BEER REVIEW: 463
BREWER: NOA, Lezayre, Isle of Man
STYLE: Hazy Pale Ale
ABV: 4.5%
VESSEL: 440ml tin
DATE OF POST: 21st August 2026
SAMMY SAY’S…
The Fresh Prince of Lezayre enters the glass like it’s ready to drop a beat, hazy straw yellow and looking the part even if the story behind the name feels like it had to take the long way round to get there. The concept is good, not new, but it’s got that Bread to Brew charm and the blurb on the back of the can tries hard to sell the tale. You can almost hear it warming up, trying to summon a little swagger.
There’s a subtle tropical nose, like a quiet hook rather than a full chorus. Nothing loud, nothing wild, just a soft suggestion of fruit drifting through. On the sip it stays in that middle lane: average drinking, hints of hops, a touch of mango, and a slight bitter pull right at the back. Only slight, though. The mouthfeel is medium to light, which actually works in its favour, keeping things easy and breezy.
This isn’t a world beater, not the kind of beer that’s going to flip the script or take the crown, but it’s ok. It’s the kind of brew that shows up, does its job, nods politely, and heads home. The name is fun, the idea is playful, and even if the story stretches a bit to land the Fresh Prince angle, the beer itself keeps things simple. A concept beer with a smile, not a mic drop.
Sammy’s Rating: 53%
JYMI SAY’S…
For those of you paying attention, you’ll know that over the past four years I have scaled Snowdon, Scafell Pike, Ben Nevis and Slieve Donard — the highest peaks in Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland respectively. I was accompanied by my sister and brother-in-law, raising money for Thames Hospice, who cared for our late Mum in her final weeks
The plan for year five was to take on Carrauntoohil, the highest peak in the Republic of Ireland. However, after some research, it turns out that we aren’t experienced enough climbers to take on this particular lump of rock, so we’ve had to pivot. More on this later…
Going into this brew review, two things were on my mind. Firstly, although the play on words for the name is a good one, it didn’t really do it for me, if I’m honest. Secondly, without putting too much, or indeed any, thought into it, I just assumed that Lezayre was a Greek destination that I hadn’t heard of. Or maybe somewhere I thought I had heard of but clearly hadn’t, because it’s not.
All became clear when reading the can info. It tells us that this brew is brewed on the Isle of Man. It also tells us that Lezayre is the region of the island that lays claim to having its highest peak. You can see where I’m going with this, can’t you?
Now, since Carrauntoohil is off the cards, we came up with the idea of hitting the top spot of the Isle of Man. From there, you can see Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. A very fitting concluding climb.
Well, if you can call it a climb…
Snaefell stands at a mere 2,037 feet, less than half the height of Ben Nevis. However, the total route is 13 miles long, and with that elevation, it will still be a good workout.
On our can it asks: “Who is the Fresh Prince of Lezayre?”
The answer? Whoever is exploring the area around Snaefell.
So, in 7 months’ time, I, along with my sister, brother-in-law and, this time, my wife too, will all be The Fresh Prince of Lezayre.
Pretty cool.
Anyway, after all that, how’s the beer, you may ask? And you would be correct to do so…
Well, decidedly average, I’m afraid.
A not unpleasant but mediocre citrus nose leads the way. The initial taste is quite green and young. This usually means the Mosaic hop is involved, or that the beer has only recently been canned, but neither was the case here. Most curious.
The mouthfeel upfront is great, but it does come unstuck a little in the swallow. The taste is certainly one of citrus, but I honestly couldn’t tell you what fruit or fruits. Nothing was sticking its hand up to be counted.
The body is medium, allowing for easy drinking, but is ultimately to the detriment of the brew. A medium to low bitterness concludes TFPoL.
All in all, a pleasant enough hazy pale, but it could, and probably should, have been a whole lot better.
Jymi’s Rating: 63%
MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 58%
MOB review next weekend: EARLY PICK MOTUEKA by TWO FLINTS + BEAK
Sammy & Jymi – Musing on Booze weekly since 2017
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M O B 2026
