BEER REVIEW: 345

BREWER: Buxton Brewery, Derbyshire, England

STYLE: NEIPA

ABV: 4.8%

VESSEL: 440ml tin

X: @BuxtonBrewery

INSTAGRAM: buxtonbrewery

DATE OF POST: 17th May 2024

 

JYMI SAY’S…

Well, there are a few talking points for this one…

NAME: Now, I’m glad Buxton have made reference to the 90s rock track by the then 3 piece Northern Irish rock ensemble, Ash. If they hadn’t I think this would have annoyed me slightly and marks would certainly have been docked. But they have, so they haven’t, and because of this I actually don’t mind the name we have for our beer here at all.

STYLE: So, our tin has informed us the drinker, that the vessel is housing a New England East Coast IPA. I’m not sure I agree with them. Yes, it’s hazy enough in the pour. Yes there are tropical vibes and a sweetness upfront. But it moves to a way more bitter finish than it should have if it’s supposed to be a NEIPA. For me this is more of a Mountain IPA (East Coast / West Coast hybrid). Style wise aside all good, as this brew is fairly tasty, moving from sweet to bitter as you go but as far as this being a New England IPA, I think they’ve missed the brief here.

STRENGTH: So, again, we’re told this is a session beer. And to be fair, it would work well as one, as GFM is light and easy drinking. My issue comes with the ABV. Though 4.8% isn’t strong, it’s by no means weak either. To label a brew as a sessioner, I do think 4.8% is a little on the strong side. In saying that it’s too week just to call it a straight IPA so yet again we’ve landed in-between two worlds.

All in all Girl From Mars, isn’t an East Coast beer, isn’t a West Coast beer, isn’t really a session beer but is too weak to call an IPA.

But when the dust has settled, it is fairly nice.

Jymi’s Rating: 64%

 

SAMMY SAY’S…

Strap in, folks! Today, we’re blasting off on a cosmic adventure with Girl From Mars – a brew that promises to take your taste buds on a journey to the outer reaches of the beer-verse. With its quirky name, which is based on the song by Ash, and stellar packaging, this beer has us reaching for the stars. But will it leave us soaring high or cause us to come crashing back down to Earth?

First off, let’s give an acknowledgment to the thinking behind the name Girl From Mars: this beer is part of Buxton’s BritHop series (yes – this series of brews is inspired by the British music scene of the 90s). Another way to view the whole theme of this brew, that it’s like a sci-fi movie meets a beer festival, and we’re here for it! Plus, the packaging is out of this world – it’s got us feeling like we’re about to embark on an intergalactic quest with our trusty six-pack in tow. Beam us up, Scotty!

As I crack open a can of Girl From Mars, our olfactory senses are greeted by the all too familiar grapefruit aroma that’s as refreshing as a blast of cool space air. It’s like a cosmic kiss from a celestial citrus fruit, beckoning us to take that first sip and launch into drinking hyperspace.

Girl From Mars is like the quirky indie band at a music festival – not quite headliner material, but still worth a listen. Pouring into the glass, it’s hazy like a nebula, setting the stage for a taste experience that’s out of this world. As a session NEIPA, it’s not the superstar of the galaxy, but at 4.8%, it’s got enough kick to send your taste buds into orbit, albeit a lowly one. 

The flavour? Well, let’s just say it’s as predictable as a space opera – all the usual suspects with no surprises. But hey, sometimes you just want a beer that gets the job done, and Girl From Mars does just that.

Despite its shortcomings, Girl From Mars is a beer that knows how to keep you coming back for more.  It’s as easy to drink as a glass of tangy space juice. Sure, it may not be the most complex NEIPA in the galaxy, but sometimes you don’t need complexity – you just need a beer that’s as reliable as your trusty rocket ship. So, here’s to Girl From Mars – may your adventures in beerland be as endless as the universe itself!

Sammy’s Rating: 64%

 

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 64%

MOB review next weekend: BLOOD ORANGE LAGER by JUBEL BEER

Sammy & Jymi – Musing on Booze weekly since 2017

Twitter: @museonbooze

Instagram: muse.on.booze

museonbooze.com