BEER REVIEW: 346

BREWER: Jubel Beer, South London, England

STYLE: Fruit Lager

ABV: 4%

VESSEL: 330ml tin

DATE OF POST: 27th May 2024

 

JYMI SAY’S…

I’m sorry, this is just a poor beer.

There was promise knocking around in places that gave it a chance, but no, none of said promise materialised.

Way before even taking this brew out of the MOB test fridge to test, I knew from a previous encounter with this brewery in 2020 that we could have an issue here.

However, I set that negativity aside and focused on the fact that fairly recently I had had a lager cut with peach from an all together different brewery that I just assumed was going to be rubbish. It actually turned out to be really good. Soooooooo, maybe just maybe, this brew could do the same.

Now, as this brew hit the lips during the first sip an eyebrow was raised. Not in a bad way. But in a, ‘oh, maybe this beer might deliver after all’ way. However, once swallowed and left to linger it all just turned into a big fat no.

Does it taste like a lager?  Yes

Is there orange flavour?  Yes, for sure.

Is there blood orange flavour?  Nope.

Does it taste any good? Nope.

Jubel must be doing something right business wise as I see them about a lot. But beer wise, I’m afraid that they are yet to impress.

Jymi’s Rating: 28%

 

SAMMY SAY’S…

In the vast sea of craft beers, we all know that there are treasures to be found and disappointments to be tasted. Here, we navigate these murky waters to uncover the truth behind a brew that promises a possible twist: Blood Orange Lager. Will this beer be a refreshing revelation or a regrettable detour? 

Before diving into the drinking, it’s hard to ignore the initial impressions left by the packaging and name. Unfortunately, both aspects fall short of expectations, with lacklustre packaging and a forgettable name that fails to inspire curiosity or excitement.

As the first whiff wafts from the glass, there’s a faint hint of blood orange, but it’s overshadowed by the familiar scent of a traditional lager, which, let’s be honest, ain’t that great. It’s not unpleasant, but it lacks the vibrant aroma that one might expect from a beer infused with blood orange.

The taste of this brew fails to impress. The combination of blood orange with the usual lager notes results in a flavour that is, at best, mildly intriguing. It’s akin to a lager and lime, but with the lime replaced by blood orange. Unfortunately, the result is a concoction that falls flat, leaving a gacky sensation on the palate that is far from satisfying.

While some may find merit in the novelty of a blood orange-infused lager, for many, this beer misses the mark. Its underwhelming taste and uninspired packaging suggest that it may appeal more to those who don’t actually enjoy beer than to seasoned beer enthusiasts. In the realm of craft brewing, innovation is key, but it must be paired with quality and authenticity to truly leave a lasting impression. Unfortunately, Blood Orange Session Lager fails to deliver on all fronts, making it a disappointing dive into the world of flavoured lagers.

Sammy’s Rating: 30%

 

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 29%

MOB review next weekend: FRUIT TWIST by NORTHERN MONK

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M O B 2024

BEER REVIEW: 345

BREWER: Buxton Brewery, Derbyshire, England

STYLE: NEIPA

ABV: 4.8%

VESSEL: 440ml tin

DATE OF POST: 17th May 2024

 

JYMI SAY’S…

Well, there are a few talking points for this one…

NAME: Now, I’m glad Buxton have made reference to the 90s rock track by the then 3 piece Northern Irish rock ensemble, Ash. If they hadn’t I think this would have annoyed me slightly and marks would certainly have been docked. But they have, so they haven’t, and because of this I actually don’t mind the name we have for our beer here at all.

STYLE: So, our tin has informed us the drinker, that the vessel is housing a New England East Coast IPA. I’m not sure I agree with them. Yes, it’s hazy enough in the pour. Yes there are tropical vibes and a sweetness upfront. But it moves to a way more bitter finish than it should have if it’s supposed to be a NEIPA. For me this is more of a Mountain IPA (East Coast / West Coast hybrid). Style wise aside all good, as this brew is fairly tasty, moving from sweet to bitter as you go but as far as this being a New England IPA, I think they’ve missed the brief here.

STRENGTH: So, again, we’re told this is a session beer. And to be fair, it would work well as one, as GFM is light and easy drinking. My issue comes with the ABV. Though 4.8% isn’t strong, it’s by no means weak either. To label a brew as a sessioner, I do think 4.8% is a little on the strong side. In saying that it’s too week just to call it a straight IPA so yet again we’ve landed in-between two worlds.

All in all Girl From Mars, isn’t an East Coast beer, isn’t a West Coast beer, isn’t really a session beer but is too weak to call an IPA.

But when the dust has settled, it is fairly nice.

Jymi’s Rating: 64%

 

SAMMY SAY’S…

Strap in, folks! Today, we’re blasting off on a cosmic adventure with Girl From Mars – a brew that promises to take your taste buds on a journey to the outer reaches of the beer-verse. With its quirky name, which is based on the song by Ash, and stellar packaging, this beer has us reaching for the stars. But will it leave us soaring high or cause us to come crashing back down to Earth?

First off, let’s give an acknowledgment to the thinking behind the name Girl From Mars: this beer is part of Buxton’s BritHop series (yes – this series of brews is inspired by the British music scene of the 90s). Another way to view the whole theme of this brew, that it’s like a sci-fi movie meets a beer festival, and we’re here for it! Plus, the packaging is out of this world – it’s got us feeling like we’re about to embark on an intergalactic quest with our trusty six-pack in tow. Beam us up, Scotty!

As I crack open a can of Girl From Mars, our olfactory senses are greeted by the all too familiar grapefruit aroma that’s as refreshing as a blast of cool space air. It’s like a cosmic kiss from a celestial citrus fruit, beckoning us to take that first sip and launch into drinking hyperspace.

Girl From Mars is like the quirky indie band at a music festival – not quite headliner material, but still worth a listen. Pouring into the glass, it’s hazy like a nebula, setting the stage for a taste experience that’s out of this world. As a session NEIPA, it’s not the superstar of the galaxy, but at 4.8%, it’s got enough kick to send your taste buds into orbit, albeit a lowly one. 

The flavour? Well, let’s just say it’s as predictable as a space opera – all the usual suspects with no surprises. But hey, sometimes you just want a beer that gets the job done, and Girl From Mars does just that.

Despite its shortcomings, Girl From Mars is a beer that knows how to keep you coming back for more.  It’s as easy to drink as a glass of tangy space juice. Sure, it may not be the most complex NEIPA in the galaxy, but sometimes you don’t need complexity – you just need a beer that’s as reliable as your trusty rocket ship. So, here’s to Girl From Mars – may your adventures in beerland be as endless as the universe itself!

Sammy’s Rating: 64%

 

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 64%

MOB review next weekend: BLOOD ORANGE LAGER by JUBEL BEER

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M O B 2024

BEER REVIEW: 344

BREWER: North Brewing Co., West Yorkshire, England

STYLE: IPA

ABV: 6%

VESSEL: 440ml tin

DATE OF POST: 10th May 2024

 

JYMI SAY’S…

Can art: Hmmmm, yeah not great is it. Unless you’re a LA Rams fan I suppose.

Name: Hmmm, yeah not great is it. Unless the beer is so good it feels like it’s from another world (spoiler alert, it’s not).

Taste: Well, this brew isn’t good enough to justify it’s name, however, it is pretty tasty to be fair. The presence of lime is evident from the moment the beer hits your lips until the very end of the aftertaste. The lime is nicely mellowed out by a tangerine undertone. It’s not at all prominent but without doubt necessary to chill out our little citrus green ball hit.

Not a complex beer by any means but certainly enjoyable.

Jymi’s Rating: 62%

 

SAMMY SAY’S…

Another World is a pretty decent beer, but I wouldn’t describe it as being from another world.  Actually, it’s more than fair to say that Another World is very much from this world.  And it’s not setting this world alight, either.

What you get with this beer is a straight bat. There are no surprises or specific points of interest.  While it might deliver a solid performance, it doesn’t do enough to separate it from the pack.

The sherbet nose is supported by the usual grapefruit and citrus notes (on this occasion orange is the dominant fruit).  This drinking continues in the same vein, with Another World predominantly pushing tangerine to the forefront.  The fizz in the finish carries this all through quite nicely.

For a double dry hopped IPA, I think many a punter would expect more than Another World offers.  Despite it being very drinkable and quite pleasant, it’s very much lacking in its ability to punch anything at all special.  It’s a little like a sheep in wolf’s clothing.  Promising much more than it delivers, it falls short of being a cracking DDH IPA whilst still maintaining some good credentials as a decent beer outside of the pigeonhole it has cast itself in.

Sammy’s Rating: 63%

 

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 62.5%

MOB review next weekend: GIRL FROM MARS by BUXTON BREWERY

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M O B 2024

BEER REVIEW: 343

BREWER: Siren Craft Brew, Berkshire, England

STYLE: Braggot

ABV: 8.4%

VESSEL: 440ml tin

DATE OF POST: 3rd May 2024

 

SAMMY SAY’S…

Uncle Zester, what a name, eh?  And while it might be a bit of an odd one for a beer, it is a bit of an odd beer.  You see what we have here is a braggot.  Never heard of a braggot?  You most certainly won’t be alone.

Let me enlighten you, like I was recently enlightened: a braggot is a blend of beer and mead.  A strange pairing?  Well, it would seem so given how rare they are.  And I’m willing to bet most folk have never tried a mead, let alone a braggot. 

Anyhow – enough of my ramblings.  

The question has to be, is a braggot any good?  And the answer is, I don’t know because I have only tried one. It just so happens that the one that I have tried is actually very good.  It’s this one.

Yes, that’s right, Uncle Zester is a very good braggot (as to the rest of braggot’s, I have no idea).

From the lychee and blood orange packed nose, through to the last pepper aftertaste, via the bitter grapefruit and honey mid flavours, Uncle Zester delivers in every way imaginable.  Actually, Uncy Z delivers so much so that I cannot wait to meet the rest of the family.  

Regardless of what other braggots might be like, this is a wonderful drinking experience.  It has definitely done enough to convince me that I want to try more of this rare breed of beer…

Sammy’s Rating: 89%

 

JYMI SAY’S…

Well well, week 343, so therefore beer 343. And it’s the MOB boy’s first test of a Braggot… and actually the first time either of us have tried this style at all.

What’s a Braggot then?

Well, it’s a Beer & Mead hybrid. Yep. You heard right.

This brew is also a collaboration… with Siren bringing the noise of the beer and B. Nektar delivering the mead vibe you hear.

And let me tell you right now, this is one HELLUVA brew!!!

The second I cracked the can an undeniable waft of lychee flew up my hooter. Absolutely delightful. And the theme of lychee actually sticks around for the duration of the Uncle Zester (what a cracking beer name) experience. It’s there as a backbone throughout the drink but is joined by a couple of welcome pals along the way. First up is grapefruit. But not necessarily in the way you would find it in a classic craft IPA. UZ then moves along, predicably I suppose, to honey. Again, this is all backed up by the presence of the lychee. It’s balancing the bitterness from the grapefruit early on and somehow quelling the sweetness of the honey. How they have managed that is beyond me. Is there acidity in lychee pulling the sweetness down??? Wish I knew. Ever the pro eh?! And unsurprisingly when all is said and done it’s the lychee that’s dominating the aftertaste with a tiny bit of spice to round it off.

It’s a pretty complex beer this thinking about it. It didn’t seem like it at the time of testing but now I’m reporting back it almost feels like every element in the flavour profile is countering and either enhancing or subduing the other, depending on what is necessary.

I’ve no idea if this a good representation of the Braggot style for reasons stated early on. But one thing I am sure of is that this is an absolute baller of a beer!! An absolute must try if you can find it.

Jymi’s Rating: 91%

 

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 90%

MOB review next weekend: ANOTHER WORLD by NORTH BREWING CO.

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M O B 2024

BEER REVIEW: 342 (done simultaneously with 1 minute beer review – see what Dan thinks now over on TikTok – @1minutebeerreview) 

BREWER: Polly’s, Flintshire, Wales (with Elusive Brewing, Berkshire)

STYLE: West Coast Pale Ale

ABV: 3.8%

VESSEL: 440ml tin 

DATE OF POST: 26th April 2024

 

JYMI SAY’S…

I think that it’s probably good to start with what is written on the tin by our brewer Polly’s, to give us the back story to this beer…

We were absolutely honoured earlier this year to find we had been asked to take part in Elusive’s yearly Collabageddon series of beers, and honoured even more so that we had been asked to partner up with the host brewery themselves after working so closely and crossing paths multiple times over the years. Knowing of our passion for all things West Coast, it felt like it was the most naturel option to lean into our shared passion, and having looked at the trajectory of Elusive’s Oregon Trail over the years we noticed that it had gone up in strength, but never down. With this in mind, we decided to brew Llanberis Trail – an ultra-crushable Oregon Trail recipe brewed to a sessionable ABV, with our Welsh water profile. The result is a crisp, clean session pale, with a hefty amount of punchy bitterness to honour the beers we collectively love so much.

 

Before even popping this pup it is a beer that is already close to my heart. See, the Llanberis Path is the one that I took up Mount Snowdon pretty much a year ago today in memory of my beautiful Mum who had passed away a year prior to that. And it’s quite clear from the tin art and play on words that this where this beer’s name came from.

OK, I’m about to crack this brew but first I have a confession to make. I’m nervous. Why? Because it’s only 3.8%. Now with Polly’s steering the wheel, helped by the mighty Elusive bringing the Oregon Trail recipe to the party we really should not have a problem here…

But a decent Westy at only 3.8%??? Surely it can’t be done?

Right, let’s go…

F**k me, it can be done. Oh wow, this is serious… Going in for the second sip…

Crickey, 3.8% or not, this is an absolute BANGER of a brew!!!

There’s burnt orange, there’s caramel, it is really crisp, smooth and crushable as well as the promised and essential level of bitterness. Basically, they’ve nailed it!

You can’t even buy this beer now but seriously; this needs to happen again Polly’s and Elusive.

And if it does, I will attempt to buy it all. That’s if me boi Sammy or my man Dan don’t get there first, assuming they like it of course?! They will, I’m sure of it.

Jymi’s Rating: 81%

 

SAMMY SAY’S…

Llanberis Trail is a collaboration between Polly’s Brewery and Elusive Brewing. The name is based on the latter’s Oregon Trail, a west coast IPA, only it’s been adapted to fit with the former’s Welsh base. 

Whether it be the Welsh water, or the banging combination of hops, or more likely all the things that go into this brew, it’s undoubtedly a belter.  

LT is very clean in the mouth – it packs a hoppy punch upfront and gives way to the well known bitterness of a West Coast brew.  Alongside this, it’s a very refreshing beer. 

But what has to be taken into account, is that the two breweries have managed to do this with a meagre 3.8% abv. Yes, I know. West Coast pedigree in a session percentage. And you really could have a session on LT without getting bored of it. 

A very strong beer. I reckon this would get the seal of approval from a wide range of beer drinkers. 

Sammy’s Rating: 84%

 

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 82.5%

MOB review next weekend: UNCLE ZESTER by SIREN CRAFT BREW

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M O B 2024

BEER REVIEW: 341

BREWER: Toast Brewing, West London, England

STYLE: Pale Ale

ABV: 4.1%

VESSEL: 330ml tin

DATE OF POST: 19th April 2024

 

JYMI SAY’S…

I’d like to raise a glass to this brewery, a toast to Toast if you like… and this is why…

Toast Brewing brew their brews sustainably using surplus bread… may I quote them, ‘Turning left over loaves into liquid gold’. I think they could have done better with that one but we are where we are. Haha.

But not only are Toast brewing sustainable beer they are also putting all profit into environmental charities. I just love this. As long as this beer isn’t absolutely shocking I encourage you all to go pick some up to support this most splendid of ideas and initiatives.

Let’s pop this baby and hope that it isn’t absolutely shocking shall we??!!

I’ve got to be honest… I’m nervous… Don’t know why…

Anyway, here goes…

Well, I’m happy to report that it’s decent. Not earth shudderingly great, but defo decent.

Now seeing as it is brewed with these left over loaves it is surprisingly light, crisp and quaffable. I honestly thought that a bread based beer, texture wise, would be on the heavy side but Grassroots most certainly is not.

Taste wise our tins suggests we will get Passion Fruit, Peach and Pineapple. I can report that, for me anyway, they hit 66.6% of the flavours that we were to expect. Passion Fruit is there for sure. There is also no doubting the presence of Peach either. However, Pineapple is nowhere to be seen. Not necessarily a bad thing on this occasion as the Passion Fruit and Peach do work very nicely together.

Look, there are no fireworks here but Grassroots is certainly a very enjoyable and refreshing brew.

For all reasons above I implore you to find, drink and support this beer and brewery.

Jymi’s Rating: 69%

 

SAMMY SAY’S…

Brewed with leftover bread, Grassroots has an ecological leaning to it. What I will say is that Toast Brewing are not the only planet conscious brewers out there doing this. Still, it’s a good angle and one that cannot be dismissed. 

As a side note, the can of Grassroots is a little twee. The greenery vibe is a little over the top and, in my view, detracts from the fact that this is a beer. Let’s not lose sight of the main product here!

So, the ecological theme of Grassroots is all well and good. But it needs to stand up as a beer. And it does. As a pale ale, it has a nice low-down citrus and passion fruit vibe but there are some good summer meadow notes popping about too. 

You might buy this beer out of intrigue about it having been brewed with excess bread. You might even buy it on the mere fact it’s claiming to be ecological. But you’ll buy it again because it’s a dang tasty beer. 

Sammy’s Rating: 78%

 

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 73.5%

MOB review next weekend: LLANBERIS TRAIL by POLLY’S

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POSTED BY BOTH MUSE ON BOOZE & 1 MINUTE BEER REVIEW NEXT FRIDAY, 26th APRIL @ 8pm

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M O B 2024

BEER REVIEW: 340

BREWER: The Five Points Brewing Co, East London, England

STYLE: Best Bitter

ABV: 4.1%

VESSEL: 500ml brown bottle

DATE OF POST: 14th April 2024

 

SAMMY SAY’S…

So, Five Point is a single hopped best bitter. Single hop beers are great in that you get a true sense of the hop the beer is brewed with. But, and yes there is a big but, they can be incredibly exposing if it doesn’t go well. 

However, things are not quite that straightforward with FP.  You see, it’s not badly brewed. In actual fact, it’s well brewed. It’s a very pleasant drink. It slips down easily and is quite refreshing. 

So why the not so high score? You would all be justified in asking. 

Well, FP just lacks in personality. It plays a very straight bat. And while it’s absolutely easy to drink, it just doesn’t do much. There’s not much flavour profile to dissect and it will slip from memory pretty soon after the last drop has been drained. 

One other thing I will say for FP – due to its uncomplicated brew, you could very happily pair it with any food choice without either the beer or the food being compromised. 

In terms of it being a bitter, there’s no way that I would describe FP as a best bitter.  It doesn’t even reach the knees of the behemoths that sit in this category. It’s a damp squib of a best, and you might even be scratching your head to find the bitterness at all. 

Sammy’s Rating: 53%

 

JYMI SAY’S…

When you think of Best Bitter there is a fair chance that your mind wanders to possibly an older Gentleman, sitting in a country pub with either his dog or a chum and maybe even BOTH! Jackpot stuff. Now the reason you probably went down this path is that this beer style is associated with such things. It’s more traditional, laid back, relaxed, countryfied.

Now that is not to say that younger folk and females or maybe even BOTH don’t enjoy a pint of Best because I know for a fact that they do… but on the whole it’s your older lad that would sup on such brews.

Now, Five Points have delivered plenty on tradition in the beer we have under the nose today. However, there is without doubt a modern undertone knocking around from start to finish. The bottle for starters, it’s not lairy craft, but it ain’t old man ale either. Taste wise, though only brewed with Fuggles hops there is a crisp drinkability to this BB. Toffee with biscuit and a medium yet prominent bitterness are all balanced perfectly bringing you a light, refreshing and incredibly drinkable Best with nods to both the old and the new.

It’s a very well done from me.

Jymi’s Rating: 82%

 

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 67.5%

MOB review next weekend: GRASSROOTS by TOAST BREWING COMPANY

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M O B 2024

BEER REVIEW: 339

BREWER: Shepherd Neame, Kent, England

STYLE: Strong Ale

ABV: 5.2%

VESSEL: 500ml brown bottle 

DATE OF POST: 8th April 2024

 

JYMI SAY’S…

I’m 43 now. Not old I know but certainly not young anymore. Mentally I’m still hovering around 25 I reckon but physically I’m defo 43! I mean my once thick and luscious locks are now no longer thick and so far from luscious it’s ridiculous. I’m attempting the 5^th time of growing my hair long to cover the trouble by tying it back but we’ll have to see how that goes… and looks! My once quite sexy wrinkles have 100% gone over the edge too. Think a Jim Henson caricature of Gordon Ramsey waking up after a heavy night and you won’t be far off! One thing that hasn’t deserted me yet is my eyesight. However, our brewer today, Shepherd Neame, really got me questioning that, by producing the smallest ever font to describe the history of the beer on the back label. I mean, I have to take my hat off to the printer that managed this feat but at the end of the day printing something so small you need a microscope to read it is not useful to anyone and seems altogether pointless.

Anyway, to the beer.

Luckily regular sized fonts were used for the front label so I knew we were dealing with a 5.2% Kentish Strong Ale. Now while 5.2 is strong to a point, I’m not sure it warrants the tag of STRONG ALE. And unfortunately, flavour wise this ain’t a strong boy either… let’s start from the beginning.

Bishops Finger has an ‘aley’, fruity and slightly metallic nose, but not unpleasant. All of this transfers into the sip too. It’s ‘aley’. It’s fruity. It’s slightly metallic. And again, though it’s not unpleasant, it’s not very good. There is a tiny wee touch of caramel in the aftertaste which helped out a bit but overall, this really isn’t a brew to write home about.

Considering BF has been brewed since 1958 you would think that they would have locked it down by now.

Disappointing, though I wouldn’t necessarily say no to a glass if offered.

Jymi’s Rating: 50%

 

SAMMY SAY’S…

Bishops Finger was Kent beer of the year 2023. Not a national award, but still, something to be celebrated. 

I like the classic label – the colour scheme is well thought out with gold and purple complimenting one another.  It might not be groundbreaking packaging but it definitely works. 

Bishops Finger is sold as a strong ale.  At 5.2% this has to be questioned. It’s hardly packing a fighting weight of an abv. 

In the glass we get a nice dark amber liquid that smells like a malty traditional ale. This is a good thing. 

In the drinking BF has lots of maltiness.  Then there’s a sweetness upfront giving way to slight bitter finish.  The flavour profile is dried fruits giving way to slight orange notes. All in all it’s quite subtle but pleasant. 

Not a monster of a brew by any stretch of the imagination, BF is decent enough. It wouldn’t be one that you’d reach for but you wouldn’t be too disappointed to be offered it. 

Sammy’s Rating: 68%

 

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 59%

MOB review next weekend: FIVE POINTS BEST by  THE FIVE POINTS BREWING CO.

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M O B 2024

BEER REVIEW: 338

BREWER: Marble Beers, Greater Manchester, England

STYLE: IPA

ABV: 6.8%

VESSEL: 500ml tin

DATE OF POST: 1st April 2024

 

SAMMY SAY’S…

Listen, if a beer’s packing 6.8%, then it should be better than this. 

While Earl Grey IPA smells of bergamot and tastes of bergamot, it’s actually not above average in its tasting. It delivers on its promise, but earl grey and IPA just do not belong together. 

The sweetness is not tempered by bitterness in anyway shape or form. In actual fact, you get more bitterness from a tea brew than this beer brew. 

Earl Grey IPA is bang average at best. It fails to deliver as a beer while actually delivering on what it says it is. 

This will disappear into insignificance for me. 

Sammy’s Rating: 53%

 

JYMI SAY’S…

Sammy and I have a rich history with Earl Grey ales. I’m not going to go into it but…

actually, I’m not going to go into it at all. But I was full of anticipation here.

And Marble have only gorn and let me down. Flippin eck.

I think one of my notes in my testing book kinda sums this beer up…

Not bad, but all a bit meh.

See, there are notes of tea and a dryness to accompany that. With this comes quite a thin and light texture and mouthfeel. In this instance this is actually a good thing as it does make this brew easy to drink. There is also a pleasant bitterness rounding everything off in the aftertaste. You would think that with all of this going on we would have a real good brew on our hands. But we don’t, as the flavours don’t really materialise into anything, therefore leaving EGIPA falling into the bang average bracket unfortunately.

I won’t be bothering to try and find this beer again to be honest.

Jymi’s Rating: 56%

 

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 54.5 %

MOB review next weekend: BISHOPS FINGER by SHEPHERD NEAME

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M O B 2024

BEER REVIEW: 337

BREWER: Hive Mind, Monmouthshire, Wales

STYLE: Hazy Pale 

ABV: 3.4%

VESSEL: 440ml tin

DATE OF POST: 24th March 2024

 

JYMI SAY’S…

OK, we have to start with the can art… It is suburb!!! An almost cyborg honeybee just doing it’s very important thing. So, so good. I kinda wish the brewery logo wasn’t getting in the way a little, stopping our beast of a friend being displayed in all their glory but whatever, I’m picking, this is a seriously decent looking tin of beer.

And the reason for the robot bee is not just for tin art kicks, no no, it represents a beer brewed with pollen and also a nod to our winged friends that play such an important role in all our lives. They go about their business without fuss nor fanfare and are without doubt an under appreciated lot.

I quote our can…

As you savour each sip, take a moment to reflect on the essential work of pollinators in our world and their gift to our food chain.

I can assume that the vast majority of those reading will not be sipping THE POLLINATOR as they read this but please, take a moment. Take a moment to appreciate the nature around you. How beautiful and essential it is. Without it, we’re nothing. Humans may think they’re King Kong with a mighty dong but remove the essentials that make our lives possible and as mentioned, we’re nothing.

Anyway, to the beer itself… I really hope it’s not shit after that environmental outburst!

Thankfully, it is not. It’s actually pretty good.

It is clear in the drinking that this brew is only 3.4%. The body is thin and the aftertaste is short lived. However, the flavour is great. There is a sweet / citrus / savoury balance that delivers a very drinkable beer for sure.

In a sun soaked beer garden surrounded by flowers, trees and maybe a smattering of birdsong, The Pollinator would be an absolute delight, I’m sure of it.

Keep up the good work Hive Mind x

Jymi’s Rating: 71%

 

SAMMY SAY’S…

Ok. Let’s shake this out a little. We shall begin at the start. Logical, I know. 

So, I like the terminator themed packaging but it does resemble a computer game graphic. I absolutely get the whole terminator/Pollinator vibe, but I also think come on, do your own thing. 

Let me put that little gripe aside. And I do need to put it aside because the truth is, I really, really like the Pollinator. 

I am on board with the nod to it being linked to environmental concerns.  This is supported by bee keepers and brewers vibe which makes absolute sense that the team at Hive Mind create mead, honey and beer products. 

At only 3.4% abv, The Pollinator is a belter of a brew. It’s light on the nose but so reminiscent of an old style good IPA. Sure it’s lighter, but the notes you want are all there.

Make no bones about it, the Pollinator is so very  incredibly refreshing. There’s no doubt it has hints of fruits and hops, but do not be distracted that is USP is unashamedly it’s refreshing bangingness. 

The Pollinator is absolutely perfect as a session IPA. It manages to achieve things that others don’t manage to do. 

Sammy’s Rating: 83%

 

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 77%

MOB review next weekend: EARL GREY IPA by MARBLE BEERS

Sammy & Jymi – Musing on Booze weekly since 2017

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M O B 2024