Sheep in Wolf's Clothing & Six Degrees North Whisky Barrel Aged Black Lager

 

Look at this lager!  It thinks it's a stout!  With its dark brown almost black body and tight dark cream coloured head, you would be forgiven for thinking that you were about to drink a stout.  It even smells a bit like a stout with a strong malt aroma and a hint of whisky from the barrel ageing.

The taste is quite subtle but I picked up notes of tangy hops, malt, dark fruit, whisky and roasted nuts.  It's well carbonated but not too fizzy and it has a medium body which is surprising for a lager.

It's an interesting and unique flavour, although it is quite a weak flavour possibly due to the low ABV of 2.8%.  The head is perhaps the most impressive and long lasting I've ever experienced in a lager.  As it's a limited edition collaboration, Ale not Be Seeing You again, but I'll definitely be keeping my eye out for more Sheep in Wolf's Clothing beers.

Brewed by Sheep in Wolf's Clothing Brewery, London, in partnership with Six Degrees North
2.8% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 3.75/5

Find out more at Sheep in Wolf's Clothing Brewery

Greene King Flint Eye

Flint Eye is a lovely clear golden beer with a loose, off-white head that disappears quickly, leaving just a faint swirl of bubbles on the surface.  It has a hoppy aroma as well as notes of yellow fruit (banana, pineapple, peach and lemon) and a hint of honey.

Flavour is quite light, as you’d expect for a lager, but the dry hopping process gives it a lovely tang of hops as well as a hint of pine.  It has a thin body but it’s well carbonated, which adds a nice prickle to the mouthfeel.

It’s a lovely crisp, dry and refreshing lager with a decent ABV of 4.5%.  I’m pretty impressed with this lager and I think it’s the perfect lager to quench your thirst on a hot summer’s day.  Ale Be Seeing You again.

Brewed by Greene King Brewery, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
4.5% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 4/5

Find out more at Greene King Brewery

By the Horns West End Pils

West End Pils is a pilsner lager that's full of flavour.  It looks like a perfect traditional beer with its deep golden colour and frothy off-white head.

It smells surprisingly fragrant for a lager, with a combination of sweet malts, tangy hops and a slight hint of lime.  Flavour is similar with notes of malt and hopes, ending with a dry finish.  It's thin bodied but not watery and it's quite softly carbonated to give a smooth mouthfeel with a tingly finish.  

It's a very refreshing, tasty lager.  I wasn't expecting it to be so nice so it was a very pleasant surprise and it's one I would recommend trying.  Ale Be Seeing You again!

Brewed by By the Horns Brewing Co., London
4% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 3.5/5

Find out more at By the Horns Brewing Co.

Darwin Tall Ship

 

Wow!  This is lager, Jim, but not as we know it!  I thought Tall Ship would be my least favourite out of the mixed pack I bought from local Sunderland brewers, Darwin, but I really enjoyed this amazing craft lager.

There is some sediment in the bottle so even with a careful pour, this pours a slightly hazy golden yellow coloured ale with a surprisingly robust, tight off-white head that lasts and laces.  It has a delicious hoppy aroma with additional notes of biscuit and caramel which gives it a sweet edge.  The smell reminded me of malted milk biscuits that I used to love dipping in my tea.

Brewed with Czech Saaz hops, the flavour is creamy caramel and biscuit with a dry, slightly bitter finish.  With a medium body and good carbonation that's not too fizzy, it could easily be mistaken for a blonde ale in a blind taste test.

Refreshing, tasty and so easy to drink, this is a stunning craft lager from Darwin.  I actually can't believe how good it is and if you haven't discovered Darwin Brewery yet, then I urge you to visit their webshop here to try it for yourself.  Plus, if you have an SR, NE or DH postcode you can get your order delivered cheaper or even free!

Brewed by Darwin Brewery, Sunderland
4.1% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 4/5

Find out more at Darwin Brewery

Saltaire Raspberry Blonde

 

Saltaire's Raspberry Blonde is a golden yellow ale with a small, very loose, rapidly vanishing cream coloured head.  There isn't even a hint of a  bubble after a few minutes which is a bit disappointing, but we shouldn't judge a beer by appearance alone so on to the smell and the all-important flavour.

It has a delicious aroma of raspberries, it's so strong and fruity that you'd expect the beer to have a red tint.  Raspberry is not as strong in the flavour as in the aroma but it's definitely there and leaves a nice tartiness in the mouth after the initial taste of malt biscuit, spicy hops and hint of bitterness.  Mouthfeel isn't great though, the body is quite thin and watery and it feels quite flat in the mouth as there is so little carbonation.

So where it loses in appearance and mouthfeel it gains in aroma and flavour and it's a very refreshing ale that would be a perfect summer beer, especially with a bowl of raspberries on the side.  It's not currently in production but I'd definitely give another one a go and Ale Be Seeing You again!

Brewed by Saltaire Brewery, Shipley, West Yorkshire
4% ABV

My rating:

My Untappd score: 3.75/5

Find out more at Saltaire Brewery

Shepherd Neame Spitfire Gold

A deep gold fizzy beer with a thin white head giving it the look of a traditional beer.  It smells very strongly of hops, as I've found with all Shepherd Neame ales.  Once my nose got through the strong smell of hops, it is replaced with a fresh pine and tropical fruit aroma.

There is an initial lovey taste of sweet malts but it is quite fizzy which enhances the fruity bitterness that follows.  The aftertaste is creamy rather than bitter which makes it one of the better Shepherd Neame ales.  The head is non-existent after a few minutes which is a shame, but it's very easy to drink and not bad at all for a mass-produced beer.

Definitely one Ale be happy to See Again.

Brewed by Shepherd Neame, Kent
4.3% ABV

My rating:

Find out more at Shepherd Neame

Caledonian Three Hop

This is a lovely deep golden craft lager with a bit more of an amber colour than pictured.  It has a good head which doesn't disappear too quickly.  It's called Three Hop so it is no surprise that it has a hoppy aroma but it also has a hint of a floral smell.

It has a good amount of carbonation but it has a very smooth taste and a definite aftertaste of honey with a refreshing hint of mint.  I didn't get any lemon flavours coming through but the whole experience is one of complex but subtle flavours so it might be in there somewhere.

A very pleasant drink with some nice beery lacing on the glass.  It feels like you get a taste of something different with every mouthful.  Definitely one I'd recommend trying.

Brewed by Caledonian Brewery, Edinburgh

4.5% ABV

My rating:

Find out more at Caledonian Brewery