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

Hardknott Infra Red

Now that is one fine looking beer!  Unsurprisingly from the name, Infra Red is a deep ruby red beer with a frothy beige head that almost attempted to spill over the glass and left such tremendous lacing that I had to get the Brillo pad out.  It gives off the most amazing orange and toffee aroma with a slight hint of something floral and fragrant.

I changed my mind so quickly about this beer as the initial burst of sweet burnt toffee and yummy malt changed to a very harsh bitter aftertaste.  It certainly gave my tastebuds a wake up call and my tongue felt like it had been stabbed by a million bubbles carrying daggers dripping in grapefruit pith.

I really wanted to love this one but it wasn't really for me; I just felt it was a little too harsh as you often get with stronger alcohol content beers.  It gets full marks for looks but not so much for taste, so unfortunately not one Ale Be Seeing Again but if you like citrus bitter tasting beers, you will love this one!

Brewed by Hardknott, Cumbria
6.2% ABV

My rating:

Find out more at Hardknott