  Ale Be Seeing You again!

Brewed by Drop Bear Beer Co.,  Haverfordwest, Wales
0.5% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 3.75/5

Find out more at Drop Bear Beer Co.

Seven Bro7hers Cast Off Pale Ale

 

You've got to give Seven Bro7hers credit for teaming up with Kellogg's and upcycling their cast off cereal into beer that's not half bad.

Cast Off Pale Ale is made using Kellogg's Rice Krispies and it's a deep golden coloured ale with a loose, frothy off-white head that disperses to leave a thin, patchy layer.

It smells fruity and hoppy with a hint of buttery golden corn and the taste is similar with sweet biscuit notes and hops over a fruity base.  The fruit flavour is ever so light citrus that blends in beautifully without adding any bitterness.  It's quite softly carbonated with a thin body and it feels smooth to drink.

Although you can't really tell it's made with Rice Krispies, which don't have much taste anyway in my opinion, it a lovely easy drinking pale ale.  The buttery corn and sweet biscuit notes are delicious but it is a very light tasting ale with a surprisingly decent 5.5% ABV.  Ale Be Seeing You again!

Brewed by Seven Bro7hers Brewery, Manchester
5.5% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 3.5/5

Find out more at Seven Bro7hers Brewery

Brass Castle Gayle

 

Gayle craft ale is a very easy drinking ale that reminded me more of an IPA than a golden ale.  It was created to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and it’s brewed using an Australian recipe by Brass Castle Brewery in Malton, North Yorkshire.

It’s bright golden in colour with a slight haze to it as there was a bit of sediment in the can.  The off-white head holds well and laces the glass.  It smells very fruity with notes of citrus and tropical fruit over a base of caramel, biscuit and malt.

The taste is lightly fruity, like lemon and passionfruit squash, with some sweet notes of caramel, malt and a tang of hops.  There is a slight bitterness to the finish but there’s nothing at all bitter about the taste.  It’s nicely carbonated to give a good tickle of the tongue and it has a thin but not watery body.  ABV is a decent 4.5%.

It’s a very refreshing, vivacious beer that I really enjoyed.  It scored a very respectable 38/50 on my beer score sheet and it’s one I would happily recommend, especially to anyone new to real ale.  Ale Be Seeing You again!

Brewed by Brass Castle Brewery, Malton, North Yorkshire
4.5% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 3.75/5

Find out more at Gayle