BREWER: Twickenham, West London, England
STYLE: Premium Bitter
ABV: 4.7%
VESSEL: 500ml brown bottle
TWITTER: @TwickenhamAles
INSTAGRAM: twickenhamales
DATE OF POST: 12th September 2021
JYMI SAY’S…
Bitter. Best Bitter. Premium Bitter. What’s the difference?
Well I suppose it is very easy to say the latter is better than the prior and the one in between is just that. But why would it be better?
Quality of ingredients used? Care taken in the brew? Small batch brewing to ensure quality?
The actual answer is that this is a murky world and the difference is what you make of it. A small example of just how beer styles are being confused nowadays. The fact the term Session IPA exists and is an oxymoron pretty much sums this up.
HOWEVER, Wolf of the Woods is described as a Premium Bitter and is utterly sensational so maybe just maybe, Premium Bitters are better than Bitters? Whatever, it’s subjective, I’m moving on…
As already stated, WOTW is an absolute belter of a brew! Twickenham Brewery have completely smashed it, honestly.
A huge beery, hoppy and slightly sweet nose leads the way. My notes said, “this is what beer should smell like”. Next up is the sip and it is straight down to business with a beautiful grassy lemon hop bite (not the biscuity malt suggested on our label, but I was totally OK with that). The aftertaste then contains all mentioned above and goes on and on and on! Sensational stuff.
There is not much more to say.
Find it, drink it, love it.
Jymi’s Rating: 91%
SAMMY SAY’S…
They say you shouldn’t reinvent the wheel. Take that to mean what you will, but basically we shouldn’t be trying to make something that’s already good even better. And that could be applied to British bitter. There are so many well established brands out there smashing this part of the beer market. There’s some absolute behemoths that have their loyal following, who are unwilling to waver from their well trodden path.
So, taking that into account, I love it when a small brewery attempts to reinvent the wheel. And that’s exactly what Twickenham is doing with Wolf of the Woods, which is a modern British bitter.
I have to say, it’s incredibly good. In fact, it’s one of the better bitters I have had in a long while. Surprisingly not too bitter, WOTW is very well balanced. Although it might be quite simple, it’s very well rounded with a nice subtle bitter pull at the end.
Not dominated by hops, it still packs enough burnt caramel flavour to make it interesting. WOTW is a very good beer. It’s well conceived and well executed.
This one’s well worth a go! Fabulous.
Sammy’s Rating: 92%
MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 91.5%
MOB review next weekend: ERDINGER WEISSBIER by ERDINGER
MUSE ON BOOZE 