BEER REVIEW: 383

BREWER: Queer Brewing, East London, England

STYLE: IPA

ABV: 5.8%

VESSEL: 440ml tin

DATE OF POST: 7th February 2025

 

SAMMY SAY’S…

This beer has a strong concept and purpose.  Coming from Queer Brewing, it is rooted in supporting and championing LGBTQ+ communities.  In this case, Urge to Merge is drawing attention to lesbians and this is well developed in the concept.

Urge to Merge offers a light, refreshing profile dominated by grapefruit and cut grass flavours. It’s straightforward and crisp, making it an enjoyable beer, though it lacks the complexity some may crave.  Easy to sip, this beer strikes a nice balance between lightness and hops, making it suitable for a casual drink or pairing with pizza.

While this beer is not a stand out great, it is very enjoyable and one that I’d have time and again.  It doesn’t particularly excel in any area but it does tick many boxes and before you know it, you’ve got to the bottom of your glass.

Sammy’s Rating: 73%

 

JYMI SAY’S…

I’m just going to mention a couple of negatives before I get the actual review of the beer itself underway (don’t worry, ultimately this is a cracker)…

As much as I love, and get, the tin art, I don’t actually like it very much (that makes perfect sense right??). Look, the concept and idea are sound. And once the creators had settled on this idea then the can was only ever going to look this way. My trouble with it is that, although it certainly stands out, I’m not too sure it looks all that appealing? Well, it certainly didn’t to me anyway.

Also, UTM pours very uncarbonated. Is this intentional? I honestly don’t know. But once in the glass I did worry that this could be a bad one due to the lack of any fizz.

I didn’t need to worry. Though I do think a little dial up on the bubbles could elevate this brew, I also think it’s an absolutely cracking drop. So complex without scrambling the ol’ brain. Let me explain…

UTM starts off with a soft element of coconut in the taste as well as giving it an ever so slightly creamy texture. A touch of lime also comes along cutting through the coconut and working its way in to perfectly balance this brew. The slight bitterness at the end rounds things off very nicely indeed. But it’s not until the aftertaste that Urge to Merge really lifts off. There are waves of again coconut and lime but other citrus fruits too just ebbing and flowing, coming and going, developing and fading in and out, dancing the tango on the tongue.

A very interesting and well brewed beer indeed. Hat’s off from Jymi.

Jymi’s Rating: 83%

 

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 78%

MOB review next weekend: TRIPEL KARMELIET by BROUWERJ BOSTEELS

Sammy & Jymi – Musing on Booze weekly since 2017

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