BEER REVIEW: 50

BREWER: Yeastie Boys, Wellington Region, New Zealand

STYLE: Earl Grey IPA

ABV: 6.5%

VESSEL: 330ml tin

DATE POSTED: 21st September 2018

 

SAMMY SAY’S…

Right, let’s get a few things straight.  Yeastie Boys is an inspired name for a brewing company and a fantastic nod to a fantastic band (of course, I understand, this is a matter of opinion).  The whole brand is strong with Gunnamatta: it’s attractive and it pulls on one’s inner coolness.

So then when you get to the nose of Gunnamatta be prepared for slight disappointment.  Sure, there are hops in abundance and you get the sense that this is a well brewed ale. But there is a slight after smell, which is a little acrid, and, dare I say it, a little off putting.

Once you get over the scent the beer is, well, it’s very decent indeed.  There’s the definite backdrop of bitter notes with a floral foreground.  While these flavours don’t linger on the palate with Gunnamatta, it works well for this beer. You don’t want the taste to hang around. That’s not because it’s not pleasant, it’s just perfect washing around for the length that it does.  It is a very refreshing and light beer, and while it’s not a big hitter, it is able to stand shoulder to shoulder with the multitude that are on the market. 

The thing is, while Gunnamatta is good, and it is well worth a try, there are others out there that just outshine it.  That’s not to say I’d say no to one because I’d most definitely say yes! 

Sammy’s Rating: 70%

 

JYMI SAY’S…

So these boys from NZ have gone for the approach of having their very catchy brewing name leading the way on the packaging for Gunnamatta. This seems to be common across their current range, I’m not sure how much I like it, but let’s face it, it does look pretty cool and if you’ve come up with a name to brew under as good as Yeastie Boys, then you may as well flaunt it!

But with all this song and dance, will Gunnamatta be possessing a licence to thrill?

Let’s have a look…

Well, I have to say, the packaging is super simple but actually quite striking. Really enjoy the cartoon waves which I assume are depicting the waters of the Cook Straight. All dropped onto a great yellow, and with the black font too, nice work.

Once Gunnamatta was in the glass two things hit me. How good it looked and how pleasant the aroma was. Certainly not tea like but a nose of citrus and pine. Very good indeed and got me even more ready for that first sip. I have to say I was pretty excited… The can was telling me this IPA had a long dry finish and the fact it’s an Earl Grey IPA suggested that was going to be the case.

Now did The Gunna deliver? Well, quite frankly, yes.. This is a wonderful tasting IPA. The taste upfront is quite in your face and packing a punch with bags of pretty complex flavour and that 6.5% boot in the chops. But then it smooth’s right out. This could be confused for lacking a bit of body but for me it totally works and compliments that upfront flavour explosion. Then comes the long dry finish bringing with it at last those hints of Earl Grey.

Gunnamatta is out of this world. Some might say…. Intergalactic.

Jymi’s Rating: 86%

 

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 78% 

MOB review next weekend: BANKS’S AMBER BITTER by BANKS’S BREWERY

MUSE ON BOOZE 

BEER REVIEW: 49

BREWER: Drygate Brewing Company, Lanarkshire, Scotland

STYLE: India Pale Lager 

ABV: 5.9%

VESSEL: 330ml tin 

DATE POSTED: 14th September 2018

 

JYMI SAY’S…

POSITIVES: The taste and being told on the back of the tin the name of the artist who created the piece for the packaging.

NEGATIVES: Everything else.

Let’s start with the positives hey? Seeing as it’s starting to get a bit gloomy outside (in the UK) and some folk need that proverbial shot in the arm just to crawl out of bed… Chimera tastes pretty good you know. It’s super soft and delicate in the mouth but then tee’s off with bitterness. There is plenty of flavour coming out of this puppy but nothing particularly distinctive. It didn’t necessarily blow me away but I found it a very pleasant drop I have to say. For once with a crafty like this you can taste the fact that it’s a pretty big hitter at 5.9% and I quite like that. I’d actually say it points towards more of a spiky ale rather than a lager to be honest, but I don’t particularly care (I actually do, just saving it up for the negative bit), it tastes good so, well done!!

So the other positive is being told who did that quite distinctive (I really hate it, just saving it up for the negative bit) art work for the can. I was pleasantly surprised to see this as have been disappointed with other breweries not flying the flag of the artist on their products, though don’t want to name names (Beavertown). I enjoyed the nod to the name of the beer in the art work too.

Oh blimey, here come the NEGS!!

Ok, this packaging has annoyed me a lot!! The art itself is pretty cool and very much my thing but just comes over as trying a wee bit too hard to be different. It’s also been let down by landing on a shiny silver can!! Those colours on a black, or even white backdrop would help it along no end. Obviously would cost more to produce but for me would make it stand out from the ever more zany crowd. But as it is it just looks, awful.

INDIA PALE LAGER… IPL…. Seriously? Are we really doing this?? What on flamin earth is INDIA PALE LAGER? I mean the origins of India Pale Ale have never really been got to the bottom of so why of why chuck an India Pale Lager tag into the mix?? If it’s just because it’s pretty hoppy well then… pah, I’m done with this. And it tastes like an ale too!!! Oh , I’m still ranting.

Now back to the taste and experience. I’ve already eluded to the clever bitter finish which I enjoyed… the trouble is it hangs around forever and seems to build long after the sip which was frankly… troubling.

Drygate could do so much better with a lot of aspects of Chimera but all in all it’s a good lager that I definitely enjoyed.

Jymi’s Rating: 63%

 

SAMMY SAY’S…

Chimera India Pale Lager had me intrigued from the moment I first stumbled across it down the beer aisle of my local supermarket (yes it is a readily available brew).  My curiosity wasn’t drawn because of the tin; these quirky designs are ten a penny nowadays (one can hardly describe them as quirky anymore).  That’s not to say that I don’t like the design because I do.  It just wasn’t the factor that drew my attention. What did tug my inquisitiveness cords somewhere in the grey matter was the fact this is an India pale lager. We’ve all tried an India pale ale. However, we very possibly haven’t all tried an India pale lager…

The nose has hints of citrusy, fruity notes, although not as potent as one may expect from an India pale ale.  The notes don’t hang around for too long and after the initial sniff it’s hard to pick out anything of distinction.  

It has great colour once in the glass, much more aligned with a pale ale as opposed to a lager.  Chimera is very amber, as one may expect from a lager, but it’s cloudy, as one may not expect from a lager.  

Drinking Chimera is interesting.  There’s some bitter orange hints on the palate, which are supported by some good hop flavours.  But they are so short lived and the aftertaste is very much that of a lager. I find it a little confusing. That’s not to say it’s unpleasant, and it is exactly what it says on the tin: an India pale lager.  

I’m not convinced that pale ales and lagers should be mixed and for me, that means my initial curiosity around Chimera has been satisfied and in the future I will be happy to pass it by in the beer aisle of my local supermarket.

Sammy’s Rating: 66%

 

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 64.5% 

 

MOB review next weekend: GUNNAMATTA by YEASTIE BOYS 

MUSE ON BOOZE

BEER REVIEW: 48

BREWER: Stella Artois, Flemish Brabant, Belgium 

STYLE: Lager 

ABV: 4.8%

VESSEL: 284ml green bottle 

DATE POSTED: 8th September 2018

 

JYMI SAY’S…

It’s Saturday…

Phillip – Phillip is due over at a friend’s house for a BBQ at 1pm. He arose at 6am because he’s an efficient kind of guy and likes things be in order so his day can progress without any bumps. However, as Phil’s morning progressed he simply didn’t bother to go to the liquor store because he was sure either his friend or at least other guests would bring beer to the BBQ.

Joanna – Joanna loves wine, like, REALLY loves wine. But she also likes to put soda with said wine so it 1. goes further and 2. Doesn’t get her so drunk that she falls into her friends fish pond at the BBQ she is set to attend at 1pm.

Alan – Alan loves Fosters, like, REALLY loves Fosters. He loves a Fosters top even more but they don’t do that in a can… yet. Alan likes Fosters so much that he left his house at 10am just to make sure he could get down the supermarket to load up properly for the Barbie at his mate’s house at 1 o’clock.

Ricky – Ricky is a beer kind of guy. Ricky is on the way to a Barbecue at a chum’s house. Ricky has 32 pre chilled bottles of Stella 284 in the boot of his car. Ricky knows what the score is. Ricky is a flamin’ good guy. Be like Ricky.

Look, each to their own of course but there is just a time and a place for some brews.

Stella 284 was made for situations like a sunny Saturday barbie pure and simple and I doubt the producers even realised it. A can of Stella is pleasant enough yes. A 330 bottle is also ok as long as it’s cold. But a 284 chilled to perfection in the right setting is nothing short of brilliant.

Is it the best beer ever?  Most certainly not…

…but right time, right place, right temperature, right company, right millilitreage…you’ll do well to beat it.

Jymi’s Rating: 66%

 

SAMMY SAY’S…

Let’s cut straight to the chase, this is a mass produced, incredibly commercial lager. There are many things that one could say to pull the rug from under Stella Artois.  And you could almost argue it’s a little embarrassing that it proudly states that it’s from Belgium considering the endless nuanced beers that can be found in the land of our Flemish cousins.  It doesn’t pack anywhere near an outstanding flavour, although it’s pleasant enough.  There is no subtly here.

So, one may ask, why review this beer?

Well, it’s quite simple.  What our friend Stella has done, is bottle their brew up in a 284ml (half pint to the old timers out there) bottle.  This has several advantages:

• You can drain the bottle and the beer remains cold, therefore avoiding any unpleasant flavours building due to the warming of the beer
• The beverage remains incredibly fresh throughout drinking
• You can drink this form of Stella Artois on any occasion at any time during the year
• It’s easy to pack these little ‘uns into any chilling equipment to hand… Now, I want to make it explicitly clear that Stella Artois in any other container on the market would not score anywhere near as well as this.  But this is a clever marketing move (enough said).

Sammy’s Rating: 72 %

 

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 69% 

MOB review next weekend: CHIMERA by DRYGATE BREWING COMPANY 

MUSE ON BOOZE

DATE POSTED: 31st August 2018

STYLE: London Dry

ABV: 41.8%

KEY BOTANICAL: Rowenberry

THEY SAY SERVE WITH: Fever-Tree Light Tonic and Red Apple Garnish

MOB SAY SERVE WITH: Fever-Tree Tonic and Red Apple Garnish

 

MOB COCKTAIL SUGGESTION: Bad To The Bone (a MOB original)

Bad To The Bone ingredients and method:

50ml Caorunn Gin

25ml St Germain

12.5 Lemongrass and Ginger cordial

Red Apple

Soda Water

Muddle Gin, St Germain, Cordial and 1/2 the Apple and shake with Ice. Pour over Ice into a rocks glass. Top with Soda. Stir lightly. Garnish with slice of Apple.

M O B S O G 2 0 1 8

 

BEER REVIEW: 47

BREWER: Beavertown Brewery, North London, England

STYLE: American Pale Ale

ABV: 5.4%

VESSEL: 330ml tin

DATE POSTED: 31st August 2018

 

JYMI SAY’S…

Ok, firstly can we all just take a moment to absorb and enjoy one of the greatest looking tins of beer possibly ever produced…

 

 

 

 

Seriously, take a moment…

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wow. Simply Wow!! I tried to award 33 out of 10 for packaging but it was vetoed by the Muse on Booze Scoring Analysis Centre (MOBSAC), so I had to settle for a frankly insulting 10/10. Man I hate those guys.

Trying to leave the packaging behind and have some sort of objective view of how this beer actually was I cracked that beautifully barmy can open…

Damn, instant disappointment. Where is the nose? WHERE? There is a whiff of something, and that something is actually very pleasant but…. Weak, weak as you like.

Now, taste wise things began to get very much back on track. This is a great tasting brew, and you would expect nothing less from this North London brewery that have made quite the name for themselves over the last 6 years and even more of a name for themselves in the last few months, rightly or wrongly.

So I was sat enjoying my Gamma Ray, thinking to myself, “this is Beavertown I’m dealing with, what could possibly go wrong”?

But something did go wrong and it left me all panicky…

Now let me state something first, I love Grapefruit. It is, in fact, in my Top 3 fruits of all time*. Juice, fruit itself, tinned or a beer that has a Grapefruit foundation, doesn’t matter… I’m all in.  But then came Gamma Ray. It’s a great beer but… It is TOOOOOOO Grapefruity when it comes to the aftertaste! And that is coming from a Grapefruit head! It’s not just hints of, or notes, or subtle smacks fading in and out… IT IS GRAPEFRUIT when the aftertaste kicks in.

All in all we have a good beer here and you would expect nothing less from these dudes. But that aftertaste, for me anyhither, is just too much.

Jymi’s Rating: 77%

 

*just in case the super curious out there wanted to know…. my Top 3 Fruits are…

Pear, Grapefruit, Raspberry (in no particular order) 🙂

 

SAMMY SAY’S…

If you like beer, and you have a leaning towards radiation, then Gamma Ray should be the beer for you.  Well, I can hear you all saying, that makes sense.  After all, this American pale ale has a strong identity and it screams drink me (well it is from Beavertown Brewery, and we all know how formidable their marketing/design department is).  But there is a hidden dimension, which isn’t obviously apparent from the beginning…

This ale is meant to be tropical in nature.  And in many respects it is.  But the thing is, from the first smell to the last long after taste, one fruit rules supreme: grapefruit.  It’s so overbearing, in fact, that a two-word review (a nod to you Tap fans) would simply be Abundant Grapefruit. 

Now, grapefruit is a wonderful thing.  It’s a great taste and works sublimely well with tropical American pales.  Gamma Ray is a good beer.  It has its place amongst the elite and can stand shoulder to shoulder with the best of them.

However, there is one question you’ll have to fully answer before you draw your own conclusion on this one: how much grapefruit can you handle?

Sammy’s Rating: 80%

 

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 78.5% 

 

MOB review next weekend: STELLA 284 by STELLA ARTOIS 

MUSE ON BOOZE 

DATE POSTED: 29th August 2018

STYLE: London Dry

ABV: 40%

KEY BOTANICAL: Juniper and specifically NO CITRUS 

THEY SAY SERVE WITH: Fever-Tree Mediterranean Tonic and Lemon Garnish

MOB SAY SERVE WITH: Fentimans Connoisseurs Tonic and Dehydrated Orange Garnish

 

MOB COCKTAIL SUGGESTION: Gin Genie 

Gin Genie ingredients and method:

25ml Boodles Gin

25ml Sloe Gin

25ml Fresh Lemon Juice

12.5ml Sugar Syrup

8 Fresh Mint Leaves

Lemon Wheel

Lightly muddle the mint leaves in the bottom of a highball glass. Add the Boodles Gin, Lemon Juice and Sugar Syrup. Half fill the glass with crushed ice and churn. Fill the glass with crushed ice and top with the Sloe Gin. Garnish with Lemon Wheel.

 

M O B S O G 2 0 1 8

At the start of today Neck Oil from Beavertown was ranked Number 1 of all the beers that we have tested so far.

It’s not anymore…

BEER REVIEW: 46

BREWER: Siren Craft Brew, Berkshire, England

STYLE: Loose Leaf Pale Ale  

ABV: 3.6%

VESSEL: 330ml brown bottle 

DATE POSTED: 24th August 2018

 

JYMI SAY’S…

I honestly thought the foundation of this review was going to be the strength of this pale ale. I was wrong….

OH.

MY.

GIDDY.

AUNT.

What on earth have I just consumed?? Simply sensational does not do Yu Lu justice. I’m actually blown away and pretty speechless about how good this beer actually is. I also keep having moments of wanting to type ‘seeing as it’s only 3.6%’ but that makes no difference. Yu Lu is up there with the big boys regardless of strength. Ok, I need to compose myself here…

I do have to start with this 3.6% thing really but only because this is so weak it has dawn till dusk and dusk till dawn and back around again written all over it as a session beer. Some may find the citrus levels too much for a long stint but personally I’m more than ok with it because (not sure if I mentioned already) this beer tastes fantastic.

The nose and flavour are just so pleasant its untrue. Huge amounts of citrus hits but somehow they are not overbearing. Honestly there is a Lemon and Grapefruit smell and taste throughout but it’s not too much, it’s just right. The aftertaste is fantastic and hangs around longer than your giddy aunt trying to find her car keys.

Packaging wise, although I like the general direction Siren have taken to a point it has never blown me away. However Yu Lu looks pretty good in my opinion, the colours and scaling all sit together very nicely.

Looks great.

Smells fantastic.

Tastes better than fantastic.

And you can drink it all night long…

Lionel, take it away….

Jymi’s Rating: 92%

 

SAMMY SAY’S…

Sometimes things come along in life and you just know that they are meant to be.  And that’s the way it is with me and Yulu. This is an absolute belter of a beer.

Let us start with the packaging: what Siren have done so well, like many other breweries, is develop an outstanding image.  It’s a brand that could only be Siren.  It’s of note. It’s subtle.  It’s well thought out.  It thoroughly works.  

Let loose from the bottle and you have something that is quite mesmeric.  The colour in the glass is light and alluding. It’s not fully transparent but has a hint of a cloudiness that is just so alluring; there is no way that you can resist your first long pull.

However, before that you have the nose.  It is nigh on perfect.  Packed full of citrusy aromas that are backed by tropical notes that linger on your nasal cavity for such a good amount of time.  I have to say that it really is heady.

Then to the drinking.  Wow.  You are met with the promised lemon and lime hints, followed by a light tea aftertaste.  The length of this flawless brew hangs around for the time you want it to. Not too short that the party is over before it has started and not too long so as to leave an unwanted taste guest in your mouth.  Honestly, Siren has brewed Yulu to near on damn perfection.  

It is so rare to find such a gem.  It is so unusual to have anything in this world that ticks all the boxes.  Siren has done that with Yulu.  

This is an awesome beer that is light and refreshing and packs such a punch at the same time. It has bags of charisma and is filled to the bottle top with character.

Job done.

Full stop!

Sammy’s Rating: 94%

 

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 93% 

MOB review next weekend: GAMMA RAY by BEAVERTOWN BREWERY 

DATE POSTED: 22nd August 2018

STYLE: London Dry

ABV: 47%

KEY BOTANICAL: Gorse Flower and Juniper

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

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

 

MOB COCKTAIL SUGGESTION:

So, same as Anno Kent Dry we’re not going for a cocktail with Blue Bottle. We are going to let this Gin speak for itself in it’s purist form and suggest straight up as an alternative serve.

Yes you heard it, not even a cube this time…

NEAT.

…and indeed it is.  

M O B S O G 2 0 1 8

BEER REVIEW: 45

BREWER: Camden Town Brewery, North London, England

STYLE: Lager

ABV: 4.6%

VESSEL: 330ml brown bottle 

DATE POSTED: 17th August 2018

 

SAMMY SAY’S…

Think craft lagers and it’s almost certain that Camden’s Hells will be one of the first to spring to mind, if not the very first.  So is it deserved of that reputation?

The pilsner notes first appear on the nose, which isn’t unappealing, especially for a lager (which at times can be indistinctive at best and at worst, nasty).  As you gulp down the first sip, those pilsner notes quickly pack a punch on the taste buds and you are left in no doubt that Hells is most definitely a lager with pilsner origins.  But what’s clever about this lager, is that if you don’t like the pilsner brewing, it doesn’t mean you won’t like this.  And that’s because the initial hit is followed by sweeter larger notes, which wash away the original pilsner punch.  The problem is that the end result is very confused…

It all comes wrapped up in that very distinctive packaging which is distinctively from the Camden Town Brewery, which in turn is distinctively London.

Hells seems to know what it is from the outside but gets lost once untethered from its strong branding and, dare I say it, gets lost. So, here we have a beer that is good…but not great.  It doesn’t have its foot firmly in any one camp and it’s a little lost as to where it should be.  I know I’m going against a tide of popularity here – but that’s the way it is!

Sammy’s Rating: 71%

 

JYMI SAY’S…

Camden Town Brewery let me take my hat off to you. Not necessarily for the beer (as I’ve not actually opened it yet) and not for the look of the bottle, as I don’t particularly like it if I’m honest.  But for the name…

For months I’ve had reviewing this beer in the back of my head. The review was going to start with what on earth is this name all about then?? Helles is spelt Helles not Hells! And can it even be a Helles if it’s brewed in flippin North London?? If it is trying to be a Helles why is it misspelt?!! And if it’s not a Helles, it’s pretty misleading don’t you think CamBrew?? Huh, huh??!!

Then I read the label.

It’s a Helles / Pilsner hybrid, hence HELLS…. Brilliant, just brilliant!

Right, time to lift that lid… I am actually excited now.

Powerful yet light, flavoursome yet dry.. A very nice lager.

Now normally a lager that is weighing in at less than 5% I’m wary of. It’s not that I want that strong hit as such it’s just historically if it is less than 5% it just doesn’t taste that great (with the odd exception of course). CH is only 4.6% but has the flavour of something between 5 and 6%. It’s great, it really is.

Starting off a scorching hot BBQ based Saturday with a few of these crisp beauties would be just dreamy.

Great work CTB, great work indeed.

Jymi’s Rating: 79%

 

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 74.5% 

 

MOB review next weekend: YU LU by SIREN CRAFT BREW

 

DATE POSTED: 15th August 2018

STYLE: New Western

ABV: 42%

KEY BOTANICAL: Sarsaparilla 

THEY SAY SERVE WITH: Elder Flower Tonic and Orange Slice Garnish 

MOB SAY SERVE WITH: Fentimans Rose Lemonade and Lavender Garnish (note, no Ice to be used with this, just make sure the Rose Lemonade is very well chilled)

 

MOB COCKTAIL SUGGESTION: Aviation 

Aviation ingredients and method:

37.5ml Aviation Gin

12.5ml Creme de Violette

12.5ml Lemon Juice 

3 Dashes Maraschino Liqueur 

Maraschino Cocktail Cherry 

Place all ingredients (minus Cocktail Cherry) into a cocktail shaker. Shake and double strain into a chilled Martini glass. Garnish with Maraschino Cherry.

VOTED BEST COCKTAIL EVER BY EVERYONE THAT TRIED IT 🙂

SERIOUSLY YOU FOLKS, IF YOU HAVEN’T TRIED THIS GIN OR THIS COCKTAIL THEN YOU NEED TO. YOU WILL NEVER LOOK BACK.  

 

M O B S O G 2 0 1 8