BEER REVIEW: 399

BREWER: Polly’s, Flintshire, Wales

STYLE: IPA

ABV: 5.6%

VESSEL: 440ml tin

DATE OF POST: 30th May 2025

 

SAMMY SAY’S…

Ah, what a delight it is to explore a beer that attempts to capture the delicate essence of the garden. Rosebud presents itself with the gentle embrace of a well-tended flower bed, drawing you in with aromas that transport you straight to an English summer’s afternoon—where roses unfurl their petals and citrus fruits glisten in the sunshine.

Upon lifting the glass, the nose is instantly met with a bright and fragrant bouquet: soft rose mingles effortlessly with crisp grapefruit. It’s a scent that promises intrigue, much like a garden in bloom—subtle, balanced, and evocative.

Now, on to the sip itself—where the true nature of this brew reveals itself. The rose carries through but plays a modest role, settling beneath the surface rather than bursting forth like a climber scaling a trellis. A gentle sweetness emerges—honeydew melon, almost—giving the beer a rounded and smooth character. The bitterness is reserved, allowing the floral and fruity notes to weave together like intertwined vines, creating a gentle but enjoyable drinking experience.

One might wish for the rose to assert itself with greater confidence, standing proudly like the centrepiece of a well-designed border. Yet, even in its restraint, Rosebud brings a touch of garden elegance to the table—a beer that echoes the tranquility of a flowering landscape, pleasant and easygoing.

A quiet floral companion, lovely in its subtlety, though a bolder bloom would have made for a more memorable sip.

Sammy’s Rating: 73%

 

JYMI SAY’S…

I think one could be forgiven for expecting the flavour of rose or rose water when approaching a brew named Rosebud. And that may well be the case (I haven’t opened it yet, you see). I have to admit, I checked the info on the can pre-crack to see if that was going to be the case. Sadly, our brewer today has decided to give us absolutely no information on the beer—other than the four hops used (and what a hop quartet it is, to be fair: Citra, Galaxy, Mosaic, and Simcoe!). I’m concluding that, with this hop lineup, there’ll be no taste of rose… but hey, you never really know!

Let’s get to work.
And, predictably, there isn’t! What there is a taste of—again, predictably—is an abundance of stone fruits, thanks to those four powerhouse hops. But where Rosebud really excels is in the mouthfeel. It’s not just that it’s smooth (which it is). No, it’s the texture transitions that really stand out in this brew.

See, once it goes in your gob, Rosebud has a very thick mouthfeel. Not only is it thick, but it’s juicy too. Then comes the masterstroke. On the swallow, the texture shifts to more of a medium body, instantly making the beer more drinkable. You get the luxurious flavour and thickness upfront to mellow into, but then a sessionable, easy-drinking medium body to keep things ticking over nicely. It’s the perfect mouthfeel setup, to be fair.

On a side note, I’d just like to mention how this beer looks—in both tin art and in the glass. In the glass, it looks fantastic, as Polly’s brews always do. Normally, I’d be saying the same about the packaging…

I’m not sure why (actually, I think I am sure why), but our North Welsh brewer has left behind their distinctive teardrop-only logo on the front of the tin, making way for the brewery name and an infinitely smaller logo. It still makes the can look okay overall—just—but it’s a large step away from how utterly fantastic their cans used to look.

Have confidence in your brand. Embrace the mystique.

Still, overall? A good beer, this.

Jymi’s Rating: 77%

 

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 75%

MOB review next weekend: MILESTONE by DARK ELEMENT

Sammy & Jymi – Musing on Booze weekly since 2017

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M O B 2025