BREWER: Fuller’s, West London, England
STYLE: IPA
ABV: 5.3%
VESSEL: 500ml brown bottle
TWITTER: @Fullers
INSTAGRAM: fullers
DATE POSTED: 20th October 2017
JYMI SAY’S…
I once knew a chap called Phil*. Now, my first impression of Phil was not a good one. I know you should never judge a book by its cover, but there was something about him that didn’t sit well with me. I think it was his dress sense. However, once we got chatting it soon materialised that he was a really good guy, dry sense of humour, but a really good guy….
Which brings me seamlessly to the Bengal Lancer.. The MIGHTY BENGAL LANCER!! Now, much like Phil, the packaging is hideous and not appealing whatsoever. I think it’s the purple, though it’s my favourite colour, it’s just not working here. But, once you delve deeper things start to improve considerably!
This is an exceptional ale. I truly adore it. There is just something about it that puts it above your everyday ‘classics’. It comes across quite dry, which is what I like about it, and I’m sure I picked up some hints of coriander along the way.
Awful looking but let us not forget that it’s what’s inside that really counts, and what’s inside is fantastic.
Phil, should you ever read this, I am not implying that YOU have hints of coriander.
*Phil is not Phil’s real name, and there is a small chance he doesn’t actually exist.
Jymi’s Rating: 74%
SAMMY SAY’S…
With big breweries come big beer ranges. And while that means there’s a wide range of selection for the consumer, it also means that each beer runs the risk of being easily lost amongst the crowd.
Bengal Lancer is strong in all areas but stands out in none. It has a good nose and is easy to drink one after the other and it doesn’t lose its appeal. The taste is deep, while not commanding any domain of its own in the beer world, and will leave a wide range of different beer drinkers feeling fully satisfied. And therein lies, perhaps, the biggest strength of Bengal Lancer: it will appeal to a wide range of ale drinkers, from the seasoned pro to the newby. But it’s probably fair to say that, save for a small handful, it won’t be topping the favourites list.
So does Bengal Lancer fall off the metaphorical beer cliff without leaving a distinctive mark of its own? It most certainly doesn’t, it stands tall amongst the huge Fuller’s range and will not disappoint on any level. That having been said, Bengal Lancer has no unique quirks about it, which launch it to the level of being a standout beer. But hey, very often being good at being normal has its strengths. Bengal Lancer is well worth its place in the Fuller’s fleet.
Sammy’s Rating: 75%
MUSE ON BOOZE 