BEER REVIEW: 424

BREWER: Siren Craft Brew, Berkshire, England

STYLE: IPA

ABV: 5.6%

VESSEL: 440ml tin

DATE OF POST: 21st November 2025

SAMMY SAY’S…

Oh… this was meant to be Superdelic, wasn’t it? A name that suggests vibrancy, resonance, a full-spectrum sensory bloom. But what arrived in the glass was more like a dampened waveform—low amplitude, narrow frequency, and barely a ripple on the sensory oscilloscope.

Visually, in the glass it’s clearer than anticipated. A faint haze, yes, but mostly transparent—like a signal that’s been filtered too cleanly, stripped of its noise and nuance. The packaging is a triumph, though. Purple tones and claw-like graphics suggest energy and edge. If only the contents matched the container.

The nose emits a promising signal: citrus, pineapple, lime, grapefruit. A bright, high-frequency burst that hints at complexity. But the taste? It’s a compressed waveform. Buttered grapefruit up front, a sweet finish that feels like a clipped echo. There’s a black tea note that flickers faintly—like a low-level hum in the background—but it never builds, never modulates into anything meaningful.

Bitterness is present but shallow. The mouthfeel? Practically non-existent. It’s like drinking a flattened sine wave—no texture, no resonance, no harmonic depth. Just a thin, single-channel transmission.

This isn’t noise. It’s not distortion. It’s just… underwhelming. A good beer, technically. But not superdelic. Not even close. It lacks the dynamic range, the layered frequencies, the sonic complexity that Soundwave delivers so effortlessly.

I love Siren. I love Soundwave. But this? This was a muted signal. Hopes tuned high, only to receive static.

Sammy’s Rating: 42%

JYMI SAY’S…

Superdelic Soundwave, what a superb sounding name! But there’s more to it than just those delicious words. Soundwave IPA is one of Sirens first ever brews and is still part of their core range today. And Superdelic is a fairly new hop to come from that hop haven that is New Zealand. So what Siren have done here is to produce their regular Soundwave but with the addition of the Superdelic hop, which brings with it candied fruit qualities, supposedly. So to end up with the name Superdelic Soundwave was actually pretty obvious in the end I’d imagine. But that does not take away how great it is as a name for a brew!

Let’s see how she fairs…

Ok, first up, it’s not as good as the OG Soundwave, let’s just get that clear.

But is it good? Well, surprisingly, no (seeing as Siren have brought both of us endless good beer to the table, both personally and for Muse on Booze for over 9 years now).

It’s a touch on the sweet side and lacking a little bit of body as well as a bit of pizzaz. No matter how you came upon the name Superdelic Soundwave, a beer donning that name needs some pizzaz, I think you’ll agree.

With a delightful tropical nose to lead, you do think utter greatness is to come. The early taste is again tropical with our pal pine to balance things out. But it’s in the middle of the drinking that this brew just doesn’t push on to where you hoped, probably thought, that it would. There’s no umph. It’s just, lacking.

Drinkable?  For sure.

Disappointing?  For sure…

and the first real chink we have seen in Sirens armour.

Jymi’s Rating: 47%

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 44.5%

MOB review next weekend: TUSKER by EAST AFRICAN BREWERIES GROUP

Sammy & Jymi – Musing on Booze weekly since 2017

Bluesky: @museonbooze.bsky.social

Instagram: muse.on.booze

museonbooze.com

M O B 2025

BEER REVIEW: 423

BREWER: North, West Yorkshire, England

STYLE: IPA

ABV: 6.9%

VESSEL: 440ml tin

DATE OF POST: 14th November 2025

SAMMY SAY’S…

Sammy’s Rating: 57%

JYMI SAY’S…

I like the name, I like the name a lot.

I like the tin art, I like the tin art a lot.

I like the beer, but I don’t like the beer a lot.

Let’s start from the start… thankfully Transmission doesn’t smell like a gearbox nor a plasterer’s radio but of pine and citrus fruit, nice but nowt new or to get excited about.

Next came the absolute highlight for me, and it’s hard to put into words (which is a worry seeing as this format relies wholly on words). The sip is glacial. I don’t mean slow moving, I mean it is sooooo crisp and light. Not packed with flavour, but just a joy in the mouth as a texture.

Once swallowed you begin to understand what Transmission is about. It’s an East meets West hybrid, some may call it a Mountain IPA, North have chosen not to.

Sweet and juicy upfront a la New England IPA but then the West Coast hop rockets come piling in! Well, on first sip anyway.

As you move through the brew these poles begin to blend. I’m sure that was intentional from the brewer but for me I wanted them to stay apart. Sweetish juice followed by a bitter hop smack in the chops.

But when all is said and done Transmission is a very decent brew. One I may not go searching for but would defo buy if I saw again.

Jymi’s Rating: 77%

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 67%

MOB review next weekend: SUPERDELIC SOUNDWAVE by SIREN CRAFT BREW

Sammy & Jymi – Musing on Booze weekly since 2017

Bluesky: @museonbooze.bsky.social

Instagram: muse.on.booze

museonbooze.com

M O B 2025

BEER REVIEW: 422

BREWER: Brew York, North Yorkshire, England

STYLE: Session IPA

ABV: 4.5%

VESSEL: 440ml tin

DATE OF POST: 7th November 2025

JYMI SAY’S…

There are two kinds of people in this world…

Rabbit experts, and non rabbit experts.

I am not a rabbit expert, though thankfully (well, as he professed) Sammy is.

What does Coney mean then? I said.

It’s a rabbit init. Sammy replied.

Oh, ok, cool.

When it came to test day, I rotated the can one handed (a method I have perfected over the reviewing years), to hopefully learn more about the beer. Only to be told by the Brew York Beer Explainers (#BYBE) that Coney meant Rabbit.

Was Sammy really a rabbit expert? Or had he just lifted this info from the tin and passed it off as great wisdom?

I don’t suppose we’ll ever truly know.

Anyway, onto the brew… and I’m going to start with a pretty bold statement…

THIS IS THE WORST NOT TERRIBLE BEER THAT I HAVE EVER CONSUMED.

Going to need some unpicking that, I know…

Beers pretty much fall into five categories when it comes to quality.

Out of this world, really flippin good, solid brew, drinkable (but not very good) and ruddy awful.

Coney sits very much in the fourth one on this list, Drinkable but not very good. And it’s the worst one of these I’ve ever had. It is actually ruddy awful if I’m being honest but not to the point of throwing it down the drain so just crept into the 4^th tier.

The main issue is that this is a session IPA that’s coming in at 4.5% ABV. That is on the strong side for a SIPA but drinks like something in the low 3%s. There is absolutely nothing to Coney when it comes to body. And regarding the flavour, you really do have to stick on your Elmer Fudd suit and go hunting…

Slightly sour upfront (not in a good way) with teeny tiny hints of lime and coconut.

Time to wrap this up and move on, you know my thoughts by now, this is a very poor beer, without being disgusting.

Jymi’s Rating: 35%

SAMMY SAY’S…

Sammy’s Rating: 83%

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 59%

MOB review next weekend: TRANSMISSION by NORTH

Sammy & Jymi – Musing on Booze weekly since 2017

Bluesky: @museonbooze.bsky.social

Instagram: muse.on.booze

museonbooze.com

M O B 2025

BEER REVIEW: 421

BREWER: Northern Monk, West Yorkshire, England

STYLE: IPA

ABV: 6.5%

VESSEL: 568ml tin (pint)

DATE OF POST: 31st October 2025

SAMMY SAY’S…

Sammy’s Rating: 70%

JYMI SAY’S…

EXTERNAL

First things first, why on earth does this tin look so massive??? Actually, massive is the wrong word, LONG. Why on earth does this tin look so long???

I mean, I know why really, it’s a pint can. And I applaud Northern Monk for having the presence of mind to deliver this traditional IPA in such a vessel.

But why the f**k does it look so long??? I was fully expecting to lift the lid and for four tennis balls to come rolling out.

Look, I’m well versed in a bigger than standard 440ml tin. Arbor and Deya have been chucking them out for what seems like forever, but somehow Northern Monk have made theirs look longer than a conga.

Anyway, to the all important internal…

INTERNAL

The beer pours with a medium body and a slightly creamy mouthfeel that primes the palate. The nose is inviting, offering a zesty citrus aroma which captures the bright, vibrant spirit typical of trad IPAs.

There is defo a hoppy bite in the first sip, which is lovely and settles the nerves, confirming that Beyond is a classic IPA, from a craft brewery. As it settles, the hops linger, coming forward most assertively in the aftertaste, while the overall malt base stays subtle and clean. The beer feels somewhat one dimensional on the swallow however, as the flavour drops off mid sip. While the finish is crisp, it could benefit from additional depth or complexity to truly shine.

The hop presence remains strong and satisfying for those who crave classic IPA bitterness. If there’s a weakness, it’s a slight lack of richness as the beer goes down, leaving a bit to be desired for those looking for layered flavours.

But when all is said n done, Beyond is a very good representation of its category. Solid, reliable, and refreshing, if slightly restrained in complexity.

And a Jymi Hats off to Northern Monk for going classic (trad) rather than craft (modern)… though it is a modern take on trad. Oh gawd… do I need to start this review again??!!

Jymi’s Rating: 79%

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 74.5%

MOB review next weekend: CONEY by BREW YORK

Sammy & Jymi – Musing on Booze weekly since 2017

Bluesky: @museonbooze.bsky.social

Instagram: muse.on.booze

museonbooze.com

M O B 2025 

BEER REVIEW: 420

BREWER: Kassatly, Zahlé, Lebanon

STYLE: Pilsner

ABV: 4.6%

VESSEL: 330ml green bottle

DATE OF POST: 24th October 2025

SAMMY SAY’S…

There’s something quietly compelling about a beer that bears the name of a city like Beirut. You want it to tell a story—to carry the pulse of the place, the clash of old and new, the salt air and sun-warmed stone. And while this pilsner doesn’t roar, it does whisper.

The bottle’s pull-cap is a small delight—practical, unfussy, and somehow fitting. The tagline, “committed to excellence,” feels aspirational, like the city itself: always reaching, always rebuilding.

On the nose, it’s a salty lager—more sea spray than citrus grove. Not unpleasant, just subdued. It doesn’t sing, but it hums a low note, like traffic on a distant boulevard.

The taste follows suit: thin, yes, but not hollow. There’s a faint butteriness, a touch of roast, and a saline finish that lingers like the memory of a swim in the Mediterranean. It’s not a beer that demands attention, but it doesn’t shrink from it either.

Mouthfeel is minimal, packaging is modest, and yet—there’s something about it. A passable pilsner, yes, but also a gesture. A nod to place. A quiet offering from a city that’s seen more than most and still finds ways to raise a glass.

Not remarkable, but not completely forgettable either.

Sammy’s Rating: 53%

JYMI SAY’S…

NAME & PACKAGING:
A lager from Lebanon going by the name of Beirut… I’ve got no issue with that. In fact, it’s actually a great name.
As far as the packaging goes, though it’s poor, the green bottle does go a long way to setting off the label. While the way this bottle of Pilsner looks is certainly not good, I don’t mind it too much at all.

NOSE:
Ruddy awful. So metallic.

TASTE:
From the nose, I wasn’t expecting much, but, though a little thin, Beirut is ok. It’s crisp in mouth and a Pilsner spice / bite emerges the more you make your way through the brew.

OVERVIEW:
Miles away from a world beater yes. But all things considered I’d happily house this beer as a fridge filler in my… fridge.

Jymi’s Rating: 54%

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 53.5%

MOB review next weekend: BEYOND by NORTHERN MONK

Sammy & Jymi – Musing on Booze weekly since 2017

Bluesky: @museonbooze.bsky.social

Instagram: muse.on.booze

museonbooze.com

M O B 2025

BEER REVIEW: 419

BREWER: Brooklyn Brewery, West Midlands, England

STYLE: Pale Ale

ABV: 3.4%

VESSEL: 330ml tin

DATE OF POST: 17th October 2025

JYMI SAY’S…

“Just poppin’ t’shops me luv”

Could you grab some milk while you’re there?

“Yeah, no worries”

Jumped in the car, slammed on the gas…

Thankfully, for once, the avenue wasn’t packed, so in 5 minutes I was at my local store. Said local store is a good’n. It’s only small so always going to be slightly limited but generally you can pick up most of the bits you need without going to the hypermarket.

So there I was, with only a list in my head as we didn’t need much…

Chopped Toms

Shallots

Beef Stock

Bin Bags

Jam

Mental list ticked off I ended up in the liquor aisle, quick 4 pack of beer grabbed (Bodega Run BTW (just in case you wondered where this was going (I had to remind myself to be fair))).

Back home, unpacked, beer cracked and dinner prep for the crew began.

Now, the beer is Bodega Run, obviously, and you know what… for a 3.4% brew this pup has a lot going for it.

Once past the seriously shabby nose things begin to get going very nicely. There is plenty of flavour in the slightly under carbonated sip and just when you think the flavour high is done due to the low ABV nature, BR comes back at you with all the flavour that you might had thought had gorn for good. With a decent body too, all things considered, BD outperforms its %age and for that, I applaud it.

Where did you put the milk Jymi?

F*******************ck

Jymi’s Rating: 60%

SAMMY SAY’S…

You weren’t planning on being impressed. You were just grabbing a few bits—crisps, maybe a scratchcard—and then this little can winked at you from the fridge. Bodega Run. Low ABV. Bright label. You thought: why not?

And then it hits you. That nose—zesty orange with a flick of lemon peel—like someone just cracked open a citrus grove behind the till. It’s fresh, it’s cheeky, and it smells like optimism.

The first sip follows through: orange zest leads the charge, backed by a whisper of floral bitterness that keeps things interesting without trying too hard. It’s not complex, but it’s clever. The kind of beer that knows its lane and cruises it with style.

At just 3.4%, it’s the featherweight champ of the fridge—light on its feet but surprisingly punchy. Sure, it fades a little as you go, but that’s part of the charm. It’s a session beer with street smarts: easy to drink, hard to forget.

Packaging’s sharp, name’s a winner, and for a casual pickup, it’s got serious flair. You didn’t expect to be impressed—but here you are, sipping sunshine from a corner shop can and wondering what other gems are hiding behind the Lucozade.

This one’s for the spontaneous sippers, the fridge-raiders, the late-night wanderers. A proper bodega win.

Sammy’s Rating: 70%

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 65%

MOB review next weekend: BEIRUT by KASSATLY

Sammy & Jymi – Musing on Booze weekly since 2017

Bluesky: @museonbooze.bsky.social

Instagram: muse.on.booze

museonbooze.com

M O B 2025

BEER REVIEW: 418

BREWER: Black Isle Brewery, Highlands, Scotland

STYLE: Organic Red Ale

ABV: 4.2%

VESSEL: 330ml tin

DATE OF POST: 10th October 2025

SAMMY SAY’S…

From the first pour, there’s a flicker of plumage in the glass—a red tinge that catches the light, though it leans more amber than crimson. Like the bird itself, it’s not garish, but unmistakable. A flash of colour against a pale sky.

The nose is sweet marmalade—bright, citrusy, and just a little wild. It’s the scent of hedgerows in late summer, of breakfast on a breezy veranda while the birds stir overhead. There’s something Goldfinch-light about it: cheerful, zesty, and fleeting.

On the palate, it settles into a more grounded rhythm. Roast malts take the lead, nutty and buttery like a kestrel’s perch on a sun-warmed fence post. Then comes the burnt caramel—subtle, but lingering—adding a long, satisfying bitterness that feels like the slow descent of a buzzard circling home.

Mouthfeel is good, if not soaring. It’s more steady glider than high-flying peregrine. But that suits its nature: this is a beer for all seasons. It belongs by the fire in autumn, in the corner of a winter pub, or beside a summer barbecue where the swifts dart and dive.

Packaging’s modest, name’s spot on, and while it won’t win awards for plumage, it earns its perch with quiet consistency. A strong all-rounder—like the red kite itself: once rare, now resurgent, and always a pleasure to spot.

A beer that doesn’t need to scream to be seen. It just spreads its wings and lets the wind do the rest.

Sammy’s Rating: 74%

JYMI SAY’S…

This week, I’d like to start off with the presentation of this beer. I don’t mean the packaging—that’s only so-so. No, I mean how Red Kite pours, looks, and smells in the glass. Well, quite simply, it’s fantastic in all three departments.

It cruises into the vessel with majestic ease, and instantly you can see the off white head forming. Once poured, it stands proud with a glorious red hued body that contrasts so well with that ivory lid. The nose coming from Red Kite soon finds its way to your nasal passages, tempting you to direct your hooter towards the drink. The aroma is lovely: sweet, fruity, almost plum jam-like.

Things then carry on in a really good vein beyond the presentation, to be fair. The mouthful of the brew is wonderfully smooth and graces one’s gullet with ease.

But all of this would not count for much if the flavour wasn’t up to scratch. Luckily, it is, and with these foundations it was always going to be great. Sweet fruit, caramel, and toffee dominate, moving to a savoury middle and a medium bitter finish. The balance is spot on.

I have to say, this really is a very tasty brew… but you’d probably guessed that already, hadn’t you?
Cheerio!

Jymi’s Rating: 82%

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 78%

MOB review next weekend: BODEGA RUN by BROOKLYN BREWERY

Sammy & Jymi – Musing on Booze weekly since 2017

Bluesky: @museonbooze.bsky.social

Instagram: muse.on.booze

museonbooze.com

M O B 2025

BEER REVIEW: 417

BREWER: Stone Daisy Brewery, Wiltshire, England

STYLE: Best Bitter

ABV: 4.2%

VESSEL: 500ml brown bottle

DATE OF POST: 3rd October 2025

SAMMY SAY’S…

You approach with anticipation. The name alone conjures grandeur: Longleat. A place of stately drama, of golden beasts and sweeping lawns. You imagine a pint worthy of the setting—bold, balanced, maybe even a little wild.

But from the first pour, the illusion begins to fade. It lands in the glass pale and timid, more amber whisper than bitter bellow. You squint, hoping the nose will redeem it—and for a moment, it does. Burnt caramel, earthy malt, a hint of woodland floor after rain. It’s evocative, like catching the scent of the safari park from the treetop walk.

Then comes the sip. And the lion lies down.

Sweetness leads, chocolate notes flicker, but the bitterness—the defining trait—is nowhere to be found. It’s thin, almost spectral. No grip, no growl, no mouthfeel to speak of. A best bitter in name only, like a lion with clipped claws and a silent throat.

You wanted a beast. You got a shadow.

Packaging’s fine. The name has pedigree. But the x-factor? A flat zero. Because this isn’t just about taste—it’s about expectation. And when a beer carries the Longleat name, you expect it to stride, not skulk.

A damp squib in the savannah. The kind of best bitter that makes you long for the real thing—a proper bitter with teeth, with texture, with pride.

Sammy’s Rating: 24%

JYMI SAY’S…

It was a sunny Wednesday morning when my lovely little family and I set sail for the South West Coast of England. Of course, we couldn’t resist making a pit stop at Longleat, mainly for the in-car safari trail. The drive through adventure was stunning, and we all survived with limbs intact (unlike the poor family whose N-reg Nissan Micra started smoking in the lion enclosure).
After the safari, we wandered through the grand house, but, as tradition demands, inevitably ended up in the gift shop. Ooooooooh, beer, I thought, eyes lighting up. Yes, Longleat does its own branded beer! The bottle of Best Bitter was instantly earmarked for testing once we’d safely returned from our travels.

A few days later, settling in at my reviewing desk, anticipation running high, I cracked open the bottle. This was one smart looking beer, I have to admit. Popped, poured, and sniffed: Longleat Best Bitter gave off a wonderfully fresh and clean aroma. Expectations soared as I went in for the first sip… only to find my face morphing into that questioning/confused look at the glass, then the bottle. Why on earth does it not taste of…well, anything?
Second sip: same confused look. Why is the body so thin?

Third sip: still searching for the bitterness that never arrived. This pattern continued right to the final, forgettable drops.

Was it unpleasant? Not really. But with next to no flavour, texture, or bitterness, this is a beer that’s destined to be a gift shop gimmick. I suppose I should have known, as clearly they saw me coming a mile off!

Jymi’s Rating: 34%

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 29%

MOB review next weekend: RED KITE by BLACK ISLE

Sammy & Jymi – Musing on Booze weekly since 2017

Bluesky: @museonbooze.bsky.social

Instagram: muse.on.booze

museonbooze.com

M O B 2025

BEER REVIEW: 416

BREWER: Abbaye N-D De Saint-Remy, Namur, Belgium 

STYLE: Belgian Ale 

ABV: 9.2%

VESSEL: 33cl brown bottle

DATE OF POST: 26th September 2025

JYMI SAY’S…

There is too much to mention here for me to go into a long elaborate made up (maybe) story. You’re here for a good time, not a long time, so I’m just going to get straight into it, as it were.

I was expecting great things from Rochefort 8 as it does come with a sound reputation, however, it did not quite hit the heights that I was expecting.

The nose – FANTASTIC! Spice, dark fruits, cherry, chocolate and that Belgian yeast!

The pour – now this is not something that I usually think about too much let alone write / report about. But TR8 made it so that I could not not mention it. This was a noisy pour! Very un-monk like! The carbonation on the forming head as the liquid made it’s journey from the brown bottle to the tulip glass was nothing short of wasps in a box. Most most odd I thought to myself. The loud two finger head that formed then dissipated in a matter of seconds. Curious, most curious, I thought to myself.

The sip – fizzy, but then totally uncarbonated in mouth. Not necessarily a bad thing but what the fk was going on here, I thought to myself.

The swallow – cloying (not in a bad way), with the continuation from the nose sensation. The spice, dark fruits, cherry and chocolate carried on to deliver in a big way. Now, though there is certainly a complexity to TR8 I’m not sure it really took me on a journey necessarily. It’s kinda like all the amazing flavours were there but they didn’t meander, intertwine or overlap.

The aftertaste – fine, good in fact, with the prominence of the aforementioned flavours still doing their thing. But it did not dance… and I wanted it to dance.

Good beer for sure but Jymi was expecting more.

FOOTNOTE: Once we had both tested, scored and written TR8, Sammy and I had a chat on the phone (as we do after completing our review of most brews) to discuss our views. I asked Sam what he thought about the noisy pour and quick to vanish head. This hadn’t happened to him. So, I’m wondering if I possibly had a bit of a duffer of a bottle. I don’t suppose we’ll ever truly know though, eh.

Jymi’s Rating: 76%

SAMMY SAY’S…

There’s a hush to this pour, as if the bottle itself has been blessed. In the glass, it settles into a deep mahogany—almost opaque, but with a garnet glint if you hold it to the light, like stained glass catching dusk. The head is modest, tan, and fleeting, like the breath of a monk reciting vespers.

The nose is gentle but evocative: sweet malt with a dusting of cinnamon, like the scent of warm bread cooling on a stone sill. It doesn’t shout—it beckons. There’s a quiet promise of depth, of stories told in low voices over flickering flame.

On the palate, it opens like a velvet curtain: dark fruits—fig, prune, and raisin—unfold with the richness of a Christmas pudding left to steep in brandy. Subtle spices linger at the edges, never overpowering, just enough to evoke the memory of cloves tucked into orange peel. As the glass warms, chocolate notes rise like embers—soft, smoky, and bittersweet.

Mouthfeel is full and rounded, a gentle weight that encourages slow sipping. This isn’t a beer for chatter or clinking glasses. It’s for solitude, or quiet company. Imagine a tavern carved into stone, candlelight dancing on wood beams, a fire crackling low. Rochefort 8 belongs there—warming your hands, your chest, and something deeper still.

It’s not a session beer. It’s a ritual. A strong brew, yes—but not brash. It carries its strength like a monk’s robe: heavy, dignified, and woven with purpose.

Sammy’s Rating: 88%

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 82%

MOB review next weekend: LONGLEAT BEST BITTER by STONE DAISY BREWERY

Sammy & Jymi – Musing on Booze weekly since 2017

Bluesky: @museonbooze.bsky.social

Instagram: muse.on.booze

museonbooze.com

M O B 2025

BEER REVIEW: 415

BREWER: Double-Barrelled, Berkshire, England

STYLE: Hazy IPA

ABV: 5.8%

VESSEL: 440ml tin

DATE OF POST: 19th September 2025

JYMI SAY’S…

Funny ol’ thing the set up at a house party…

The various sections of said house will ultimately house different folks for different tokes and strokes.

The garden is your cigarette smoking loud socialite mob. No life long friends are made here. Just noise and BS.

The living room is for the beard stroking and weed smoking beatniks, poets and thespians.

The bedroom is where… hang on, are we going here? No… Are we?  No, let’s leave it.

The kitchen is where the party is at. Excited folk. A diverse range of narcotics that would only usually be seen in a dodgy cop house in downtown LA. There is liquor, wine and beer. There are tunes. There is chat. There is a good time a happening. People are speaking and peaking as one.

Now because of the beatnik thing, Kitchen Disco, as a craft beer, would probably be better suited to the Living Room crew (have I really gone down this route with no link??? F me, I think I have! And you just know I’m gonna finish on a Jona Lewie lyric don’t you?!)).

But in all seriousness, KD would be suited to all the folks in all the zones of the party. It’s craft beer but not in your face or off the wall. Juicy yet dry. Tones of peach, lime and orange. A dry finish that keeps you reaching for that next sip. This is a brew for everyone, and seeing as my sister picked this up from Tesco for me and Sammy to test… DB have kinda nailed it!

Oh… that’s why you’ll always find me in the kitchen at parties 😉

Jymi’s Rating: 82%

SAMMY SAY’S…

“Kitchen Disco” is a name that slaps harder than a banjo solo at a Reading folk night. It’s playful, evocative, and sets the tone for a beer that doesn’t take itself too seriously—until it hits your taste buds. The disco ball and vibrant colours on the can promise a party, but that yellow band at the top? It’s like slapping a plastic sticker on a vintage Gibson. It cheapens the vibe and jars with the rest of the aesthetic. A shame, because the rest of the design is ready to boogie.

Tropical fruit leaps out like a peach pit at a ceilidh. It’s juicy, fragrant, and exactly what you’d expect from a hazy IPA done right. No surprises, but no complaints either.

In the drinking, unsurprisingly, is where Kitchen Disco earns its headline slot. Peach and tropical notes swirl like dancers on a sticky pub floor, backed by a bitterness that keeps the groove grounded. It’s a well-orchestrated flavour profile—bright, bold, and balanced. The light mouthfeel lets the hops do the talking without overwhelming the palate. It’s the kind of beer that invites a second sip before you’ve finished the first.

This brew is dangerously drinkable. Like a banjo riff that loops in your head, this one’s hard to put down. It’s got session potential but enough complexity to keep you interested.

On the pour Kitchen Disco has good head retention and a lovely haze—like mist rolling off the Thames on a summer morning. It pours with confidence and clarity, even if the packaging doesn’t quite match the performance.

Much like the Epiphone Earl Scruggs banjo—whose golden promise didn’t quite match its fretwork—Kitchen Disco teaches us not to judge a beer by its cover. Behind the slightly clumsy branding lies a beautifully crafted hazy IPA that delivers on every front that matters. It’s a Berkshire brew with soul, swagger, and just enough funk to keep things interesting.

Sammy’s Rating: 83%

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 82.5%

MOB review next weekend: TRAPPISTES ROCHEFORT 8 by ABBAYE N-D DE SAINT-REMY

Sammy & Jymi – Musing on Booze weekly since 2017

Bluesky: @museonbooze.bsky.social

Instagram: muse.on.booze

museonbooze.com

M O B 2025