DARK SIDE

BEER REVIEW: 115

BREWER: Bath Ales, Gloucestershire, England

STYLE: Stout

ABV: 4%

VESSEL: 500ml brown bottle

DATE POSTED: 21st December 2019

JYMI SAY’S…

I suppose all us beer lovers are ultimately looking for the beer that has everything…

That’s not to say that if we found it that would be the only drink we drank forever and ever and ever. A saison or sour in the sun would supersede a ruby red Christmas brew and of course if seasons were reversed the ruby red would probably be the beer selected. But still the quest goes on for that beer that has everything.
I suppose there are quite a few beers that we have each run into that tick all the boxes and the better they tick those boxes the better that beer is.

Well here we have the pagan and good looking Dark Side… and I’m going to say now that it isn’t necessarily the best beer in the world, but it does kinda have everything.

It looks great as a bottle and also once in the vessel you have selected to drink it from. It has a good strong burnt chocolate nose. It is a smooth and calm enough brew to enjoy a fair few of of a night down the local with some chums but also easily has enough punch to savour just one of very slowly. See, it’s got everything.

For me though the real star of the Dark Side consuming experience is what happens with the intensity of the taste journey in the gob. Up front there is this large richness to Dark Side that is of complex chocolate. But then, quite quickly, that huge flavour falls off a cliff… but in a good way. It enables the drinker to enjoy some large and heady flavours without it all getting too much too soon.

Hats off to you Bath Ales, very clever.

Jymi’s Rating: 82%

SAMMY SAY’S…

So, here we are again with a Bath Ale brew. And I’m going to start by being honest; I didn’t like the last offering I tested from this, er, Bristol based brewery.

But this time, it’s a stout! And this time, I like it. I really like it.

The nose is light and crisp and smells exactly what you’d hope for in a stout. It’s not overbearing and, actually, if anything is a little non-descript. That’s not a problem though. Because what it does is give you an insight into what’s on the inside.

Where Dark Side excels is in it’s lightness. It’s great on the palate and slips down really easily. There is a hint of chocolate but it’s subtle and this works with Dark Side. This is a sessionable stout and one that you could enjoy in many-a-situation.

I thoroughly recommend this brew.

Well done Bath Ales; you have improved your standing greatly in my reckoning.

Sammy’s Rating: 85%

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 83.5%

MOB review next weekend: DOUBLE STOUT by WESTERHAM BREWERY CO.

M O B 2019

ST BRIDES OATMEAL STOUT

BEER REVIEW: 114

BREWER: St Brides Brewery, Dorset, England

STYLE: Stout

ABV: 4.7%

VESSEL: 500ml brown bottle

DATE POSTED: 14th December 2019

JYMI SAY’S…

Most of the time a beer consumer’s journey with each beer that they consume starts with the visual of the bottle or tin. Whether it be in a supermarket, bottle shop or in my case with St Brides Oatmeal Stout, an incredible farm shop named Washingpool in West Dorset, it all begins with the eyes glancing at the bottle.

Now, my eyes were drawn towards this bottle, mainly because I wondered just what on earth was going on with the label design. It’s not that I think it looks rubbish or that I don’t like it, I’m pretty indifferent to it to be honest, it’s just that I don’t get it. Oh well.

The next stop on the beer drinkers journey is the cracking open of their vessel and with that comes the first whiff of the brew. This Oatmeal Stout has a very light delicate nose. The actual notes that are picked up are of what should be typically robust aromas of liquorice and chocolate. But somehow with this beer they present themselves as soft and subtle. Pretty clever and certainly intriguing.

The beer consumer’s journey then continues to the pour and glance stage and this stout certainly got me thinking once again. There is quite high carbonation leading to a large and pronounced brown lid sitting on top of what can only be described as a bright black beer.

The final stop (which contains many mini journeys to be fair) is in the drinking of the beer…

The carbonation continues into the sipping of this Oatmeal Stout from St Brides, it’s not necessarily a bad thing but did come across a little fizzy for my liking. The lightness of the nose also transfers into the drinking here, it’s light and delicate with a good oaty finish accompanying soft coffee undertones.

Overall a solid beer from the smallest brewery in Dorset.

Jymi’s Rating: 68%

SAMMY SAY’S…

Well, it’s clear what Oatmeal Stout is about. You couldn’t come home with this in hand thinking you’d bought anything other than an Oatmeal Stout. And it’s Ronseal approach works…

The nose is earthy and nutty. It’s heavy and pleasant; warming and homely. It’s everything that you want in a stout. It really warms your toes.

Oatmeal Stout has a great taste up front, which is earthy and deep with coffee and oats coming through to play their part. But then it’s hindered slightly by its metallic after taste which pushes through a few seconds after the first sip. It doesn’t destroy the flavour, but it’s certainly not as strong as it’s first flavour punch.

In the mouth, Oatmeal is smooth. It’s bordering on being silky – great for a stout. This smoothness works really well with the heavy nose and earthy taste.

Overall, it’s actually quite light for a stout. I find this quite handy to be fair.

Put quite simply, I enjoyed Oatmeal Stout and would happily do so again.

Sammy’s Rating: 78%

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 73%

MOB review next weekend: DARK SIDE by BATH ALES

M O B 2019

BROKEN DREAM

BEER REVIEW: 113

BREWER: Siren Craft Brew, Berkshire, England

STYLE: Stout

ABV: 6.5%

VESSEL: 330ml tin

DATE POSTED: 7th December 2019

SAMMY SAY’S…

I know stouts are dark. But Broken Dream is really dark. And let’s be honest, the name is dark. It suggests a place that one doesn’t really want to go to. However, the key question isn’t about dreams per say, it’s about whether or not this particular Broken Dream is one that we want to have or not.

So, the dark theme continues beyond the name and look of this stout. The nose is packing dark roast coffee. It’s heavy and it’s enticing.

I have to warn you, be prepared when you drink Broken Dream: it’s heavy and thick. In fact, it’s almost fair to say the taste is dark. It’s syrupy, with a hint of cream that sits above the predominant coffee flavour.

Look, I love stouts. This, perhaps, will not be everyone’s cup of tea, or glass of stout for that matter. But Broken Dream is intriguing. It’s not a beverage that you could have a session on; it’s one for a special occasion. But it’s different. It’s rich. It’s heavy. It’s dark. And there’s nothing else out there quite like it.

This is most definitely another big hitter from Siren and it makes sense from inception to digestion!

Sammy’s Rating: 87%

JYMI SAY’S…

I’ve always been a bit of a Siren advocate. Possibly as they are pretty local to me but mainly because every beer I’ve ever had of theirs has been exceptional to be honest. The one thing I was never totally on board with was the packaging of beers and taps heads in pubs and bars. It wasn’t the concept that I had an issue with, as was very much on board with that. It was more the delivery. I could never really put my finger on exactly what wasn’t doing it for me. Ratios? Colours? Layout? Never really did get to the bottom of it to be honest and found myself dreaming of what this branding concept could look like on a tin?

Well fast forward to not very long ago and Siren started canning and holy hell has it made a difference to the look of these already in my opinion, incredible beers.

Anyway, to Broken Dream. A little drunk birdie had once told me that this breakfast stout had won the champion beer 2018. It was time to see if BD not only lived up to that title but also to the huge pressure that I had heaped on Siren in my own melon to keep on delivering exceptional brews.

Well, let’s just start with… If you happen to drink this in a shed, it will blow the roof off. If you’re consuming in a garage, well the door is coming clean off. And if you happen to be drinking this cat in a bunker then you better get out quick as this beer is gonna blow the s#*t out of it.

My oh my this is one big boy brew!

When pouring this thing you instantly pick up the huge and delightful coffee and chocy (that was meant to say chocolate but I quite like the ring of coffee and chocy so it stays in, OK?!) aroma as well as the deep black colour of this stout and off brown thin head. You can just instantly tell you’re dealing with a major player. The very first moment of the sip is quite delicate, very smooth and subtle but then in come the flavour rockets and blow your brain apart. Coffee BOOM. Chocy BOOM. Cream BOOM. Cherry BOOM. It’s just huge and an absolute delight. Once all that is over and you’re feeling pretty drained the drinker is left with a long cream finish that fades to a bitter aftertaste, actually, afterglow. Then it is time for the second sip…

INFLIPPINCREDIBLE.

Jymi’s Rating: 93%

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 90%

MOB review next weekend: ST BRIDES OATMEAL STOUT by ST BRIDES BREWERY

M o B 2o19

MOOIE NEL

BEER REVIEW: 112

BREWER: Jopen, North Holland, Netherlands

STYLE: IPA

ABV: 6.5%

VESSEL: 33cl brown bottle

DATE POSTED: 29th November 2019

JYMI SAY’S…

Errrr.. nice enough beer this.

Errrr.. nose coming from da Mooie has a pleasant enough caramel tone.

Errrr… all in all this brew is packaged up well enough, I suppose.

To be really honest it’s hard to get excited about MNIPA but to be fair I wasn’t particularly disappointed either. This Dutch brew does have a piece de resistance but I’ll leave that until the end (no peeking now).
Look, Mooie Nel is an absolutely fine beer. The taste is good though doesn’t hang around long. There is a good bitter hit in the middle, though that bitter hit was a little clunky which suggests with a little more care in the brew this IPA could be elevated from pretty good to GOOD!

As said Mooie Nel is a decent enough beer but it won’t make it into the tales of ale when reminiscing about the good ol’ days.

MNIPA’s piece de reinvest (that is Dutch for Piece de resistance, if you’ve lost it a bit, which means masterpiece for if you’ve totally lost yourself recently) is that it is smoother than Rick the Slick sipping liquid silk from a Cashmere flute.

Poet, don’t ya know it.

Jymi’s Rating: 66%

SAMMY SAY’S…

If you were (or, indeed, are) Dutch, imagine how you might design the packaging for a beer. Chances are, you’d end up with something close to where the design team at Jopen ended up at with Mooie Nel IPA. Again, the chances are you’d end up being quite happy with it.

Mooie isn’t as lively as some of its Dutch counterparts in the beer world, but there are some other similarities. For one, it has quite the hint of caramel both in its colour and in its nose. Secondly, its well balanced in regard to its hop content and its alcohol. Together, this makes it a pleasant beer.

However, to nudge Mooie into greatness, it needs to pack a little bit more of a punch. It needs something in its follow through (pardon the pun) to give it an edge. A little more sharpness, or bitterness, perhaps would add to the overall feeling of specialness both in the mouth and in the aftertaste.

Would I turn my nose up at Mooie? Definitely not.

Would it top any of my beer lists? Definitely not.

Sammy’s Rating: 71%

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 68.5%

MOB review next weekend: BROKEN DREAM by SIREN CRAFT BREW

M O B 2019

TROOPER

BEER REVIEW: 111

BREWER: Robinsons, Greater Manchester, England

STYLE: Golden Ale

ABV: 4.7%

VESSEL: 500ml brown bottle

DATE POSTED: 24th November 2019

SAMMY SAY’S…

Can Trooper be classed as a novelty beer? I’m not sure. Is it genius or foolhardy? Again, I’m not sure. I mean, a band creating a beer smacks of novelty. But then again, I get it. It’s good business. More merch for the band to sell. But for it to be viable, it has to be good. I mean the beer, not the band, of course. (Just for clarity, Iron Maiden, creator of Trooper is not a band that I like, but I’ll put that aside for the sake of this review).

So let’s start at the beginning. Trooper is packaged up like you’d expect a beer from Iron Maiden to be. And if you like that sort of thing, that’s great. I don’t, but hey-ho (not a song by Iron Maiden). I do, however, like that each lid has a different album on it. For the purpose of the review, we are talking about special edition label here.

The nose is malty. It’s heavy and earthy, a little bit like Iron Maiden I suppose. But this vibe sits better with the beer than it does with the music!

The strange thing is, this heaviness doesn’t carry through into the drinking. Trooper is actually light and almost fizzes on the tongue. It’s not got much bitterness, but just about enough, and lacks a little in the flavour department with a hint of burnt caramel taking the lead here. But, yes I am going to say it, Trooper is a nice beer.

I get this beer. It does work. It’s definitely more genius than novelty and I can see many a fan enjoying this brew at a gig. And not just Iron Maiden ones for that matter.

In Trooper, Iron Maiden have crafted some very viable merch. I enjoyed it.

Sammy’s Rating: 79%

JYMI SAY’S…

Well after years and years of avoiding this beer due to the bizarre packaging and concept I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by this week’s offering. In fact, it went beyond that. I found myself thinking, saying out loud and writing… flippin’ decent drop this.

And it really is…

There is a superb deep flavour to this brew. This is backed up by subtle citrus knocking about as well as a soft almost creamy texture during the sip. There is also a very very good yet subtle lemon aftertaste to Trooper which kind of takes it beyond just a good beer.

Look, as mentioned, I’ve never really got this packaging let alone it being brewed with Iron Maiden’s influence. I know it all makes pure business sense so I do get it really but you almost lose your soul when you start pumping out what could be described as a gimmick beer.

However, should you see it, then grab it, pop it, then finish it.

I guarantee you will not be disappointed.

Jymi’s Rating: 82%

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 80.5%

MOB review next weekend: MOOIE NEL by JOPEN

M O B 2019

HOPPIT

BEER REVIEW: 110

BREWER: Loddon Brewery, Oxfordshire, England

STYLE: Bitter

ABV: 3.9%

VESSEL: 500ml brown bottle

DATE POSTED: 15th November 2019

JYMI SAY’S…

It must have been 4pm on a leafy Monday when Reg from the Muse on Booze beer sourcing department (MOB²SD) called to let me know that this week we would be reviewing Hoppit from Loddon. I distinctly remember this because of just how much his description of what was coming over piqued my interest.

Reg told me that the label wore a great purple dragonfly and the drink we were being given to test was a classic bitter. ‘Swwweeeet’, I said to Reg. He then tried to say something about not getting too excited and I definitely interrupted with something along the lines of ‘hey hey Reggie boy, settle down, when you make it to the dizzy heights of beer reviewer I may come a knockin’ at your door for some sort of input but until then, leave it to the experts buddy’. He then began a retort but I just hung up as I had heard enough.

The next morning I awoke before dawn, made a high powered coffee and settled into my day. There was a knock at the door. The beer was here. “Cheers matey”. Door closed.

I opened the package.

“What the f*’k is that”?? I said, out loud to myself.

My first thought was that Reg had misled me. But no, what he said was correct but I didn’t listen to that clever fella trying to tell me what was really going on. The great purple north-west heading dragonfly IS fantastic but what on earth happened to the rest of the label design? Disaster.

However, what remained was the fact that this was still a classic bitter so as long as it was then things had to take a positive turn.

Meh.

Ok, the taste of this beer is better than the packaging but still isn’t particularly good. A lot of the early notes I made included the word average but the further I got into the drink the more I’m not sure that was even the case. On a positive note there is an OK soft hint of caramel in the middle of the sip but honestly, that’s it for the positive thing. It’s a little harsh on the palate during the swallow and there is a dank aftertaste that didn’t really do it for me.

I wouldn’t say I hated Hoppit but I’m really not that much of a fan either.

…and apologies to Reg for me behaving like a diva beer reviewer. We all know one ai?!

Jymi’s Rating: 48%

SAMMY SAY’S…

So, you’d think the name would say it all: Hoppit. You’d be expecting hops, right? But on the nose you just don’t get smacked in the face with it. You have to sniff deep to find those aromas. And even then, they’re hardly there.

But in the drinking, the hops do come through. They’re prominent. They’re there in the beginning and they’re there at the end. This is where the beer lives up to it’s name: Hoppit.

But the question has to be is this a unique brew? For me, the answer has to be a no. It’s good, and it’s well balanced. And to be fair, it has a lightness, which is pleasant in a bitter. The key thing is, it’s just not stand out. It doesn’t do enough to separate itself from the pack.

Like many bitters, Hoppit will definitely have its fans. I really do get why this is the case. It’s warming in a British way. And, for a fairly newly established brewery, I like the way Loddon is sticking to traditional flavours and blends. This is a plus point. But Hoppit is just not the one for me.

That being said, would I order it in a pub? Most definitely. I have done and will do again.

Sammy’s Rating: 72%

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 60%

MOB review next weekend: TROOPER by ROBINSONS

M O B 2019

MOB SQUAD: BIG WAVE

The MOB SQUAD say...

Yum Yum Scrum: FRUITY, SMOOTH, DELICIOUS, LIGHT, LIVELY – 92%

Mr. Reebo: EASY, SMOOTH, LIGHT, GENERIC, DRINKABLE – 60%

Lava: FAINT, SILKY, QUENCHING, MOREISH, FINE – 85%

Capone: REFRESHING, LINGERING, SMOOTH, TERRIFIC, WINNER – 89%

Skeletor: CRISP, GRAPEFRUIT, PALE, SESSIONABLE, EPIC – 89%

Doc: LIGHT, FRUITY, REFRESHING, BITTER-ISH, AWESOME – 88%

PanthBrew: LIVELY, DISTINGUISHED, REFRESHING, NONCHALANT, ZESTY – 87%

Mrs. Reebo: NICE, LIGHT, WATERY, FRUITY, MEMORABLE – 79%

VK: CRUSHABLE, GENIUS, SILK, ZESTY, ART – 95%

Tulane: LIGHT, CRISP, DULL, GRAPEFRUIT, YAWN – 66%

cWobble: CLEVER, FRESH, JUICY, MOREISH, GONE – 82%

MOB SQUAD RATING: 83.09%

Thanks goes to the MOB SQUAD from Sammy & Jymi for taking the time to share those thoughts. Though, let’s be fair, there are harder things to be doing eh?!

WANT TO BE A MEMBER OF THE MOB SQUAD? IF SO THEN DROP US A MESSAGE AND WE WILL LET YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.

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MOB SQUAD’S NEXT OUTING IS ON JANUARY 10th 2020 AND WILL BE JAIPUR by THORNBRIDGE

GET INVOLVED!!

BEER IS BETTER TOGETHER

BIG WAVE

BEER REVIEW: 109

BREWER: Kona Brewing Co., Hawaii, USA

STYLE: Golden Ale

ABV: 4.4%

VESSEL: 355ml brown bottle

DATE POSTED: 8th November 2019

JYMI SAY’S…

Big Wave has to be one of the most understated beers that I think I have ever consumed let alone reviewed. I have known in the back of my mind for some time that Kona brew some decent pop as I have had the odd one over the years and the word on beer street is that these specific Pacific kids know precisely what they are up to. So when I broke the lid off of the beautifully embossed bottle and finally got stuck into my test and review two things immediately hit me.

First off, where had half of my beer gone?

Well, oddly, I had drunk it. To say this Golden Ale is refreshing, juicy and instantly crushable is an understatement (literally three visits to the glass and it was GONE).

Secondly, I was a little taken aback by the lack of hard hitting flavour. It tasted great but wasn’t all up in your face like I had maybe expected it would be. I had to go searching a little for what Big Wave was offering up flavour wise but once discovered oh very my my was I taken aback once more!!!

This is an insanely good brew!!

Big Dub is so very smooth and so very crisp with lime and grapefruit notes subtly meandering around the whole tasting experience. There is a soft sweetness to this masterstroke of an ale that is then finished off by a very slight almost undetectable bitter hint. The whole invention just works in perfect harmony and is just an absolute wonder of a thing.

This may not be a big obvious hitter but what it is is total genius and I really can’t say more than that.

Liquid Aloha ♥

Jymi’s Rating: 90%

SAMMY SAY’S…

I’m going to start by saying that I’ve never been to Hawaii before. It’s not that I don’t want to; I’d love to. But, let’s be fair, its a long way to go and quite costly at that! However, if I had of been to Hawaii, then I reckon Big Wave would be a pretty good reflection of such a trip.

Big Wave looks like it comes from Hawaii and it sounds like it comes from Hawaii. And that’s a good thing. But it has much more going for it than just it’s clever marketing…

You see Big Wave has it all. Its got a great nose, which is actually incredibly refreshing. It’s not heavy on tropical aromas and you may find this surprising for a beer that you might think would have a tropical aroma, given its origin and all. It’s also quite unusual to describe an aroma as refreshing, but that’s exactly what it is.

And then you drink Big Wave. And wow, it’s good. It’s subtle on the flavours, which some may find a little disappointing, but not me. But this light flavouring makes it incredibly refreshing. In fact, a couple of sips in and I’m heading to the fridge for another. It’s well balanced with light fruity hints that are almost non-existent. They’re there just enough to keep you interested.

Big Wave has it’s roots in Hawaii and that’s exactly what it tastes like. And I love it.

Sammy’s Rating: 92%

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 91%

MOB review next weekend: HOPPIT by LODDON BREWERY

M O B 2019

KNIGHT OF THE GARTER

BEER REVIEW: 108

BREWER: Windsor & Eton Brewery, Berkshire, England

STYLE: Golden Ale

ABV: 3.8%

VESSEL: 500ml brown bottle

DATE POSTED: 1st November 2019

JYMI SAY’S…

So next week the MOB SQUAD turn up to offer their thoughts on BIG WAVE by KONA BREWING CO.

The way it is going to work is that Sammy and I will do the same as we normally do each week but running along side of that will be a collective team named MOB SQUAD, obvs. They will be putting forward their individual thoughts on BW but in only 5 words, plus a percentage score that will go towards a collective percentage rating. It’ll make more sense once live next week.

So to get into the spirit of this I’m going to limit my review of KOTG to 5 words per topic I want to bring up. Even though the MOB SQUADERS are limited to 5 words total it’s kinda on script… kinda.

Anyway, KNIGHT OF THE GARTER

PACKAGING: Disappointing, Underwhelming, Unnoticeable, Weak, Fun.

NOSE: Beery, Prominent, Classic, Fresh, Nostalgic.

TASTE: Light, Smooth, Citrus, Sessionable, Great.

Go get one!! And if in that there Windsor get to their tap room, it will not disappoint.

Jymi’s Rating: 75%

SAMMY SAY’S…

Golden ales can be middle of the road. Often at times they sit somewhere in the beer wilderness, not doing too much. They can be beery but lacking in personality. This may seem a little harsh, but it’s true.

And then we have Knight of the Garter from Windsor and Eton Brewery. It most certainly isn’t middle of the road. It’s an exceptional golden ale. Actually, it’s an exceptional beer full stop.

Windsor and Eton Brewery has packed citrus flavour into this brew. It’s crisp and refreshing, perfectly balanced with hops and acidity. And this runs all the way from the nose through to the sipping and onto the aftertaste. This magical balance makes Knight of the Garter really drinkable. It’s a pleasure to have in hand.

Just a note to the creatives at W and E – the label could do with a little bit of a brush up. Apart from that this is a top drawer beer.

Knight of the Garter epitomises what a beer should be. And I cannot wait to have the next one!

Sammy’s Rating: 89%

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 82%

MOB review next weekend: BIG WAVE by KONA BREWING CO.

M O B 2019

GYLE 59 IPA

BEER REVIEW: 107

BREWER: Gyle 59, Dorset, England

STYLE: IPA

ABV: 5.3%

VESSEL: 500ml brown bottle

DATE POSTED: 25th October 2019

JYMI SAY’S…

I’m really loving how different this beer is from packaging to taste and nose to look in glass. It’s not weird different. It’s not controversial different. It’s not trying too hard different. But it is… different.

The packaging is fantastic. It’s neither breathtaking nor thought provoking. It’s not daring or unconventional and there isn’t a skull in sight (this isn’t a dig at Beavertown, I tried to give Gamma Ray 33 points for packaging I seem to remember). But it is striking. The subtle Gyle 59 circles logo, shape of bottle and gorgeous green label make this brew a real sight for sore eyes.

In the glass this IPA hardly looks like a beer at all but more like a high end freshly squeezed apple juice.

Texture wise this brew is again not really like a beer but more like chilled quality still water. The mouth feel is absolutely exceptional.

Now the taste of this ale is a really tricky one. I like it, in fact I really like it, but it is very bitter. And I mean VERY BITTER!! To be totally honest there is tonnes of flavour coming out of Gyle 59’s IPA but picking out what that flavour was proved impossible for me as I couldn’t get beyond the cheek splitting bitterness. But as I said, I really like it.

This IPA is a total move away from the norm without being out there. Gyle 59 have dared to be different and my has it worked out.

Beaver cocked.

Jymi’s Rating: 77%

SAMMY SAY’S…

A lot of thought has gone into Gyle 59’s IPA. Before even chilling the bottle, you can’t help but notice the detailed information on the bottle. What this says very clearly, is this company care about their beers. This in turn, builds hope because companies that care about their beers, usually brew good uns.

It is notable that Gyle 59’s IPA is bottle conditioned. On opening, you’re hit with the most earthy, sweet and hoppy aroma. And the colour as you pour it is mid-amber. But the biggest give away to the quality of the beer is the cloudiness.

This IPA is great to drink. The lack of carbonation is a welcome break (a little like the service station) from the norm. The liveliness of the flavour, which is sharp upfront, followed by long bitterness, changes with each sip. You’d expect nothing less from such a well thought out product. This is genuinely a revelation to drink and it’s refreshingly different.

For something a little different in a bottle, this is well worth getting your hands on. Gyle 59 are clearly proud of their products, and so they should be. The quality of this brew and this product shines through.

Sammy’s Rating: 85%

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 81%

MOB review next weekend: KNIGHT OF THE GARTER by WINDSOR & ETON BREWERY

M O B 2019