BREWER: Magic Rock Brewing, West Yorkshire

STYLE: IPA

ABV: 4.1%

VESSEL: 330ml tin

TWITTER: @MagicRockBrewCo

INSTAGRAM: magicrockbrewing

SAMMY SAY’S…

In hindsight, some decisions turn out to be absolute crackers, while others, sadly, are best never mentioned again. Of course, hindsight is a wonderful thing. And it’s something that we all have. High quality foresight, however, is much more of a rare thing. It’s strong foresight, with a pinch of luck, that makes people money and makes good ideas have legs.

The trouble I have with Bravado is that I’m just not sure that calling a beer Bravado is a good thing. I’m not convinced that it shows Bravado. To understand my doubt, you really have to think about what bravado means and when the reality dawns on you, this association with an alcoholic drink might not be the best idea ever.

But let’s strip back the name and find out what lies beneath it.

Firstly, there’s that old familiar tropical nose, which on this occasion is heavier on the grapefruit scale. Bravado is a great looking, light beer in the glass. It strikes me as moorish.

On the palate it’s very light and very refreshing. In fact, it very easy to drink and it’s very enjoyable to drink. While it may be short in length, it has a crisp tropical starting note followed by a very short bitter punch. This all makes Bravado a very enjoyable beer.

For me, Magic Rock may regret naming this beer Bravado because it’s a belter of a craft IPA but is let down by it’s name and dress. Hey, who knows? Maybe hindsight will prove me wrong…

Sammy’s Rating: 77%

JYMI SAY’S…

Key:

b – bravado

a – alcohol

boakh – bit of a knob head

So normally when the human action of bravado meets the consumption of alcohol the person that has brought this action and consumption together ends up looking like and actually being, a bit of a knob head. It’s not necessarily totally their fault. A bit of harmless bravado (though not really my cup of tea) is fine. And of course sipping on a few light ales of an evening is also perfectly acceptable. But more often than not when the two are brought together, especially in extreme cases, the end result is not particularly good for anyone.

b + a = boakh

Now what we have before us here is the collision of these two things once more. An IPA named (without too much thought it would seem) Bravado and a beer that contains… alcohol.

So is this session IPA that Magic Rock have put forward to the world a bit of a knob head?

Well, quite simply…. no.

It’s great. It really is.

You’re greeted by Bondesque opening credits of an can design and once cracked are then hit with a sharp tangerine blast up the nostrils. What then follows is an absolute delight. It soon becomes apparent that this ale is devastatingly smooth and soft at first but flavour then builds with bitter yet zingy smacks going on all over the place. Bravado then moves to a malty and bitter finish. Then comes the aftertaste… which is one that brings us full circle… the aftertaste is one of tangerine. Very clever…

… a bit like the thought, skill and process from the brewers to create such a beer.

BRAVADO

Sammy’s Rating: 77%

Jymi’s Rating: 83%

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 80%

MOB review next weekend: DANCE LIKE EVERYONE IS WATCHING by CLOUDWATER BREW CO.

THE SECOND MUSE ON BOOZE SUMMER OF GIN IS COMING

STARTS SATURDAY 1st JUNE

#MOBSOG2

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Sammy’s Rating: 77%

Jymi’s Rating: 83%

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 80%

MOB review next weekend: DANCE LIKE EVERYONE IS WATCHING by CLOUDWATER BREW CO.

THE SECOND MUSE ON BOOZE SUMMER OF GIN IS COMING

STARTS SATURDAY 1st JUNE

#MOBSOG2

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