Gipsy Hill ~ Breakbeat 5.6% Stout VG
Breakbeat, a stout from Gipsy Hill, is a sophisticated tribute to the tropical stout style, offering a delicate balance between roasted flavours and a tropical twist. Pouring a deep, dark brown with a tan head, the beer greets you with a fragrant blend of roasted coffee, light chocolate, and an unexpected but delightful hit of coconut. The use of lager yeast sets this stout apart, contributing to a crisp finish that lightens the otherwise rich profile. Vanilla accents the dark malt base, giving it a smooth and slightly sweet edge.
Interesting Fact: Gipsy Hill's Breakbeat is fermented with lager yeast, which is atypical for a stout. This unique choice not only enhances the beer's clean finish but also adds an interesting layer of complexity to the flavour. The brewery's commitment to pushing boundaries is evident in their innovative use of ingredients like Sabro hops, known for their tropical fruit character, especially coconut, which pairs wonderfully with the roasty elements of the stout.
Pairing Suggestions: Breakbeat pairs beautifully with rich and savoury foods. Try it with barbecue ribs, where the roasty bitterness of the stout complements the smoky, sweet glaze of the ribs. It also pairs excellently with creamy, coconut-based curries or a decadent coconut and dark chocolate dessert. The beer’s vanilla notes will heighten the richness of the dessert, offering a delightful contrast to the spice of the curry.
Siren Craft Brew ~ Marshmallow Mountain 5.1% Chocolate Marshmallow Porter
Siren Craft Brew's Marshmallow Mountain is a decadent and indulgent porter that combines the comforting flavours of chocolate and marshmallow with an unexpected depth. At 5.1%, it is a beer that is rich but not overwhelming, offering a smooth body that showcases the luxurious mouthfeel of marshmallow. The malt base provides a solid foundation of caramel, toffee, and biscuity sweetness, which perfectly complements the dark chocolate notes from the Venezuelan cacao nibs. Hints of vanilla round off the flavour, making each sip creamy and comforting.
Interesting Fact: The cacao nibs in Marshmallow Mountain come from Venezuela, renowned for its rich and nuanced chocolate beans. By using high-quality cacao, Siren Craft Brew elevates the traditional porter into something special, giving it a full, round chocolate flavour that interacts beautifully with the marshmallow character.
Pairing Suggestions: This marshmallow porter is a perfect match for a rich, chocolate dessert like molten lava cake or a dense chocolate cheesecake. For a savoury option, try pairing it with a blue cheese and walnut salad. The creaminess and slight tang of the cheese balance out the sweetness of the beer, while the walnuts enhance the beer’s roasted and biscuity flavours. This beer is also an excellent companion for a night of board games and snacking, especially with some lightly salted caramel popcorn.
Wilde Child ~ Insatiable Circumstance 5.1% Caramel Latte Porter
Wilde Child’s Insatiable Circumstance is a velvety caramel latte porter that combines the seductive flavours of coffee, caramel, and cream. This beer is a rich experience, with each sip delivering a luscious blend of roasted coffee, dark caramel, and a touch of creaminess, thanks to the addition of lactose. The malt profile is further enhanced by a smooth mouthfeel, giving the beer a decadent texture that lingers long after each sip. The oatmeal and milk stout characteristics give it a slight sweetness that rounds out the bitterness from the coffee.
Interesting Fact: The use of lactose in this porter adds a creaminess that complements the caramel and coffee flavours. Lactose is a sugar derived from milk, and while it does not ferment into alcohol, it contributes to the body and sweetness of the beer, making it an ideal ingredient for a dessert-like porter.
Pairing Suggestions: Insatiable Circumstance is ideal with breakfast foods, particularly those featuring caramel or toffee, such as sticky toffee pudding or caramelized banana pancakes. It also pairs wonderfully with rich, creamy desserts like tiramisu or crème brûlée, where the beer’s smooth, coffee-like flavour enhances the richness of the dessert. For something savoury, enjoy it with a sharp cheddar or smoked gouda, as the beer’s creamy sweetness complements the bold, tangy flavours of the cheese.
Blackjack ~ All Angels 5.0% American-Style Brown Ale VG
All Angels from Blackjack Brewery is a standout American-style brown ale, showcasing an exciting balance between malt sweetness and hop bitterness. With its characteristic horse chestnut brown hue and light tan head, the beer offers aromas of grapefruit, pine resin, and a touch of chocolate. The flavour is a delightful mix of coffee, toffee, and hop bitterness, with the piney, resinous hops providing a fresh counterpoint to the malt-driven sweetness. The mouthfeel is rich and chewy, with a lingering bitterness that invites another sip.
Interesting Fact: All Angels is inspired by the American brown ale style, which was created as a hybrid between British brown ales and the more hop-forward beers of the US. The choice of hops like Ella, Talus, and Columbus imparts not only a pleasant bitterness but also unique aromas of citrus and pine, which enhance the beer’s profile and make it a standout in its style.
Pairing Suggestions: Pair this brown ale with hearty dishes like roast beef or a classic beef burger, where the malt sweetness and the hoppy bitterness create a harmonious balance. It is also great with smoked meats or a rich chili, where the beer’s flavour complements the bold, savoury notes of the dish. For dessert, try it with a pecan pie or a salted caramel brownie, where the beer’s coffee and toffee notes enhance the caramelized sugars in the dessert.
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Wilderness ~ Love Me Anyway 5.0% Apricot Sour VG
Wilderness’s Love Me Anyway is a vibrant and refreshing apricot sour that offers a delightful balance of tartness and fruitiness. The beer pours a pale, hazy yellow with a frothy white head, signalling its light body and effervescent carbonation. The first sip is an invigorating burst of sharp, citrus-like tang that quickly transitions into the sweet juiciness of apricots. The wheat base adds a slight creaminess, while the Lactobacillus and Hornindal Kveik yeast contribute an intriguing depth of flavour. The macerated apricots infuse the beer with a delightful fruitiness that lingers, alongside hints of the skin and stone that ground the beer in its fruit-forward nature.
Interesting Fact: The use of Hornindal Kveik yeast in Love Me Anyway adds a unique character that’s becoming increasingly popular in modern sour brewing. Kveik, a traditional Norwegian yeast, is known for its high fermentation temperature tolerance and its ability to produce fruity, estery flavours that complement the apricot. Coupled with Lactobacillus, a bacteria responsible for sourness, this combination enhances the beer’s refreshing tartness without overpowering the delicate fruit notes.
Pairing Suggestions: This beer’s bright acidity and juicy apricot flavours make it an excellent match for light and fresh dishes. Try it with a goat cheese salad, where the tanginess of the cheese pairs perfectly with the sour and fruity notes. It also complements seafood, particularly grilled scallops or prawns, where the subtle sweetness of the fruit enhances the natural flavours of the shellfish. For dessert, consider pairing it with a lemon meringue pie or a fruit sorbet, where the beer’s crispness and fruitiness create a refreshing contrast to the sweetness.
Pilot ~ Philly Cherry Sour 5.0% Sour VG
Pilot’s Philly Cherry Sour offers a delightful dive into the world of sour beers, specifically the Philly sour style. This beer is packed with the juicy, tart goodness of morello cherries, making every sip a sweet and tangy experience. The vibrant cherry notes are complemented by a soft, pleasant sourness, with just a touch of funk from the fermentation process. The beer’s body is light and refreshing, with a gentle carbonation that enhances its spritziness. The use of wild fermentation in the Philly sour style gives it a slightly unique, fruity, and tart flavour profile that sets it apart from other fruit sours.
Interesting Fact: The Philly sour strain used in this beer is a hybrid wild yeast that not only ferments the beer but also produces lactic acid during fermentation, creating a natural sourness. This yeast is unique to the Philly sour style, providing a distinctively juicy, tart character with a smooth mouthfeel. The addition of morello cherries further intensifies the sour fruitiness, making it an ideal representation of the style.
Pairing Suggestions: The bright and juicy cherry flavours of this sour beer are perfect for pairing with charcuterie, especially with salty meats like prosciutto or salami, where the tartness of the beer cuts through the richness. It’s also fantastic with rich, creamy cheeses like brie or camembert, which contrast nicely with the beer’s sharpness. For dessert, this cherry sour would be great alongside a cherry clafoutis or a dark chocolate tart, where the beer’s acidity enhances the fruity and rich flavours of the dessert.
Vault City ~ Love Hurts 4.2% Strawberry Sherbet Session Sour VG
Vault City’s Love Hurts is a nostalgic, sherbet-inspired strawberry sour that brings all the tangy, fruity goodness of summer in a glass. This session sour, at a moderate 4.2% ABV, delivers a mouth-puckering combination of juicy Scottish strawberries and zesty citrus fruits. The sherbet-like tang adds a layer of effervescent sweetness, giving it a playful, candy-like quality. The mixed fermentation base contributes a subtle funk that rounds out the sharp fruit flavours with a clean, refreshing finish.
Interesting Fact: The beer’s inspiration comes from classic sherbet sweets, with Vault City’s team expertly capturing the tart, fizzy sensation of sherbet powder in liquid form. The use of Scottish strawberries ensures the beer has a rich, fruity character that adds depth to the sharpness of the citrus. This combination of fruit-forward flavours with a tangy sour base creates an irresistibly fun drinking experience.
Pairing Suggestions: The tangy and fruity nature of Love Hurts makes it a perfect match for sweet, fruit-based desserts. Pair it with a strawberry shortcake or a fresh fruit tart, where the beer’s acidity and sherbet tang enhance the sweetness of the fruit. For something savoury, try it with a goat cheese and strawberry salad, where the beer’s tartness balances the creaminess of the cheese and the sweetness of the strawberries. It would also work wonderfully with a light, citrusy ceviche, where the beer’s refreshing qualities complement the bright flavours of the seafood.
71 Brewing ~ Mr Blue Sky 5.5% Blueberry Sour VG
Mr Blue Sky from 71 Brewing is a vibrant and tangy fruited sour that showcases the juicy brightness of rescued blueberries. The beer’s slightly hazy appearance is matched by a refreshing tartness, with the blueberries providing a deep, fruity base that plays beautifully against the tangy sourness. The sharp acidity is tempered by the natural sweetness of the blueberries, creating a balanced and easy-drinking beer. The addition of sea salt enhances the refreshing qualities of the beer, while a subtle hint of bitterness lingers on the finish, adding a layer of complexity to the clean and crisp flavour profile.
Interesting Fact: Mr Blue Sky is brewed with 216kg of rescued blueberries, sourced as part of a partnership with Transition Dundee, a local charity supporting food waste initiatives. By using surplus fruit that would otherwise go to waste, 71 Brewing is not only creating a delicious beer but also contributing to environmental sustainability. A portion of the proceeds from each sale is donated to the charity, making this beer both a great choice for the palate and a positive contribution to the community.
Pairing Suggestions: The bright, fruity flavours of Mr Blue Sky are a natural match for light, refreshing dishes. Try it with a fresh summer salad featuring mixed greens, goat cheese, and roasted beets, where the beer’s acidity complements the earthy sweetness of the beets and the tanginess of the goat cheese. For dessert, pair it with a lemon and blueberry cheesecake or a berry sorbet, where the blueberry notes in the beer enhance the fruitiness of the dessert. It also works well with seafood, particularly grilled fish or sushi, where the beer’s refreshing qualities enhance the delicate flavours of the seafood.