Quantum Brewing Co. – Pale Ale

Brewery –          Quantum Brewing Company

Beer –                 Pale Ale

ABV –                 4.5%

Origin –              Stockport, England

Style –                IPA

Season –            Summer

Summer Evenings are the time for big hoppy ales to quench the thirst and excite the tongue, and Quantum’s Pale does the trick!

What first drew my attention to this ale was the fact that the hops that go in each batch are different and are chosen by followers on twitter! Ooooh how novel! But seriously engaging the drinker in decisions regarding the beer is genius! No wonder they claim to be innovative on the bottle!

This particular batch has Maryanka, Celeia, Chinook, Cluster, and Perle hops as it’s make up, but what matters most is that there’s a hell of a lot of them.

The nose is rife with them, floral yet crisp with hints of tropical fruits.

The heavy hop content give this beer all you’d expect of a good IPA. Robust bitterness contrasted by sweet passionfruit, fresh and invigorating. Not death by hops like other ales but not sweet and sickly. A far more balanced grown up IPA, and a 4.5% it’s not going to ruin your weekend! The finish has a developing bitterness that lingers, but it’s dry and cider like.

Slightly cloudy, bright, brilliant, fresh and inviting, a great ale, flavoursome but not daft and overdone.

 

 

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Coronado Brewing Co. – Idiot IPA

Brewery –           Coronado

Beer –                  Idiot IPA

Alcohol –             8.5%

Origin –              Coronado, California

Style –                American IPA

Season –           Spring

Apt name me thinks. Not for those who purchase this beverage but in reverence to the person who decided to hop the hell out of this ale. Whomever you are I salute you!

Okay let’s get the formalities out the way so we can get onto the elephant in the room.

One sexy looking beer. Golden Amber Orange, lively and vibrant with a white cloudy frothy overflowing head.

Citrusy and oddly spicy and tingly on the nose which I think is to do with the hops jumping out to grab your nose hairs.

Now let’s get down to business…

I have never tasted such a hoppy mother in all my life! It hits you like a headbutt, and I’ve got a 6 month old son so I know what a headbutt feels like!

Insanely bitter grapefruit tongue swelling flavours bombard the mouth with just a slither of sweetness keeping you from throwing in the towel.

It’s a mouth cleanser alright,; garlic gone, coffee cleared, onions ousted… a between courses palate neutraliser.

Its bitterness is so intense that it almost has a charcoal like finish; abrasive and crisp.

As you can imagine, Bitter would be the word to describe the finish, however there is a satisfying warming syrupy alcohol feeling that develops down the throat which helps contrast the crazy hoppy bitter madness!

Currently Hoppy the frogs most hoppy of ales!

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Brooklyn – Local 1

Brewery –          Brooklyn Brewery

Beer –                  Local 1

Alcohol –           9%

Origin –              Brookyln, New York

Style –               Strong American IPA

Season –          Spring

I’ve wanted to try this beer for a good while now but at a tenner a bottle from Chester Beer & Wine, it’s quite an expense when the pennies are tight.

But you only live once and I finally took the plunge. I’d seen this beer in the ‘1001 Beers to try before you die’ beer bible my brother bought me for Christmas and it certainly lived up to my expectations.

At 9% this is one to drink slowly, thoughtfully, and with reverence, but it’s bloody hard to do with a beer this good. Perhaps this is why I have a slightly fuzzy head this fair morn.

A stunning looking beer; cloudy and bright, with a golden orange hue. Bubbly, lively, and vibrant.

Strangely aromatic on the nose bursting with citrus notes but with a slight hint of sweet bubblegum, and punch.

The first swig provides a hit of strong alcohol flavour that gets right to the back of the throat, but then the complex flavours kick in. Crisp Pear flavours make this ale surprisingly airy for its high alcohol content. A beautiful crisp and fizzy mouthfeel are a result of its high level of carbonation, but then this gives way to a vague spiciness with further apple and pear notes on the palate. The finish is crisp, cider-like and tart, leading to a warming alcohol finish.

Certainly one to savour, wonderfully satisfying, and a great example of an American take on a strong Belgian beer.

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Anchor – Liberty Ale

Brewery –           Anchor Brewing Co.

Beer –                  Liberty Ale

Alcohol –            5.9%

Origin –              San Fransisco, California

Style –                American IPA

Season –            Summer

A beautifully cloudy American IPA, Citrusy Orang Bouquet, Fresh and Enticing.

Zingy Lemony on the Tongue with a honey undertone, leading to a bitter-sweet finish.

American IPA’s tend to have a very floral citrusy backbone, and this is no exception. A great beer for a Summers night, full of flavour.

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