Prime Time Lager+

Prime Time's Lager+ is a caffeine infused low calorie lager.  I have to applaud Prime Time for creating a low calorie lager that tastes like a regular lager but the addition of caffeine feels a bit like too much of a gimmick for me.

It pours a deep golden colour with a frothy, robust off-white head that lasts and laces.  It smells delicious with a sweet and juicy aroma of citrus, hops and caramel.

The flavour is so light that it's quite disappointing after the amazing smell, but I had to remind myself that it's a lager and I wouldn't really expect an explosion of flavour.  It has a very watery taste of hops and a slightly soapy hint of citrus.  The hint of caffeine is perhaps in the aftertaste that I can only describe as 'a bit weird'.  As you would expect from a lager it's thin bodied and well carbonated so it has a proper lagery mouthfeel.

It's a refreshing light lager but it's more of a Lager minus than a Lager plus for me.  The caffeine leaves too much of a weird taste in my mouth and I much prefer a beery aftertaste so  unfortunately, Ale not Be Seeing You again.

Brewed by The Innovative Brewing Co, London
4.2% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 3.25/5

Find out more at Prime Time

Prime Time Premium Lager

I was attracted to Prime Time's premium lager by the 95 calories per can as I often drink alcohol free beer when I'm on a diet.  So, I have to give Prime Time extra credit for creating a low calorie lager but as you know I like my dark ales, so lager is never going to be a high scorer for me.

The lager is a deep golden colour with a frothy and surprisingly tight off-white head that lasts and laces.  I was really impressed by the aroma; it smells lovely and beery with a traditional combination of hops, malts, caramel and light fruit.

The flavour is very light but not unexpected for a lager, however, after getting a whiff of the lovely beery aroma, it tastes like a watered down beer.  There's a metallic aftertaste that is really the only hint of flavour I picked up.  It's well carbonated and nicely fizzy with a thin body.

I expected a bit more taste from a 'premium' lager so I was disappointed with the very weak flavour.  It's a very subtle lager that will appeal to novice palates but I prefer my beer with a bit more oomph.  Unfortunately, Ale not Be Seeing You again.

Brewed by The Innovative Brewing Co, London
4.2% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 3.25/5

Find out more at Prime Time

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

Evan Evans Fire Island Oahu

This exotic golden beer is brewed in Wales and the label design is perfect as the beer looks like a beautiful setting sun in a glass when it's poured.

It's a deep golden/light amber colour with a frothy beige head that lasts and laces.  It doesn't have much of a smell, I had to have a really good sniff to get notes of hops and caramel but I didn't pick up any fruitiness at all.

The taste is much like the smell: hops and caramel with added citrus.  It has a very pithy aftertaste and it tastes more like an IPA than a golden beer.  It has a thin body and looks really fizzy in the glass (which helps to maintains the head) but carbonation is surprisingly soft and low, which gives it a lovely smooth mouthfeel.

It's easy to drink and quite refreshing but it's a little too pithy for me.  It's good that it's vegan and gluten free but Ale not Be Seeing You again.

Brewed by Evan Evans Brewery, Llandeilo, Wales
4.8% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 3/5

Find out more at Evan Evans Brewery

Tiny Rebel Dutty

Dutty is a Vermont session IPA from Welsh brewers, Tiny Rebel.  It's a hazy golden yellow beer with a frothy, tight, off-white head that actually expands in the glass.  I couldn't believe my eyes!

From the moment you pull the ring-pull, you're hit with the mouthwatering aroma of fresh, juicy pineapple.  There's also a hint of grapefruit to add some zestiness to the sweet tropical fruit.

I was quite disappointed in the taste, it's rather weak and tastes like very diluted fruit squash.  There's not enough of any flavour to taste any bitterness or sweetness, but it is refreshing and very easy to drink.  The body is thin but not watery and it's well carbonated to maintain and expand the head.

The flavour if far too light and it's not a memorable beer so Ale not Be Seeing You again, unfortunately.

Brewed by Tiny Rebel Brewery, Newport, Wales
4.2% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 3/5

Find out more at Tiny Rebel Brewery

Signature Brew Nightliner

This is a dark brown porter with a small, very loose, rapidly vanishing beige head.  There is some sediment in the can so it neeed a careful pour.

It smells like freshly brewed coffee, and so it should as coffee is one of the ingredients listed on the can.  I got a whiff of malt after the initial coffee hit and then a bit more coffee.  It's definitely oozing with coffee and it is what it says on the can.

Following the huge coffee aroma, I was expecting a massive flavour kick but I was very disappointed.  It's very lightly flavoured with coffee that isn't bitter at all, but it isn't really much of anything else either.  It has a medium body and is very softly carbonated so it feels nice and smooth to drink, although it did remind me of a cold, weak coffee.

Quite disappointing really, the taste just didn't deliver what I expected from the amazing aroma so Ale not Be Seeing You again.

Brewed by Signature Brew, London
5.7% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 2.75/5

Find out more at Signature Brew

Beer Ink Lampblack

This is a very dark brown stout with a loose, cream coloured head.  The head disappears so rapidly that it almost disappeared during the pour so I had to straighten my glass and add a bit of force to get some semblance of head at all.

It has a good stouty smell; the aroma is intensely chocolately, malty and slighty fruity.  The aroma is replicated in the taste with notes of chocolate, malt and a tangy fruit flavour (blackberries according to the can).  The chocolate flavour intesifies and lingers.

The body is quite thin for a stout, I'd say it's thin to medium bodied but more on the thin side.  Carbonation is decent but there's not enough of it to maintain a head for more than a few seconds.

The addition of tangy, tarty blackberries gives it a very unusual taste but it didn't mix well with the chocolate for me.  It's a bit too tarty for a stout but well done to Beer Ink for trying something different.  Worth trying but Ale not Be Seeing You again.

Brewed by Beer Ink Brew Co., Huddersfield
4.6% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 3/5

Find out more at Beer Ink Brew Co.

Siren Lumina

Lumina is a vegan, gluten free session IPA from Siren Craft Brew and for once I have the actual branded glass to match the beer.

It pours a slightly hazy golden yellow colour with a small, loose cream coloured head that disperses to leave a thin layer and even laces a little.  It is very lightly fragranced so I had to have a good sniff to pick up notes of citrus and tropical fruit.

The flavour is also quite weak, although it is stronger than the aroma.  The citrus and tropical fruit flavour is nice and easy to drink, although it reminded me of diluted fruit squash.  The body is thin but it is well carbonated.

It's a very refreshing and delicate session IPA, it's not overly bitter and it almost tastes like a watered down IPA so it would be a good one to try for someone new to craft beer.  It's all a little too weak for me so Ale not Be Seeing You again.  

Brewed by Siren Craft Brew, Wokingham
4.2% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 3/5

Find out more at Siren Craft Brew

Brass Castle Bad Kitty

  

Bad Kitty is a vanilla porter that is so dark and velvety when it's poured that you'd be forgiven for thinking it was a stout.  It has a very impressive huge, frothy and tight tan head that lasts and laces.

It has a very light aroma of chocolate and vanilla and it smells a bit like a glass of cola.  The flavour is also quite light, it reminded me of a very milky chocolate milkshake.  I think all of the vanilla has sapped all of the flavour out of the porter.

It's quite softly carbonated with a medium body so it has a lovely smooth mouthfeel and it's very easy to drink.  It's just a bit too weak on flavour for me.  It's very vanilla all round and there's nothing bad about this kitty.  Ale not Be Seeing You again.

Brewed by Brass Castle Brewery, Malton, North Yorkshire
5.5% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 3.25/5

Find out more at Brass Castle Brewery

Seven Bro7hers Watermelon Wheat Beer

As you would expect from a wheat beer, this Watermelon wheat beer from Seven Bro7hers is very lively on opening so it took a few pours to get it all out of the can.  It's a lovely hazy golden yellow beer with a frothy off-white head that is quite loose but it lasts and laces.

Seven Bro7hers claim that this beer is summer in a can and it does indeed smell very summery with an aroma of juicy watermelon and a hint of sun-ripened strawberries.  It's quite a light aroma but you can definitely identify watermelon.

The flavour is disappointingly weak.  It tastes like weak, watery beer with a slice of watermelon thrown in to dilute it even further.  It doesn't have a lot of taste, but neither does watermelon really so I guess it is what it says on the can.  It's surprisingly softly carbonated for a wheat beer and the body is thin as expected.

It's a very refreshing beer but it definitely needs more flavour.  Watermelon doesn't have much taste but I expected some sweetness from strawberries and pineapple like it says on the can, but I didn't get any hint of that at all.  Not one I'd have again so unfortunately Ale not Be Seeing You!

Brewed by Seven Bro7hers Brewing Co, Manchester
4.5% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 3.25/5

Find out more at Seven Bro7hers Brewing Co

Hatherwood Twisted Knots

Twisted Knots is an American IPA that has been brewed exclusively for Lidl supermarket.  Priced at only 99p at the time of purchase, it really would have been rude not to try it.

It pours a beautiful amber colour with a small, reasonably robust cream coloured head.  The head disappears slowly but leaves a patchy layer behind.  It smells very hoppy, which is no surprise as it's jam packed with seven varieties of hops (Herkules, Columbus, Chinook, Cascade, Citra, Centennial and Amarillo), and it also has a slight metallic bitter hint.

The first sip really tingled my taste buds as flavours of malt, hops and spicy rye combined to give a surprisingly flavoursome ale.  It has a lovely bitter finish which is more metallic than citrus.  It's thin bodied with relatively low carbonation but the bubbles are quite tingly.

It's actually very nice for a budget beer.  With the bitterness being more metallic than citrus and the lovely spiciness of the rye, it's my kind of IPA.  Although it didn't score highly, I really can't complain for under £1 for a 330ml can, so Ale Be Seeing You again.

  

Brewed by Hatherwood Brewery for Lidl UK
5.5% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 3.25/5

Fourpure Juicebox

I was drawn to Juicebox, Fourpure's citrus IPA, by the striking can - it's certainly very eye-catching and I wanted to see just how orangey it is.

It's a lovely clear golden beer with a small, loose, off-white head that leaves behind a small layer on dispersal.  It smells SO fruity - oranges (of course) as well as mango.  It's more of a sweet fruit aroma rather than bitter citrus.

The flavour is predominantly citrus but it has a slight floral note from the papaya and a sweetness from the mango.  The orange citrus is not pithy at all and more sweet than bitter.  It's quite a thin bodied beer with low, tingly carbonation.

Juicebox is a very refreshing citrus IPA and it feels like a very summery beer.  It's not as fruity as I expected as it has more of a balanced flavour from the mixture of orange, mango and papaya.  I'm glad I tried it, but Ale not Be Seeing You again. 

Brewed by Fourpure Brewing Co., London
5.9% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 3/5

Find out more at Fourpure Brewing Co.

Seven Bro7hers Throw Away IPA

 

Seven Bro7hers have found a unique way to upcycle less than perfect cereal - make beer with it!  What a brilliant idea!  Cornflakes rejected by Kellogg's have found its way into Throw Away IPA.  

Throw Away IPA is a hazy orange-hued golden ale with a loose, frothy off-white head that disappears to leave a patchy layer.  Although quite lightly fragranced, it smells of sweet, juicy fruit on an underlying base of hops.

Much like the aroma, the flavour is very very weak and there's not much taste to it at all.  It tasted like a very watery squash to me with a slight bitterness in the aftertaste.  A slight buttery corn flavour develops after a while but an overall weak flavour coupled with a thin, watery body completed the whole disappointing experience.

Although it's a great idea, there's just nothing much to it at all.  It's not a drain pour by any means, it's just like lightly flavoured sparkling water.  It's not for me so Ale not Be Seeing You again.

Brewed by Seven Bro7hers Brewery, Manchester
5% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 2.75/5

Find out more at Seven Bro7hers Brewery

BrewDog Quench Quake

Although I'm not sure they should be considered a beer, I keep being drawn to fruity, refreshing sours - the more lip-puckering the better.  So, I thought I'd try Quench Quake, BrewDog's grapefruit and tangerine sour but I was a little disappointed to be honest.

It's a lovely bright golden colour with a small, rapidly disappearing off-white head.  Once the head has gone, it looks like a glass of cider.  I leaned in for a sniff and was very disappointed; it smells just like a lager and lime!  

There was no lip puckering in the taste, although the zingy grapefruit citrus had a good attempt at pinging my tastebuds.  It does have a sour taste but it's not overly so, it's like it can't quite make its mind up what to be between a lager and a sour.  Body is unsurprisingly thin and watery and carbonation is low and soft.

Whilst it's tasty and fruity, it's nothing exciting.  There's not even any lime in it, but to me it just tasted like a lager and lime with far too much lime in.  It's maybe one for those who like alcopops, which isn't me, so Ale not Be Seeing You again.

Brewed by BrewDog Brewery, Ellon, Aberdeenshire
4.6% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 3/5

Find out more at BrewDog Brewery

Innis & Gun Mangoes on the Run

Mangoes on the Run is a beautiful deep golden, orange hued ale with a large, frothy, and surprisingly robust off-white head.  There is no sediment at all so I got every last drop out of the can.

I was expecting a strong smell of fruit when I opened it but it's mainly just hops with a slight hint of fruit that's more citrus than mango.  Although I was a little disappointed with the aroma, it redeemed itself in the taste.  It's definitely mango!  The flavour is very hoppy with notes of caramel, biscuit and citrus and it has a very bitter, pithy citrus aftertaste that lingers.

It's thin bodied with low, reasonably soft carbonation that feels quite smooth in the mouth with a little bit of a tingle on the tongue.

It's what it says on the tin and Innis & Gunn deserve a round of applause for getting the unmistakeable taste of mango just right.  The pithy aftertaste was a little too harsh for me which is where it lost marks so although Ale not Be Seeing You again, it's worth trying if you like pithy bitterness.

Brewed by The Innis & Gunn Brewing Company, Edinburgh, Scotland 
5.6% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 3.25/5

Find out more at The Innis & Gunn Brewing Company

Siren Yu Lu

Yu Lu is a session pale ale from Siren brewed with Earl Grey tea and lemon zest.  I do like an Earl Grey now and again so I was really intrigued by this beer.

It pours a sunny golden yellow with a loose, frothy and off-white head.  There is an ever so slight haze but I didn't notice any sediment in the can.  It looks very fizzy but it doesn't maintain the head for long, leaving a thin patchy layer that really tries its hardest to lace the glass.

The smell is so fruity and appealing: sweet, juicy tropical fruit and bitter citrus.  The taste is a weakened version of the smell with an added floral hint from the Earl Grey tea.  It just tastes so weak, like very diluted tropical fruit squash.  The bitter finish is a little stronger to it does finish on a high.

So very fizzy and thin bodied, it's like drinking carbonated pop, albeit pop that has little taste and has been strongly diluted.  It is very refreshing though and it would be a real thirst quencher on a sunny day (not that we get many of those in the north east of England).

It's too weak on flavour for it to be a memorable beer so I don't think I'd buy it again.  Sorry Yu Lu, Ale not Be Seeing You again.

Brewed by Siren Craft Brew, Berkshire
3.6% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 3/5

Find out more at Siren Craft Brew

71 Brewing Raspberry Mash

I don't drink a lot of sours so I really have to be in the mood for one and this limited edition raspberry and coffee mash from 71 Brewing caught my eye in one of Lidl's beer festivals.  Conditioned on Scottish raspberries and freshly ground Burundian 'Red Bourbon' coffee beans, it sounded so weird that I just had to try it.

It's a beautiful ruby red jewel colour but it's completely headless so it looks like a glass of raspberry pop.  It did produce a bit of foam at first but it disappeared mid-pour and, as it is unfiltered and unpasteurised, there is the possibility of a bit of sediment so it needs a careful pour.

There is no mistaking the aroma of fresh and juicy raspberries but it has a slight sour whiff that made me think of raspberry wine.  The hit of raspberries in the first sip is lovely; it's a fruity, tarty and sour flavour which is followed by a hint of coffee.  It's a very small hint though and I'm not sure I would have noticed it if I wasn't looking for it.  Although it looks quite flat, it's surprisingly well carbonated with a thin and watery body.

It's definitely a sour, so I have to give 71 Brewing credit for producing what it says on the can.  I just would have liked a bit more flavour as the raspberries take over but, because it's quite watery in body, it tastes quite weak after a few sips.  I'm glad I tried it but Ale not Be Seeing You again.

Brewed by 71 Brewing, Dundee
4.2% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 3.25/5

Find out more at 71 Brewing

Goose Island Honkers Ale

 

No longer produced in bottles, Honkers Ale is an English style bitter from USA.  I love bitter so I was really looking forward to this one.  Let's see what I thought.

It's a beautiful warm amber colour but it has a dirty dishwater coloured head that vanishes within seconds.  There was also quite a bit of sediment in the bottle so it needs a careful pour to get a clear ale.  I got a bit of sediment in mine so it does have a bit of haze to it and the sediment seems to remain suspended in the liquid which was quite off-putting when drinking.

Rather alarmingly, it has no smell whatsoever.  I couldn't detect a whiff of anything and my nose was in full working order.  Slightly odd, but on to the taste.  Erm...there's not much taste either.  It's a little malty perhaps but I'm really pushing it to even say that.  It doesn't help that the body is very thin and watery and the bubbles are really harsh despite the flat appearance.  It's like drinking slightly malted fizzy water.

It's nothing like a beer never mind an English Bitter and Ale not Be Seeing You again.

Brewed by Goose Island Brewery, Chicago
4.3% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 2.5/5

Find out more at Goose Island Brewery

Maltsmiths IPA

This is a lovely dark American IPA from The Caledonian Brewery in Edinburgh and it looks like molten toffee in the glass.  It's an orange hued amber coloured ale with a small but very tight cream head.  There is a bit of sediment in the bottle so I left a bit behind to ensure a clear pour.

It smells very citrussy, but more oranges than grapefruit, and it has a slight hint of caramel and malt.  The flavour is quite weak, although this means that it's not too citrussy or bitter for me, and

thanks to the dry-hopping it has a lovely dry finish.  Body is thin but it's very fizzy which maintains the head nicely.  

It just seems a little too weak on flavour so Ale not Be Seeing You again.

Brewed by The Caledonian Brewery, Edinburgh
4.6% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 3.25/5

Find out more at Maltsmiths Brewing

Põhjala Hooaeg

 

Hooaeg is a dry-hopped saison brewed with coriander seeds from Estonian brewery Põhjala.  It's very lively on opening and has quite a lot of sediment in it so, as I prefer a clear beer, I didn't quite manage to get a full glass out of this one.  It's a lovely bright golden yellow beer with a huge frothy off-white head that lasts well despite its loose appearance.

The aroma of hops and citrus is quite strong but very appetising.  I was a little disappointed in the flavour as the citrus completely overpowers the hops, although I did get a slight tang of coriander.  It's just far too pithy for me and it has a lingering bitter grapefruit aftertaste that isn't something I enjoy.

Definitely one for citrus fans but unfortunately not for me, Ale not Be Seeing You again.

Brewed by Põhjala Brewery, Estonia
5.5% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 3.25/5

Find out more at Põhjala Brewery