BEER REVIEW: 130

BREWER: Vibrant Forest, Hampshire, England

STYLE: Pale Ale

ABV: 4.5%

VESSEL: 440ml tin

DATE POSTED: 4th April 2020

 

SAMMY SAY’S…

There are things in life that are good. They fit the bill. They tick boxes and make you happy. But they could be better. They almost hit the mark; they’re close but you feel they’ve left something in the tank. And then the whole overall experience, while being ok, is just a little bit of a let down.

Pupa is like that.

It’s got lots going for it. And I like it. But it somehow just falls short. It’s light and crisp. And the nose is great. But the drinking, it’s just not packing enough of a punch. And for some beers, that works really well. But for Pupa, it feels like it stops too early. It’s got more to give but it’s held back.

I don’t want to be hard on it because Pupa is good. It could just be better. And that’s a bit of a problem for it because there are beers out that in its class that are better. A lot better.

Oh well, you can’t have everything…

Sammy’s Rating: 77%

 

JYMI SAY’S…

The New Forest, a quintessentially English region of Great Britain. It bares such quaint towns like Lyndhurst and Lymington, as well as hundreds of idyllic English villages. Relatively left alone on the south coast, if you ever have the good fortune to drive through certain areas of the New Forest, wild horses roam freely across the roads, whilst seemingly endless landscapes are in abundance. It really is just a splendid part of England’s green and pleasant land.
Now, Vibrant Forest have waltzed along with their rather multicoloured neon flag and jammed it straight in that New Forest ground. A pretty brave move. This packaging is hardly quintessentially English and I’m sure this beer isn’t going to be either.
The packaging is fantastic however! So sinister yet bright, dark yet…Vibrant. FANTASTIC!

Let’s see if the beer is…

Well it’s not fantastic, but it is very good.
It all starts with the olfactory thrill of passionfruit up the schnozz. It makes this pale alluring beyond belief. Next is that first sip… well the passionfruit does not transfer from hooter to moosh but the flavour is still good and one of citrus. Pupa is also lovely and dry which complements the flavours nicely. However, where this brew falls down, I believe, is in the body. It’s too thin for me and detracts from all the positives already mentioned. It just needs to be a bit fuller to take it up a wee notch towards greatness and beyond.

But all said, this is without doubt a good beer and if I saw it again I would happily dive into a few.

Jymi’s Rating: 80%

 

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 78.5% 

MOB review next weekend: 5/4 FAVOURITE by ASCOT BREWING COMPANY

M O B 2020