BEER REVIEW: 296

BREWER: Firebrand Brewing Co., Cornwall, England

STYLE: Golden Ale

ABV: 5.6%

VESSEL: 440ml tin

DATE OF POST: 11th June 2023

 

JYMI SAY’S…

What is craft beer?

Well, according to the Google…

Craft beer is a beer that has been made by craft breweries (HAHA). They produce smaller amounts of beer, typically less than large breweries, and are often independently owned. Such breweries are generally perceived and marketed as having an emphasis on enthusiasm, new flavours, and varied brewing techniques.

The microbrewery movement began in both the United States and United Kingdom in the 1970s, although traditional artisanal brewing existed in Europe for centuries and subsequently spread to other countries. As the movement grew, and some breweries expanded their production and distribution, the more encompassing concept of craft brewing emerged.

Yep, I suppose that is fairly accurate, blimey! However in my head anyway, I separate craft beer from traditional beer. Even though a tiny little traditional brewery chucking out just a couple of kegs and a few hundred bottles of very much craft beer, I’m not sure I would use that word to describe them. And on the flip side the horror outfit that is BrewDog is so far away from our definition of craft it’s ridiculous but I would still describe their beer as craft beer.

So I suppose for me the separation of craft and traditional isn’t one of batch size but style and taste.

I personally associate craft beer with the likes of sours and double IPA etc and trad with best bitter and golden ale. You then get the obvious cross over of pale ale and IPA, but with the craft versions of these being very different from the trad ones. Just to throw something else into the mix… I had a VERY good bitter the other day from the craftiest of craft breweries essentially throwing any theory I, or Google may have on this matter!

Long and short, An Howl, our beer this week is a golden ale (traditional), but comes across in tin and taste as very craft beer for me (what I mean by that I no longer know after that extended opening gambit!).

But all in all let’s just let the packaging and brew do the talking shall we and forget all this what it actually is malarky.

Tin art wise, I’m a fan, a big fan actually. I wouldn’t say it was love at first sight but when understanding that An Howl means The Sun (in Cornish) and then fully absorbing the retro surfer vibe of the can, I kinda did fall in love.

Beer wise we’re onto a good one here that does seem to have nods to a traditional golden ale but certainly presenting as crafty.

There are plenty of orange, probably burnt orange notes going on from our quite dark in appearance golden ale. An Howl is zesty with a slightly bitter malty finish. It’s one down fall is it’s middle. The taste in the sip is good, though it does lose a bit of momentum but comes back with that good though by no means intense bitter end.

Is it craft? Is it trad? I no longer give a flying fig. But as my Granddad used to say, If you see The Sun, pick it up. 

Jymi’s Rating: 77%

 

SAMMY SAY’S…

First up, I like the name: An Howl. The sun. 

Second up, I like the can. It’s different. It’s original.  And it stands out. 

Third up, An Howl is a very good beer indeed. 

A golden ale is something to be admired. A golden ale done well is something to be cherished.  And so, we should cherish An Howl. 

It’s full of sweet melon and orange and finishes with a great citrus bitter after taste.  All of this lingers very pleasantly on the palate. And it’s supported by a fantastic rounded medium bodied presence in the mouth which gives you something to get hold of while you drink it. 

An Howl, rooted in Cornwall, is surely a beer for anywhere at anytime. 

Very well done, indeed. Cracking golden ale. 

Sammy’s Rating: 90%

 

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 83.5 %

MOB review next weekend: BAYRISCH HELL by SCHNEIDER’S

Sammy & Jymi – Musing on Booze weekly since 2017

Instagram: muse.on.booze

museonbooze.com

M O B 2023