SMASH

BEER REVIEW: 141

BREWER: Brasserie Parisis, Ile de France, France

STYLE: Pale Ale

ABV: 5%

VESSEL: 33cl brown bottle

DATE OF POST: 20th June 2020

SAMMY SAY’S…

Let me paint you a picture. You’re on holiday in France. The sun is blazing down. You’ve had a cracking day by the pool; time well spent with the family. You’ve kept the little ‘uns entertained and have worked up a sizeable dab-on in the process. You’re a bit sun kissed, a little weary (in a good holiday way) and you’re thirsty. It’s reached that time in the day: beer time. So, you reach for a local brew. You might be expecting a traditional French beer…

However, things aren’t quite what you’d expect…

To start with, Parisis Smash is strangely packaged. It’s odd. It’s bizarre. It’s not quite right. It doesn’t work.

Just when you think things will level out, you pour the beer and, my oh my, it is seriously carbonated. The bubbles froth up like Fairy Liquid (other washing-up detergents are available) on a bad day. Then you let your eyes drift to the colour presenting itself in the glass and you see something that looks like peach juice, which is not what you were hoping for. It’s off the beer colour scales. Not looking like the thirst quencher you were aiming for.

A brief whiff and there’s not much there in the nose. So, quickly to the drinking…

With Google translate, you manage to work out that the bottle promises citrus. This is not what you taste. No no. What you get is sweetness in the first instance followed by a very short bitterness. And it is thin. As thin as the bed sheet you’ve been using on the hot evenings. What a let down!

Is it unpleasant? Not really. But then it’s not good either. In fact, take the whole package and you’re disappointed.

Oh well, time to reach for a Kronenbourg…

Sammy’s Rating: 41%

JYMI SAY’S…

I’m going to use the actual testing notes that were scribbled in my notebook at the very time of test for the bulk of this review. Normally these notes are garbled nonsense that only I would understand but for once, they actually make a bit of sense and sum up what is going on with Smash (great name) pretty well…

Very weak floral nose

Pours cloudy with a peach colour

Crazy big bubbled head

Very thin and weak taste up front

Bitter lime kick in the middle, pleasant surprise

Long faint aftertaste

Not much going on other than the middle

Sh*t bottle

I think that it is probably fair to say that other than the bitter citrus lime kick that rolls into town once you have swallowed there aren’t too many positive things to say about this beer coming out of the French capital. That said, the lime kick in the middle is actually really nice but is just let down monumentally by everything else.

There is something to work with here for sure but to get this sucker up to good even, will take some head scratching.

Jymi’s Rating: 55%

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 48%

MOB review next weekend: ROSÉ FOR DAZE by OSKAR BLUES BREWERY

M O B 2020

NEWTON HOUSE

DATE POSTED: 17th June 2020

STYLE: London Dry

ABV: 43.2%

KEY BOTANICAL: Liquorice Root and Almond

THEY SAY SERVE WITH: Inginius Tonic and Lime Garnish

MOB SAY SERVE WITH: Fever-Tree Tonic and Mint & Lime Garnish

MOB COCKTAIL SUGGESTION: Gin & It

Gin & It ingredients and method:

50ml Newton House Gin

50ml Sweet Vermouth

2 Dashes of Regans Orange Bitters

Stir all ingredients with plenty of ice then strain into an Old Fashioned glass filled with fresh ice. Garnish with a fresh orange slice.

m o b s o g 2 02 0

PIXEL PARTY

BEER REVIEW: 140

BREWER: Ridgeside, West Yorkshire, England (with Elusive Brewing)

STYLE: New Zealand IPA

ABV: 6%

VESSEL: 440ml tin

DATE OF POST: 12th June 2020

JYMI SAY’S…

What we have here I fear is a case of shabby packaging but high quality beer.

Let us take a step back in time to when we reviewed Fuck Art by To Øl. I seem to remember stating extremes along the lines of ‘this is the worst looking tin of beer I have ever seen’ and ‘this is one of the best beers that I have EVER consumed’.

Now Pixel Party does not have the worst packaging ever nor is it one of the very best beers that I’ve ever tasted but both are towards the end of those spectrums believe me.

Let’s continue on the positive first. This is an absolute cracker of a brew. A cracker I tell thee!! A classic NZIPA delivered by Rockridge up in West Yorkshire with some help from Elusive down in Berkshire. It is light but with an underpunch. It is very flavoursome without messing with your head. It is crazy refreshing and crushable and all weighing in at 6% ABV. There really isn’t anything negative going on here, it’s just lovely and very well brewed.

Now packaging wise I really am not sure what the hell has happened. It is a total f**k up. I first approached it thinking “well this is fun”, but 3 seconds later came to my senses and realised the utter nightmare of it all. Everyone involved with this tin making it to the shelves looking like this needs to take a long hard look in the mirror as it is letting down a frankly excellent beer.

And that, is that.

Jymi’s Rating: 87%

SAMMY SAY’S…

Everyone loves a party. Well, almost everyone. As long as it’s your type of party that it is. And I’m going to be honest (it’s the best way to be), the sound of a Pixel Party sounds great to me. Proof will be in the drinking…

To begin with, it looks fantastic in the glass. Carrying on the party theme, the invitation is good. Top notch. It’s a party that you want to go to. Great start then.

And the Hors d’oeuvres are good too. Wonderful nose. I’m getting the impression I’m going to want to stay at this party. Could be an all nighter!

The main event is well worth waiting for too. Pixel Party brings it to the, err, party. Love the grapefruit flavours. Love the sharpness, the sourness. Love the mouthfeel. Looks like I’m staying. I want to meet, talk to and spend time with every guest.

So, Pixel Party is a party that I want to stay at. The only problem is, I ain’t that good at all nighters these days. You know, age and wot not. Still, that’s my problem. Pixel Party has no problems. Class act.

Sammy’s Rating: 88%

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 87.5%

MOB review next weekend: SMASH by BRASSERIE PARISIS

M O B 2020

EDEN MILL LOVE GIN

DATE POSTED: 10th June 2020

STYLE: New Western

ABV: 42%

KEY BOTANICAL: Berries and Juniper

THEY SAY SERVE WITH: Fever-Tree Mediterranean Tonic and Strawberries & Black Pepper Garnish

MOB SAY SERVE WITH: Fever-Tree Elderflower Tonic and Grapefruit Garnish

MOB COCKTAIL SUGGESTION: Gin Fixed

Gin Fixed ingredients and method:

50ml Eden Mill Love Gin

5ml Triple Sec

25ml Pineapple Juice

15ml Lemon Juice

5ml Sugar Syrup

Shake all ingredients in an iced cocktail shaker and strain over crushed ice into a highball glass. Churn and top with more ice. Garnish with a wedge of lemon and a sip straw.

m o b s o g 2 0 2 0

LIVEWIRE

BEER REVIEW: 139

BREWER: Electric Bear Brewing Co., Somerset, England

STYLE: IPA

ABV: 5.4%

VESSEL: 440ml tin

DATE OF POST: 5th June 2020

JYMI SAY’S…

Every single beer that I have ever tried from this Somerset brewer has taken me aback and made me nod my head very slowly in appreciation. OK, there have only ever been three occasions and two of their beers that I have tried but still, very impressed I was.

Inspector Remorse for a Muse on Booze review back in early January 2019 was first up and well and truly put these guys on the map for me.

Werrrd! for another review was next to come along and proved to me that Electric Bear Brewing Company were serious players.

The third time Electric Bear came my way was with Werrrd! once more, a couple of pintys at The Craft Beer Co. in Covent Garden, London. I chose this beer out of a huge selection purely because of how this brewery had delivered in the two we had already reviewed. Again, I was a happy customer.

So Livewire had a lot to live up to… and it did not disappoint.

She starts off with a lovely tropical flavour with some amazing bitter notes running alongside. The cascade and simcoe hops play their part in bringing this vibe to the party. Now the mouthfeel is a curious but very good one. It’s an almost playdough feel in the mouth (you’re going to have to trust me here, it works). On our can label Electric Bear tell us that there will be a peach fruit profile kicking around and they were not lying. It’s not too strong though, just sitting there in the background keeping things ticking along.

There is bags of flavour and I have to say from first clocking eyes on the tin to finishing the brew the whole experience was dang a delight.

Hat’s off once more to these most electric of bears.

Jymi’s Rating: 84%

SAMMY SAY’S…

Golden in colour, peach on the nose and palate, Livewire is one very good beer. It has fantastic presence in the mouth and packs bags full of flavour.

Electric Bear Brewing Co. have Livewire down as their flagship beer. And they are right to do so. It’s got tons of personality, so much so in fact, it would talk down Piers Morgan when he was on a good day.

I can’t think of an occasion when this beer wouldn’t work. As your first beer on a hot summer’s day, or as your finishing bevvie on a cold winter’s evening, Livewire would deliver every time. It really is that good.

Nothing more needs to be said – go and try it; you won’t regret it.

Sammy’s Rating: 88%

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 86%

MOB review next weekend: PIXEL PARTY by RIDGESIDE BREWING CO.

M O B 2020

CITADELLE RESERVE

DATE POSTED: 3rd June 2020

STYLE: Aged

ABV: 44%

KEY BOTANICAL: Almond

THEY SAY SERVE WITH: Schweppes Ginger & Cardamon Tonic and Orange Garnish

MOB SAY SERVE WITH: Fever-Tree Light Tonic and Cinnamon Stick Garnish

MOB COCKTAIL SUGGESTION: Left Bank Martini

Left Bank Martini ingredients and method:

50ml Citadelle Reserve

15ml Dry Vermouth

15ml St Germain Liqueur

Splash of Dry White Wine

Stir all ingredients with plenty of ice in a mixing jar for a few minutes. Double strain into a chilled wine flute. Garnish with a single, floating, mint leaf.

M O B S O G 2 0 2 0

SLEEPING LEMONS

BEER REVIEW: 138

BREWER: The Wild Beer Co, Somerset, England

STYLE: Gose

ABV: 3.6%

VESSEL: 330ml brown bottle

DATE OF POST: 29th May 2020

SAMMY SAY’S…

Let sleeping dogs lie they say. And why not. But should we let sleeping lemons lie. That’s what we are about to find out.

I like lemons. I like lemon flavoured things. I like them because they’re sour. And I like sour beers. So what I hoped Sleeping Lemons (the beer) would do, is to fulfil my love for lemony sour things. A lemony soury beer sounds just wonderful.

Let me stop waffling and cut to the chase…Sleeping Lemons is great. It’s fantastic. It’s bursting with lemons. It’s sour. It’s sharp. It’s refreshing. It’s lightly carbonated. It’s crisp. It’s clear.

Ok, what’s the catch I hear you calling.

Well, to begin with, I thought it was a little short on the length in its taste. But the thing is, the more I drank, gulped to be precise, Sleeping Lemons, the more the shortness of flavour made sense. And that was the only catch. It soon disappeared. As did the beer. Very quickly.

Sours are not everyone’s thing. But they are mine and I loved this one.

So, we definitely should not let Sleeping Lemons lie. We should grab them and fill our bellies with them.

It’s one fine beer!

Sammy’s Rating: 90%

JYMI SAY’S…

A bottle that looks fantastic, classy and smart.

Information in abundance jammed onto the back of the vessel telling us all we need to know without it even coming close to being cluttered.

A nose that let’s you know you’re about to dive into a Lemon based Gose. A look in the glass of utter majesty, lovely and clear with light carbonation making this brew so inviting.

A smoothness in sip and mouthfeel that just makes you close your eyes and smile.

A taste that is clean, crisp and oozing lemon without being overwhelming.

A lightness of touch in the brewing that would allow the drinker to have as many of these as he/she wished.

Are there any negatives to Sleeping Lemons?

Well, I thought there could be one, but I turned out to be wrong…

See, half way through the swallow the instant incredible flavour suddenly cuts off and switches to an OK but not great aftertaste. However that was sip one. After sip two my opinion remained the same, but as I worked my way, hang on, smiled my way through the drink the aftertaste began to sour up and thus improve with every sip.

You will need to be a fan of a sour style of beer to enjoy this but I assure you that if you are, then you will be a superfan of Sleeping Lemons.

Bloomin’ marv.

Jymi’s Rating: 92%

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 91%

MOB review next weekend: LIVEWIRE by ELECTRIC BEAR BREWING CO.

M O B 2020

MALFY CON ARANCIA

THE THIRD MUSE ON BOOZE SUMMER OF GIN IS OFFICIALLY UNDERWAY!!!

DATE POSTED: 1st June 2020

STYLE: Italian

ABV: 41%

KEY BOTANICAL: Sicilian Blood Orange Peel

THEY SAY SERVE WITH: Fever-Tree Tonic and Orange Garnish

MOB SAY SERVE WITH: Fever-Tree Light Tonic and Lemon Garnish

MOB COCKTAIL SUGGESTION: Thyme to Muse (created for Muse on Booze by our resident spirit expert, Chris Hotson – spirits_ and_soul on Instagram)

Thyme to Muse ingredients and method:

50ml Malfy Con Arancia Gin

25ml Limoncello

20ml Fresh Lemon Juice

15ml Lemon Thyme Sugar Syrup

15ml Cranberry Juice

Vigorously shake all the ingredients in an iced cocktail shaker and fine strain into a chilled Martini glass. Garnish with a stalk of Lemon Thyme… and muse ♥♥♥

M O B S O G 2 0 2 0

THE MUSE ON BOOZE SUMMERS OF GIN

MOBSOG – 2018

BLACK SHUCK PASSION GIN

MOBSOG II – 2019

EDINBURGH RHUBARB & GINGER

MOBSOG III – 2020

JJ WHITLEY NETTLE GIN

GUNPOWDER

TANQUERAY FLOR DE SEVILLA

x

FARMHOUSE

BEER REVIEW: 137

BREWER: Brouwerij Kees, Zeeland, Netherlands

STYLE: Saison

ABV: 6%

VESSEL: 330ml brown bottle

DATE OF POST: 22nd May 2020

SAMMY SAY’S…

Farm House is a Dutch beer. Would you know this from its name? Quite simply, no. I like a name that states clearly what you’re getting. Table Beer, for example, is a great name for a table beer (see the review). This is a Dutch beer so the name should be Dutch – surely? I have no problem with it being called Farm House – but it should be in its native language.

Rant over (for now). Onto the actual beer.

Unsurprisingly, Farm House is a lively one (it is Dutch after all). We have come to expect no less from our friends across the Channel when they are brewing craft styley. However, once the fizz has settled, there’s not too much going on with the nose. This may be what you’d expect with a saison, but when it’s packing a punch in the alcohol department, like Farm House is, you may be forgiven for expecting a little more from the nose.

The thing is, this lack of ‘something’ carries through into the drinking. It definitely is like a Farm House (as the English name tells us) but there’s nothing at all unique or even special about this beer. It’s not particularly well brewed, and this leaves an almost dirty water taste. While this description may be doing Farm House a disservice, I can’t think of a better way to describe it.

It’s not unpleasant and it’s easy to drink one after the other. But it’s not a great saison.

Rant over. Full stop.

Sammy’s Rating: 50%

JYMI SAY’S…

Saison is also traditionally known as farmhouse ale. Legend has it that farmers sometimes turned to brewing during the winter to keep the money coming in. Now because they would then resume their farming duties when the fair weather returned they would then not have time to brew so they used the extra beer that had been brewed the previous winter for personal consumption. So we have a pretty clever name here, I suppose. What is also clever about this beer is the way it disguises the fact that it’s 6% by not tasting strong at all. However, this is sadly where the cleverness ends for this Dutch brew.

See, as well as an incredibly faint orange nose, Farmhouse also has a very thin body. Not necessarily a bad thing but unfortunately it kind of is when the taste isn’t bringing much to the table either. The taste when sipping is pleasant enough don’t get me wrong but there really is nothing to write home about and is lacking any kind of get up and go. Once the sip is done it is usually time for the aftertaste, usually. Unfortunately Farmhouse isn’t just lacking here too, it just doesn’t bother with an aftertaste at all!! It really is quite bizarre.

I’m sure if this saison was passed to you on a sizzling summers day by a chum it would be drunk without much thought and probably enjoyed to a point. However, tasting like it does and being the strength it is you wouldn’t be enjoying yourself for too long, trust me.

Jymi’s Rating: 53%

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 51.5%

MOB review next weekend: SLEEPING LEMONS by THE WILD BEER CO.