BEER REVIEW: 466

BREWER: Mourne Mountains Brewery, County Down, Northern Ireland

STYLE: West Coast Pale Ale

ABV: 4.8%

VESSEL: 440ml tin

DATE OF POST: 11th September 2026

 

SAMMY SAY’S…

Little Creatures pours a clear brown. If I’m honest, this aspect feel more like a best bitter that’s wandered into unfamiliar territory than a west coast IPA. From the start it seems like a beer without much defence, a small creature in a landscape full of louder, sharper, more confident brews. There’s no roar, no bite, nothing that hints it might stand its ground when the bigger beasts come sniffing. It feels gentle, almost timid, as though it hopes clarity alone will keep it safe in the beer wild.

The nose is where it briefly shows some life. Pineapple and grapefruit come through nicely, with citrus tucked behind and a pleasant hop suggestion that gives it a little lift. It’s genuinely appealing, a small creature chirping from the undergrowth, trying to be noticed. But even here, the aroma doesn’t quite build into anything that might scare off the competition. It’s pleasant, not powerful.

On the palate it opens with lemon before a bitterness settles in and lingers. The problem is the body: it’s thin, too thin, and the flavours don’t have anything to cling to. The bitterness tries to growl but comes out more like a squeak, and the citrus notes feel exposed, unable to build into something more assertive. It’s a beer that wants to make noise but doesn’t have the weight or presence to follow through.

By the end, Little Creatures feels perfectly named. It’s meek, mild, and in real danger of being eaten alive by bolder beers roaming the shelves around it. It’s ok, but it plays such a straight bat that it never really threatens to stand out. In the beer wild, this one survives only if the predators are feeling generous.

Sammy’s Rating: 53%

 

JYMI SAY’S…

Are you after something in particular? An American accented man hollered at me.

Only something local matey, so I can write about it for my beer blog.

I was pursuing the craft beer section of an independent bottle shop in Newcastle, Northern Ireland. Set to climb Slieve Donard the next morning, I had been tasked to find wine to pair with our carb loaded dinner and thought this an oppo to pick something up for me and Sammy to put under review.

Oh, so you’re not from around here then?, I swear the American accent intensified and by the look in the dudes eyes he was just begging me to reply with a, you don’t sound like you’re from round here either son?

I didn’t.

No mate. Here to go up that big lumpa rock tomorrow to raise a bit of money for a charity.

What? The mountain that is currently covered in wildfire?

Pardon?

You’re climbing the fire mountain?

Sorry dude, what are you on about?

The other side of Donard is on fire, look you can see the ash on my car outside.

His was the only car in the street that had ash on it.

Haha, this is a classic wind up for tourist climbers isn’t it?! I can tell you’re on the blag bruh.

NO, I’m serious, he continued.

Cool cool, said I.

I bought a nice French Sav Blanc and a brace of Little Creatures and got the fuck out of there.

Turns out when we peaked the mountain the next day, the otherside had been on fire and was still smoking!

Let the moral of this story be what you want it to be.

 

Anyway,

Little Creatures made it back to MOBHQ intact and a month or so later, it was time to test…

OK, this beer is flamin’ wonderful!

Pouring a BEAUTIFUL amber and bringing a nose of caramel and toffee this was only ever going one way. And sure enough in gob that flavour (though not complex) was there but instantly balanced by the West Coast hoppy bitter vibe. Just brilliant. Mild sweetness upfront and then a cheek tingling bitterness to temper it. With a mouthfeel as smooth as a weather worn pebble this beer is a delight.

At 4.8% I marvel at this quality but could only help thinking that if this sucker was 5.8% we could have been approaching ULTRA levels here. The lack of complexity may still have held this little creature back however.

But when all is said and done, this is a marvellous brew.

Jymi’s Rating: 89%

 

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 71%

MOB review next weekend: BACCHUS KRIEKENBIER by BROUWERIJ VAN HONSEBROUCK

Sammy & Jymi – Musing on Booze weekly since 2017

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M O B 2026