BrewDog Hoppy Xmas

Christmas time is here again and you can always count on BrewDog for a festive beer. 

Hoppy Xmas is a festive IPA and it's very lively so it took me a couple of pours to fit it all in my 330ml glass.  It pours a slightly hazy golden yellow with a tight, thick, robust off-white head that lasts and laces.

The aroma is deliciously fruity with notes of lemon, orange and tropical fruit as well as the expected blast of hops.  It tastes like it smells with a lovely blend of citrus and tropical fruits and hops that give it a lovely dry/bitter finish.   The pineapple and papaya flavours add a note of sweetness that takes the pithy bitter edge off the citrus.

It has a good medium body and it’s very well carbonated, as you can see from the head, but the bubbles aren't harsh and they give the tongue a nice tickling.  

I don't think there's anything particularly festive about it apart from the name, but it's a lovely IPA that's just the right level of bitterness for me.  Ale Be Seeing You again!

Brewed by BrewDog, Ellon, Aberdeenshire 

6% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 4/5

Find out more at BrewDog Brewery

Kees Baby Caramel Fudge Stout

 

This pastry stout is a lighter version of Brouwerij Kees' imperial caramel fudge stout but it still packs a punch at 5.3%.  I couldn't see any best before date on the can so I've got no idea whether or not it was in date when I drank it.  

It has a dark brown mahogany coloured body with a small rapidly vanishing tan head.  The aroma is surprisingly light for a sweet stout and although I didn't smell any caramel I did pick up notes of malt and chocolate.

After the slightly disappointing smell and appearance,  it totally redeems itself in the taste test as it is delicious.  It's like sweet, creamy candy covered in milk chocolate and it's so malty.  The sweetness really lingers so it's definitely a beer for the sweet toothed among us.  It has a full body and medium carbonation which gives it a relatively smooth mouthfeel.

It's a lovely sweet stout but it tastes more chocolate than caramel fudge to me.  I'd be really interested to try its big brother in the future and Ale Be Seeing You again.

Brewed by Brouwerij Kees, 
5.3% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 4/5

Find out more at Brouwerij Kees

Love Lane Maple Syrup Stout

 

I have a sweet tooth and I love stout so I was really looking forward to trying this maple syrup stout from Love Lane Brewery in Liverpool and whilst it is nice, I was a little underwhelmed.

It has a dark brown body with a small, loose tan head that tries to disappear as it's poured so I had to straighten my pour to get a decent head and take a very quick photo.  

I was a bit disappointed when I leant in for a smell as I only got a very slight whiff of maple syrup beneath the malt and treacle notes.  I think if it didn't say maple syrup on the can I wouldn't have noticed it at all.

The taste is more like it; it's sweet and tangy with notes of dark chocolate, treacle and maple syrup.  It has a bit of a liquorice aftertaste and weirdly, it's slightly soapy.  It has low but firm carbonation and a decent medium body.

It's a very rich and dark stout that's surprisingly easy to drink considering it's high ABV of 7.4%.  There's just nothing particularly special about it, which is a little disappointing as I was really looking forward to it.  I'm glad I've tried it but Ale not Be Seeing You Again.

Brewed by Love Lane Brewery, Liverpool
7.4% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 3.5/5

Find out more at Love Lane Brewery

BrewDog Cold Front

To mark the recent cold spell here in the UK, I cracked open my can of BrewDog's Vienna-style lager, Cold Front.

It has a deep golden, orange hued body and a frothy, pretty robust cream coloured head that laces the glass.  The aroma is quite light as you would expect from a lager but it's quite hoppy and there are hints of zesty citrus and sweet caramel.  

The first sip really twanged my taste buds as zesty marmalade bubbles burst in my mouth.  It also has sweet biscuit notes and a lovely dry, bitter finish.  It's well carbonated but not too fizzy and it has a thin to medium body.

It's a lovely refreshing hoppy lager with a surprising zesty kick.  I enjoyed it and Ale Be Seeing You again.

Brewed by BrewDog, Ellon, Aberdeenshire
4.5% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 3.5/5

Find out more at BrewDog Brewery

O/O Brewing Porter Porter

As shipbuilding is very much a part of our heritage here in north-east England, I just had to take a moment before opening this Swedish porter to appreciate the stunning label artwork by Carl Bjerkås.  

It's a beauty both inside and out with a dark brown body and a deep tan head that lasts well and retains a thin layer.  It smells amazing with notes of malt, treacle toffee, dark tangy fruit (maybe cherry) and chocolate.

The flavour is quite light in comparison to the aroma.  As well as malt there are notes of tangy fruit and delicious smooth milk chocolate, followed by a slight bitter finish.  Mouthfeel is perfect for a porter with low carbonation and a medium body.

It's a lovely tangy bittersweet porter that is very pleasant to drink.  I would definitely recommend trying it if you're a dark ale fan and Ale Be Seeing You again.

Brewed by O/O Brewing, Sweden 
5.4% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 4/5

Find out more at O/O Brewing

Robinsons Trooper Fear of the Dark

I have been so impressed with the Iron Maiden beers brewed in collaboration with Robinsons and their chocolate stout, Fear of the Dead, is no exception.  

Now that's what a stout should look like!  It pours a dark brown with a robust, thick and tight tan head.  The aroma is quite light but I picked up notes of malt, treacle and chocolate.

There's nothing light about the flavour; it has a lovely taste of chocolate, treacle, malt and a hint of roasted nuts.  It has a full body and medium carbonation that gives it a lovely smooth mouthfeel.

I love stout and I love chocolate so this one is a winner for me.  It's not a heavy stout so it's very pleasant to drink and the chocolate is delicious.  Ale Be Seeing You again!

Brewed by Robinsons Brewery, Stockport
4.5% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 4.25/5

Find out more at Iron Maiden Beers

Black Isle Vanilla Stout

This vanilla stout looks like black velvet in a glass with its frothy, tan head that disperses to leave a patchy layer.

It has a sweet smell of chocolate, malt and vanilla and the same notes are replicated in the taste.  Full marks to Black Isle Brewing Co for brewing exactly what it says on the tin.  It has a smooth mouthfeel with a full body and low carbonation.

It's nothing complex but it's a lovely smooth, sweet stout that is enhanced by the hint of vanilla.  I really liked it and Ale Be Seeing You again.

Brewed by Black Isle Brewing Co, Inverness, Scotland
4.5% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 3.75/5

Find out more at Black Isle Brewing Co

Eagle Winter Warmer Ale

This looks like my kind of beer!  I picked this on up at Sainsbury's when I saw that it was brewed by Eagle Brewery, which also brews the Banana Bread beer that I love.  It states on the bottle to serve it chilled but I drank it at room temperature and I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much if it were chilled.

It pours a delicious deep amber colour with ruby red tones and it has a small, cream coloured head that retains a thin layer on dispersal.  It has a light aroma of malt, caramel, treacle and cinnamon spice.

Challenger hops add a generous flavour of dried fruit and a lingering metallic bitterness to the initial taste of malt.  There is a slight hint of spice but it's barely noticeable, which is a little disappointing.  The bitterness lingers a little too long but I do prefer metallic notes over citrus in a dark ale.  It's well carbonated and has a medium body to give a tingly mouthfeel.

Although I wouldn't describe it as a winter warmer ale, it's a decent enough budget dark ale with a lovely malty taste and a lingering metallic finish.  It's worth trying for the price (I can't remember how much I paid for it but it would be less than £2) but Ale not Be Seeing You again.

Brewed for Sainsbury's by Eagle Brewery, Bedfordshire
5.3% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 3.75/5

Find out more at Eagle Brewery

Tiny Rebel Shake Down

 

This was a very lively beer and if I didn't know better, I would have thought that the can had been shaken before opening.  It took a couple of pours to get it out of the can and leave some of the more chunky bits of sediment behind.  

It has a hazy, deep yellow body with a huge, frothy off-white head that lasts and laces.  It has the most amazing smell of mango and it smells like a tropical fruit cocktail with a hint of citrus and another helping of mango for good measure.

The taste is a bit disappointing after such a strong and fruity aroma.  It's very lightly flavoured with notes of mango and a dash of citrus.  It's like a very watered down beery version of a tropical fruit punch.

With such a lively exit from the can, I expected harsh and abundant carbonation but it's surprisingly softly carbonated with a thin, but not watery, body.

It's a very refreshing IPA and a lovely sunny day kind of beer.  It's a lot lighter in flavour than I would normally expect from Tiny Rebel but it tastes like it says on the can.  Ale not Be Seeing You again but it's well worth trying if it's brewed again.

Brewed by Tiny Rebel Brewing, Newport, Wales
4.5% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 3.5/5

Find out more at Tiny Rebel 

Loch Lomond Hit It Chewy

 

When I saw a stout with a Star Wars reference in Lidl's beer festival, I just had to have one.  This is a Scottish tablet stout brewed with lactose by Dumbarton brewers Loch Lomond.  For anyone who doesn't know what it is, a Scottish tablet is a buttery, crumbly fudge and it's delicious.

This is a very dark brown, almost black, stout with a tight tan head that retains a decent layer.  The aroma is mouthwatering with notes of sweet caramel, chocolate cake and treacle bursting out of the can.

I could taste the sweetness in my first sip and the sweet chocolate and treacle flavours reminded me of a pastry stout then it does something different.  The Pacifica hops add a touch of bitter citrus and dryness to the finish.  There's also a hint of coffee to swing the bitter balance away from full-on citrus.

Mouthfeel is relatively smooth with low but firm carbonation and a medium body, which is slightly thinner than I would expect in a stout.

It's a lovely sweet stout but I felt that the flavours could have perhaps been a little stronger to match the amazing aroma.  I would definitely recommend trying it if it's brewed again and Ale Be Seeing You.

Brewed by Loch Lomond Brewery, Dumbarton, Scotland
4.5% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 4/5

Find out more at Loch Lomond Brewery

Brass Castle x North Riding Sweet Spot

Sweet Spot is a light mild brewed with actual Fruit Salad sweets by Brass Castle Brewery in collaboration with North Riding Brewery.  

It's a very lively beer with a deep golden body and it produced a thick, tight off-white head but it took me a couple of slow, careful pours to get it all out of the can.  Thankfully, no sediment was evident.  The head lasts and laces.

With notes of sugary candy, it smells like a sweet shop and very much like Fruit Salad sweets.  It also has a nice hoppy smell that adds a bit of sourness to the sweetness.  It really tingled my taste buds when I had my first sip as it's fruity but a little tart.  It has a silky smooth mouthfeel with low carbonation and a medium to full body.

It's a very moreish beer and definitely one for the sweet toothed among us.  It's quite sweet and sour, it reminded me of a bitter mixed with a fruity sour, and I really liked it.  It left me licking me lips and if it's ever brewed again, Ale Be Seeing You.

Brewed by Brass Castle Brewery in collaboration with North Riding Brewery, Yorkshire
5.5% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 4/5

Find out more at Brass Castle Brewery

Find out more at North Riding Brewery

Seven Bro7hers Hoppy Pale

This is a lovely traditional looking beer with a rich golden body and a frothy, loose off-white head that retains a thin layer and laces the glass.

It smells of tropical fruits, juicy citrus fruit, sweet caramel and malted biscuit.  The flavour profile is similar to the aroma with juicy fruit notes, biscuit and caramel except it tastes like it has been diluted as it's very light.  The thin, watery body and low, soft carbonation doesn't help as it just feels like it has been watered down.

It's an easy drinking, refreshing pale ale but I don't think it's particularly hoppy and it's just far too lightweight for me.  Ale not Be Seeing You again.

Brewed by Seven Bro7hers Brewery, Manchester
3.8% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 3.25/5

Find out more at Seven Bro7hers Brewery

BrewDog Cake Cartel

Ooh I wanted to try this hazelnut stout from BrewDog as soon as I heard about it and it did not disappoint.  This is definitely one for the sweet toothed beer drinker.

It's a very dark brown stout with a small, rapidly vanishing tan head that doesn't leave a single bubble behind, giving it a very disappointingly flat appearance.  It makes up for it in the wonderful aroma though - it's as sweet as candy with notes of malt, caramel, milk chocolate and raspberry jam.

It tastes like liquid chocolate cake with a huge helping of malt, a dash of candy floss and a sprinkling of nuts.  It leaves a lovely sweetness of the lips and it's very moreish, although it doesn't taste as nutty as I expected.  Brewed with lactose, it's a very smooth stout with low carbonation and a full body.

This is a lovely rich, dark, sweet pastry stout and it tastes exactly as would expect from the can.  If it hadn't lost its head so quickly and tasted a bit more nutty, it would've been a five star beer but for taste alone, Ale Be Seeing You again!

Brewed by BrewDog, Ellon, Aberdeenshire 
6% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 4.25/5

Find out more at BrewDog Brewery

Bellfield Dark Sky Porter

 

This is a beautiful dark and fruity porter from Scottish brewers, Bellfield.  It's very dark, almost black, and it has a small, loose and rapidly vanishing tan head.

It has a mouthwatering aroma of roasted malt, treacle, chocolate and coffee with a hint of juicy red fruit.  It tastes as good as it smells too; it's sweet and fruity with notes of chocolate, treacle and caramel with an unusual and interesting coffee and tangy berry finish.

With low but firm carbonation and a full body, it has a smooth but tingly mouthfeel that made it really pleasant to drink.

It's a lovely fruity porter with a delicious sweetness that reminded me of candied fruit.  I have a sweet tooth so I really liked it and Ale Be Seeing You again.

Brewed by Bellfield Brewery, Edinburgh
4% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 4/5

Find out more at Bellfield Brewery

Stewart Brewing Cocoa-Nut

I love chocolate and I love stout so I snapped up this chocolate and hazelnut stout when I saw it in Lidl's beer festival.

It has a traditional stout appearance with a black velvet body and a small tan head that leaves a patchy layer when it settles.  It smells incredibly nutty and I could smell them as soon as I opened the can.  Underneath the nutty aroma there are delicious notes of chocolate, malt and even more nuts.

The taste is deliciously dark with loads of malt and hints of chocolate and liquorice.  The chocolate is dark and slightly bitter and there's no prizes for guessing the aftertaste: it's nuts!  It has a lovely full body and medium carbonation, giving it a relatively smooth mouthfeel that I like to see in a stout.

With an ABV of 7.1%, it's a very rich and decadent stout.  The dark chocolate bitterness is a little bit too much for me as I don't really like dark chocolate but the nuttiness is amazing and it tastes like it says on the can.  It's definitely one I'd recommend trying and Ale Be Seeing You again.

Brewed by Stewart Brewing, Loanhead, Midlothian, Scotland
7.1% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 4/5

Find out more at Stewart Brewing

BrewDog Silk Road

 

I picked up this can of mango and lychee hazy IPA in Herons for something silly like 69p, so of course it would have been rude not to get one....or two.

It's a lovely hazy golden beer with a small, rapidly vanishing off-white head that leaves a patchy layer of foam.  There's quite a lot of sediment in the can so I left a lot of it behind as it was hazy enough already for me.

It has a beautiful aroma.  It's very fruity with notes of mango and some highly perfumed lychee.  It tastes very refreshing with the delicious flavour of sweet juicy mango and a slight bitterness of lychee.  It has a lovely soft and silky mouthfeel with low, soft carbonation in a thin to medium body.

This is a lovely hazy IPA but because of the mango, it tastes more like an alcopop than a beer to me; it was just missing a cocktail umbrella.  I can't complain for the price though!  Unless I saw it cheap again, Ale not Be Seeing You again.

Brewed by BrewDog, Ellon, Aberdeenshire
6.5% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 4/5

Find out more at BrewDog Brewery

Türk Tuborg Fiçi

Tuborg Fiçi is a Turkish pilsner and I just had to try it when I spotted the unusual shaped bottle in Home Bargains.  The bargain price of £1.29 was another attraction, of course.

It's a deep golden beer with a frothy, very rapidly disappearing cream coloured head and it has a traditional continental beer smell of hops and malt.  

I was surprised how malty it tastes as I would normally expect a darker body to correspond to this amount of malt.  I'm not complaining at all, I love a malty beer!  There are also notes of tangy hops, sweet caramel and biscuit.  The body is quite thin but it's not watery as the soft, low carbonation gives it a tingly mouthfeel.  

It's a lovely malty, refreshing beer.  It would be perfect to quench your thirst on a hot day so I would definitely be seeking it out if I ever went back to Turkey.  For now, I'll keep an eye out in Home Bargains and hopefully, Ale Be Seeing You again!

Brewed by Türk Tuborg Brewery, Turkey
5% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 3.5/5

Find out more at Türk Tuborg Brewery

Robinsons Trooper Hallowed

Just look at the rich mahogany colour of this Iron Maiden beer brewed by Robinsons Brewery.  It has a tight, robust cream coloured head and it gets full marks for appearance as this beautiful red/brown body is what I like to see in a beer. 

It has a delicious malty aroma with a hint of roasted nuts, treacle toffee and tangy Belgian hops.  It tastes delicious too; there's a big hit of tangy hops at first followed by huge sweet and malty notes and it has a lovely dry. fruity finish.  I couldn't particularly identify plum and banana but it's definitely fruity.  It has a full body and it's quite fizzy but the carbonation isn't harsh,

It's a lovely Belgian with a British slant.  The flavour is rich and the fruity plum finish is really unusual.  I loved it and Ale Be Seeing You again!

Brewed by Robinsons Brewery, Stockport
6% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 4.5/5

Find out more at Iron Maiden Beer

Monastère Double

Now that's what I call a BINGO beer!  Monastère Double scored a full house on my beer scoring sheet - that's a huge 50/50 covering appearance, aroma, flavour, mouthfeel and overall.

It is a beautiful mahogany brown colour with a tight tan head that retains a thin layer.  The aroma is to die for with notes of malt, caramel, treacle toffee and tangy Belgian hops.  It gets better with the taste as my tongue was hit with an explosion of sweet treacle, roasted malt, tangy hops, raisins and a hint of chocolate.  There's even a slight liquorice finish to add to the complex flavour profile.

With a full body and medium but firm carbonation, this is an outstanding double.  It is faultless and even better that it came in a 500ml can to prolong the experience.  This was a bargain from B&M and I really hope Ale Be Seeing You again!

Brewed by United Dutch Breweries, EU
6.4% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 5/5

Find out more at Monastère 

Dubuisson Cuvée des Trolls

 

Well this is a lively beer and it burst from the bottle like a troll from beneath a bridge demanding a toll.  Admittedly, I left it a little close to the best before end date before opening it so I would advise drinking this one fresh.

It's a hazy, deep golden beer with a thick, tight and frothy cream coloured head.  It has a delicious aroma of Belgian hops, caramel, orange and banana.  Whilst it's quite hoppy which gives it the tang of a Belgian in its taste, it's quite sweet on the tongue with notes of caramel and malt, but what sets it apart is the slightly citrus finish.  

It's very fizzy with prickly bubbles that burst little bombs of orange peel flavour and it has a decent medium body.  It's a tangy, tasty Belgian blonde beer with a hint of bitter mischief and Ale Be Seeing You again. 

Brewed by Dubuisson Brewery, Belgium
7% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 4.5/5

Find out more at Dubuisson Brewery

Cobra Premium Beer

The sun is shining here in the UK and it's time to crack open the lager for a refreshing summer beverage.

Cobra premium beer has a light golden coloured body and a frothy off-white head that's surprisingly robust and laces the glass.  It smells deliciously hoppy as it's brewed with three hops and there are also sweet notes of caramel, pineapple and banana.

Flavour is quite light, as you would expect from a lager.  It's sweet and slightly metallic with a dry, bitter finish.  It's well carbonated and fizzy with a thin body.

It's a very light, refreshing lager with a crisp and dry edge.  It's a good one to have in the beer fridge for the occasional sunny day and Ale Be Seeing You again.

Brewed in the UK for Cobra Beer Partnerships Ltd 
4.5% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 3.75/5

Find out more at Cobra Beer

Sadler's Peaky Blinder

I tried Sadler's Peaky Blinder many years ago but it's now brewed with different hops and has a slightly lower ABV so here are my thoughts on Peaky Blinder 2.0.  After closing the Stourbridge brewery in 2020, Sadler's transferred their production to Hawkshead Brewery in Cumbria but the Stourbridge site is still stated on the label.

This black IPA is brewed with five malts and five hops, although only four of the hops are listed on the label: Pilgrim, Green Bullet, Cascade and Chinook.  It has a very dark mahogany brown body with a small, tan head that disperses slowly to leave a thin layer.  

The aroma is very appealing with notes of roasted malt, juicy citrus fruit, a hint of spice and the slight tang of treacle.  The first sip reminds you it's an IPA with a big hit of citrus but more orange than lemon as it's not bitter at all.  The roasted malts jump in next together with some sweet treacle and liquorice and ending on a slightly dry note.  The liquorice flavour seemed to intensify as I drank it and I think it lingers on the tongue a little too long for my liking.  

It's softly carbonated to give a smoother mouthfeel than you'd expect and it has a good medium body.

It's a very unusual beer and one well worth trying.

Brewed by Sadler's Brewery, Stourbridge, West Midlands / Hawkshead Brewery, Cumbria
4.4% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 4/5

Jennings Hop Commotion

 

Jennings closed their Lake District brewery in 2022 but some of their beers are still being produced by Marston's in Staffordshire.  I picked up Hop Commotion in Home Bargains for less than £1 as I've always enjoyed Jennings' beers (and of course I can't resist a bargain beer).

Hop Commotion is a strawberry flavoured blonde ale that has a lovely golden coloured body and a robust off-white head that retains a decent layer of foam.  It smells very hoppy but there is a definite hint of strawberry in the aroma.

It tastes lovely and hoppy with a dry, bitter citrus finish and a very subtle hint of strawberry.  I'm not sure I would have noticed the strawberry if I didn't know it was there though.  It's well carbonated and very fizzy with a good, medium body.

This is a lovely dry and refreshing hoppy blonde ale but the bitter finish left a strong and lingering pithy citrus aftertaste that was a little too heavy for me.  I don't think it's in production anymore so Ale not Be Seeing You again anyway.

Brewed by Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Co, Cumbria
4.1% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 4/5

Find out more at Jennings Brewery

Staropramen Premium

Staropramen Premium is a light lager brewed with Czech hops.  It's mass produced and brewed in the UK by Molson Coors.

This bright golden beer has a very frothy off-white head that clings to the side of the glass as you drink it.  The aroma is very hoppy with hints of sweet caramel.

It has a traditional beery taste of hops and caramel with a dry, bitter finish.  It's well carbonated and fizzy with a thin body that makes it very refreshing to drink.

Considering it's mass produced, it's a very tasty lager with a bit of oomph thanks to the Czech hops.  Although it's nothing complex, it's a very refreshing thirst quencher to drink in summer and Ale Be Seeing You again.

Brewed by Molson Coors Brewing Company, UK
5% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 3.5/5

Find out more at Staropramen