PLYMOUTH

DATE POSTED: 28th August 2019

STYLE: Plymouth

ABV: 41.2%

KEY BOTANICAL: Juniper

THEY SAY SERVE WITH: Fever Tree Aromatic Tonic and Lemon Garnish

MOB SAY SERVE WITH: Merchants Heart Tonic and Red Grapefruit Garnish

MOB COCKTAIL SUGGESTION: Red Snapper

Red Snapper ingredients and method:

50ml Plymouth Gin

100ml Tomato Juice

12.5ml Fresh Lemon Juice

5ml Sugar Syrup

4 dashes Worcestershire Sauce

7 dashes Hot Sauce

2 grinds of Black Pepper

2 pinches of Celery Salt

Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into an ice filled and salt & pepper rimmed highball glass. Garnish with fresh chilli and a celery stalk.

m o b s o g 2 0 1 9

LOWLANDER IPA

BEER REVIEW: 98

BREWER: Løwlander Beer Co., North Holland, Netherlands

STYLE: IPA

ABV: 6%

VESSEL: 330ml brown bottle

DATE POSTED: 24th August 2019

JYMI SAY’S…

Now, I think most people dream of making it… though I also think most people’s definition of making it are pretty different.

Some folk feel making it is having enough money to sink a rather large liner.

Others may feel like inventing something that changes the world could be classed as making it.

Whilst there are also those out there that train and work hard for years in a sport that they may not even be paid for. But if that chap or lass then goes on to represent their country they would consider themselves as making it I’m sure.

I thought that I had made once I had got married. I was wrong…

Because then my children came along. Then I really thought that finally I had made it. But I was wrong once more.

Because then I got a visual on a Lowlander IPA bottle and thought to myself, “I will not have truly made it until I’m a content monkey, wearing a captains hat on top of a snazzy hair do, smoking a pipe surrounded by bottles of ale”.

What an incredible bottle we have on our hands here. Ape aside the colours, artwork, fonts and ratios are just sublime. It doesn’t necessarily make this IPA look enticing nor crushable or even really like a bottle of beer. But it does look great!

Words coming out from our good looking vessel’s label include… Botanicals. Corriander. White Tea. Citrusy. Hoppy. Bitter. Refreshing. Spice.

Delve in?

Yes. I. Did.

Good beer this. No, in fact this is a really good beer. Actually, it’s great. It has a really soft texture to it suggesting the brewer took extra care whilst doing their thing. The taste is actually very well described on the front label with the mentions of coriander and tea. There is without doubt the presence of both but only subtly. It is also citrusy, hoppy and bitter. We’re also told of these refreshing notes of spice and after a lot of watch staring they eventually turned up way into the aftertaste. Brilliant.

Lowlander IPA doesn’t taste like it’s 6%, does taste like it’s brewed with botanicals and basically is an absolute gem of a brew.

Jymi’s Rating: 80%

SAMMY SAY’S…

Many people like things from the past. Sometimes they’re called historians. Historians know things about the past in detail and they are able to identify which era artefacts are from. I like things from the past but I’m not a historian. This means that I can’t ably identify which era an object or artefact might have come from with any certainty at all. However, Lowlander’s label reminds of days gone by. To be precise, it reminds me of the Victorian era. And to be even more specific, I could see it adorning the shelves of a wild west saloon. I like that about Lowlander, the fact that it would be at home in a cowboy’s (from days gone by) hand. But remember, I’m not a historian, and this is just my opinion of where I imagine Lowlander to come from.

It actually originates from The Netherlands. And it’s much more modern than the Victorian time. On balance, this is a good thing, even though it’s not quite as romantic as it hailing from further afield in both time and geography. You see, Lowlander is well brewed and if it were an older recipe it would probably be quite nasty, which it definitely isn’t. The slightly bitter aftertaste and pleasant acidic mouthfeel are definitely modern features, again a good thing.

Lowlander is a good beer. I like to imagine it being from the frontier days, but this is definitely not an ale for cowboys. It’s way too good for that. It’s much more sophisticated than that. You could happily enjoy this brew anywhere and in any time period and you’d always feel very satisfied.

Go and get your hands on one…

Sammy’s Rating: 82%

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 81%

MOB review next weekend: PULP by VERDANT BREWING CO.

M O B 2019

MONKEY 47

DATE POSTED: 21st August 2019

STYLE: New Western

ABV: 47%

KEY BOTANICAL: Cranberry

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

MOB SAY SERVE WITH: Merchant’s Heart Hibiscus Tonic and NO GARNISH

MOB COCKTAIL SUGGESTION: Twisted Negroni

Twisted Negroni ingredients and method:

50ml Monkey 47 Gin

25ml Aperol

25ml Merlot Red Wine

Stir all ingredients. Add Orange Twist for Garnish.

MOBSOG2019

ANCHOR STEAM BEER

BEER REVIEW: 97

BREWER: Anchor Brewing Company, California, USA

STYLE: Beer 🙂

ABV: 4.8%

VESSEL: 355ml brown bottle

DATE POSTED: 16th August 2019

JYMI SAY’S…

This is a beer that I’m very familiar with… though not through drinking, but through sight. Until today I have never had Anchor Steam Beer before but I have definitely seen her about A LOT. But where have I seen her about? I honestly don’t know. As Sam provided me with this beer to test I can’t even call on my shopping receipt to work out where this brew came to me via. My conclusion is that this beer is sold in all supermarkets, most bottle shops and some restaurants. I’m basing this on absolutely nothing but to be so familiar with a beer without ever drinking means that surely this must be the case.

Now, at last, I have an Anchor Steam Beer in front of me and my first question (and possibly the reason that I have not purchased nor drunk) was, what is it? Lager? Ale? Well, according to our brewer’s message to us on the label, it’s beer. A unique beer like no other in the world apparently. I mean, I admire the bravery here from the Anchor Brewery, you really do have to have stones of steel to not classify your beer. And if you do go down this path, you better hope the product you’re turning out is a good one.

Yeah, it is.

I thought it was going to be nodding towards lager for some reason pre sipping but for me this falls bang into the Pale Ale bracket. The aroma coming isn’t amazing though is pleasant enough. It’s very fruity with an almost strawberry vibe going on, nice but not amazing. It’s once you’re sipping on ASB that you realise that you’re dealing with a very good beer indeed. There is a lovely creamy texture to it that is accompanied by a very bitter taste that continues into the after taste. I have a feeling ASB would fly down pretty quickly in the correct setting because it is nice and smooth and that high bitterness keeps you coming back for more. However, it’s that bitterness level that would probably put a halt on you having too many.

Over all a pretty smashing BEER I have to say and I hope, widely available!

Jymi’s Rating: 77%

SAMMY SAY’S…

What is Anchor Steam Beer? As in, what class of beer does it sit in? Is it an ale? Or is it a lager? Definitely not a stout.

Let us not ponder it’s classification for too long because what it most definitely is, is a quality beer. There’s not much going on with the nose. But the drinking is fantastic. And the strange thing is, I am not really sure why it is. You see, it doesn’t have many flavour notes. It doesn’t have a predominant up front, smack you in the face hook. What Anchor Steam Beer does have though, is an exceptionally well balanced flavour, neither too long nor too short. It’s sharp but not bitter. It’s a very clean taste. It keeps you wanting more.

As an overall package, I really like Anchor Steam Beer. It has mystique about it and has a great story. It has transcended time and managed to keep finding it’s own place in a crowded beer market. It doesn’t pretend to be anything other that what it is. It’s proud of being what it is. And clearly, it works incredibly well. It doesn’t need to be anything other than what it is.

I’m off to have another…

Sammy’s Rating: 90%

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 83.5%

MOB review next weekend: LØWLANDER IPA by LØWLANDER BEER CO.

M O B 2019

PORTER’S

DATE POSTED: 14th August 2019

STYLE: London Dry

ABV: 41.5%

KEY BOTANICAL: Juniper, Angelica Root and Citrus

THEY SAY SERVE WITH: Franklin & Sons Tonic and Orange Slice Garnish

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

MOB COCKTAIL SUGGESTION: Southside Rickey

Southside Rickey ingredients and method:

50ml Porter’s Gin

25ml Fresh Lime Juice

12.5ml Sugar Syrup

5 Mint Leaves

Soda

Shake all ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Strain over fresh ice into a highball glass. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.

M O B S O G 2 0 1 9

SPITFIRE GOLD

BEER REVIEW: 96

BREWER: Shepherd Neame, Kent, England

STYLE: Golden Ale

ABV: 4.3%

VESSEL: 500ml clear bottle

DATE POSTED: 9th August 2019

SAMMY SAY’S…

Spitfire is the cornerstone of Shepherd Neame’s brewery. This, of course, is not Spitfire but rather it’s Spitfire Gold. Does the use of the word ‘gold’ in the name simply mean its a golden ale, or is it a little more than that?

In the bottle, Spitfire Gold looks good. The use of a clear bottle with the gold packaging, which is a shift from the iconic red and blue, works well. Once unleashed, the nose is a little non-existent, but is not unpleasant for a golden ale.

In the drinking, it’s perfectly pleasant. It’s light with a sweet first taste followed by very slight bitter after taste. Overall, for me, the maltiness is well-balanced with carefully selected hops and this lead’s to a very good golden ale.

Spitfire Gold has much going for it. It’s definitely sessionable and sits well as a lighter offering than a bitter. It might not quite live up to being a gold beer, but it’s definitely a great golden ale and I’d happily reach for it.

Sammy’s Rating: 82%

JYMI SAY’S…

To the Garden of England we go and to a brewery older than the legacy of some very old AND bold Spitfire pilots. Shepherd Neame are based in a county famed for its abundance of hops so it’s no wonder they have been churning out some power ales for over three centuries. I’ve enjoyed many a regular Spitfire over the years and it has never let me down regardless of time of year nor setting and I trust Spitfire Gold to follow suit (though it’s not off to the best start as I’m not particularly enjoying the way it’s packaged up. I mean who presents a Golden Ale in a clear bottle?!).

Beer wise what we have is pure class in approach and dare I say understated brewing. This isn’t smacking you left, right and centre with hop explosions and clever turns. This isn’t making you question what you thought beer was and where the HELL it is going?? This is straight up quality brewing…

Crisp, light and a truck load of flavour. Really, really tasty and would quickly become a chum before blinking. The bitter / sweet subtle tones of this beer are just brilliant as it comes across as huge… but it’s not huge, it’s clever, and you need to go drink one.

Jymi’s Rating: 83%

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 82.5%

MOB review next weekend: ANCHOR STEAM BEER by ANCHOR BREWING CO.

muse on booze

EDINBURGH RHUBARB & GINGER GIN

DATE POSTED: 7th August 2019

STYLE: Flavoured

ABV: 40%

KEY BOTANICAL: Rhubarb

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

MOB SAY SERVE WITH: Fentimans Valencian Orange Tonic and Fresh Raspberries Garnish

MOB COCKTAIL SUGGESTION: Casino

Casino ingredients and method:

50ml Edinburgh Rhubarb & Ginger Gin

25ml Maraschino Liqueur

12.5ml Lemon Juice

3 dashes Angostura Bitters

Shake all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice. Fine strain into a chilled Martini glass. Garnish with a Maraschino cherry.

M O B S O G 2 0 1 9

3 MONTS

BEER REVIEW: 95

BREWER: Brasserie de Saint-Sylvestre, Hauts-de-France, France

STYLE: Lager

ABV: 8.5%

VESSEL: 33cl brown bottle

DATE POSTED: 2nd August 2019

JYMI SAY’S…

It was a very rainy Saturday morning. It was also 5am. I was also off the back of a frankly ridiculous week at work. However, spirits were high as today was the day the MOB boys and their families set sail for their holiday in France!
Though we live about 20 miles apart, the plan was simple, depart at 7am and head for Folkstone EuroStar. Now this is where the genius came in. There was no planned RV point, we didn’t need one. Why? Because we had flippin’ Walkie Talkies didn’t we. The range on these suckers was 5km so the genius thinking was switch them on once we both hit the M25 and as long as we were both running to schedule surely we would be in range of each other?

07:23 Balding Eagle, this is Poached Egg, do you read me?
Nothing

07:24 Balding Eagle, this is Poached Egg, do you read me?
Nothing

07:25 Clare, this is Poach….. Are you receiving me? Over.
Nothing

07:26 Sam???!!! Are you flippin’ there man??
Nothing

So my wife, whilst shaking her head slowly, wondering quite how her life had come to this, called Sam’s wife on something called a mobile phone to see how progress was.

Turns out we were close to one another! So we pulled over at Maidstone Services, worked out how to use the Walkie F**kin Talkies, and then proceeded with much intent to Folkstone and the train to a week of max relax.

The plan was to test and review a French beer whilst we were away as it seemed the right thing to do. So after things were settled at the most incredibly quirky and eclectic abode that we had rented for the week Sam and I set our sights on the supermarché to get supplies.
Now, this is never a particularly good idea as together and excited usually results in the ridiculous, and we didn’t fail to deliver. I won’t bore you with the details but let’s just say Sam lost his head in the fromage aisle, we bought everything, though nothing of real use (rabbit pâté being a prime example), but we did however manage to grab some beers which included a few 3 Monts to sit back, savour and review.

After some pretty rapid chilling that moment arrived. Blazing sunshine, children playing in the pool without a care in the world, way better halves chillin’ n chattin’, and Sammy boy and I with beers in hand ready to test away. It couldn’t have been more perfect. Especially when I could see on Sam’s face that he was clearly a fan of this Biere de Flandre. The horror then dawned on me… I was about to wreck this wonderful moment because…. I flippin’ hated it!!

I mean the first half of the sip was fine, nice even. Very French, very refreshing, all good… but then I swallowed that sip and my world fell apart. Firstly, 3 Monts tastes too strong in the brew. Yes, I know it IS strong but for this style of beer to survive taste wise you cannot let that strength shine through in the taste. Also, I got a thick marzipan aftertaste from 3M which didn’t work out at all well in my brain.

Magical moment, mess of a beer.

Jymi’s Rating: 51%

SAMMY SAY’S…

First up, the nose on 3 Monts conjures up memories of holidays in France. It sends me instantly to a continental square that’s wrapped around with different bars all in sun-soaked heat thronging with local town life. Nice. That’s reassuring, considering that it is a French beer (or bier) and it’s got to be a good thing.

Again, unsurprisingly, 3 Monts tastes as you might expect. Exactly like a French beer. It’s unashamedly French. It’s crisp and refreshing and there’s nothing else that you’d want for on a holiday in France.

Although 3 Monts pulls no surprises, it is well balanced with sweetness. This is especially worth noting considering it’s 8.5% alcohol content.

So, while 3 Monts is quite simply what you’d expect from a French beer, it’s also of interest because of its strength. Perhaps not one for a whole night’s session, it’s definitely worth pulling on a few whilst cooking meat over the coals in the sunshine. Or, alternatively, have one as an accompaniment to soaking up some rays and local town life. It makes life a little better.

Sammy’s Rating: 76%

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 63.5%

MOB review next weekend: SPITFIRE GOLD by SHEPHERD NEAME

MUSE ON BOOZE

MAKAR

DATE POSTED: 31st July 2019

STYLE: London Dry

ABV: 43%

KEY BOTANICAL: Juniper

THEY SAY SERVE WITH: Fever-Tree Tonic & Green Chilli Garnish

MOB SAY SERVE WITH: Merchant’s Heart Tonic and Lime & Green Chilli Garnish

MOB COCKTAIL SUGGESTION: Last Word

Last Word ingredients and method:

37.5ml Makar Gin

12.5ml Green Chartreuse

12.5ml Maraschino Liqueur

12.5ml Lime Juice

6.25ml Cold Water

Shake ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled glass. Garnish with Lime wedge.

M O B S O G 2 0 1 9

INDIA PILS

BEER REVIEW: 94

BREWER: Tempest Brewing Co, Scottish Borders, Scotland

STYLE: Pilsner

ABV: 5.2%

VESSEL: 330ml brown bottle

DATE POSTED: 26th July 2019

JYMI SAY’S…

Pilsner.

Pils.

Probably my preferred brew when it comes to the section of the drinking world that is Lager. A Pilsner typically will be bringing a more hoppy spike to the taste of the drink therefore giving it a wee bit more flavour.
Now, Tempest have waltzed along and stuck the word India into the mix which I can only surmise means an even more hop lead flavour will be coming my way as surely this is a nod to an India Pale Ale.
The rather snazzy if not breathtaking bottle kind of confirms this to be the case in a way. So, it’s a more hoppy than usual Pilsner being put forward by this Scottish brewery and I have to say, I was both excited and intrigued in equal measure.

I was right to be excited. Though it didn’t knock me out my seat, this was one decent, refreshing and hoppy brew. It was the nose of India Pils that gave the first hint that this was going to be as the info given and name suggested this beer would be. A great fresh hoppy aroma was the gateway as to what was to come and perfectly summed up how India Pils was going to taste.
And as mentioned, refreshing and hoppy was how it was and it was hugely crushable to boot.

Though the texture and taste was a little thin, the look in glass, nose and flavour was enough to set this brew up to be a cracker on a scorching hot day.

Great concept, good execution.

Jymi’s Rating: 70%

SAMMY SAY’S…

Well this is a departure from the norm… India and pils? It’s usually India and pale ale.

Anyway, let’s get down to the business of whether or not it lives up to the name.

To be honest, the first impression on the nose is that India Pils smells exactly like a craft IPA. We all know that I love the aroma of a craft pale, but I’m not sure it belongs on a pils. The second impression, is that it’s quite a lively brew. And yes…I did notice this second as I was quick off the mark to get my nose into the glass. Once I removed my snout, I noted that it had flared up quite a bit and developed a rather sizeable head.

The drinking…oh the drinking. India Pils is definitely a very good beer. The problem for me is that it tastes like a craft IPA and the name is misleading because this does not taste like a pilsner. That being said, it is very crisp and refreshing and perhaps I should move on from my hang up and judge this for what it is – a very good beer.

India Pils is crisp, it’s refreshing, it’s well balanced with hints of bitter after notes. To my mind, it’s not a pils.

But hey – who cares?

Sammy’s Rating: 78%

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 74%

MOB review next weekend: well, this is to be decided as the MOB duo travel to France together on holiday tomorrow morning. The plan is to find a local brew to review and post while we’re there. Should that go belly up though, then it will be…

SPITFIRE GOLD by SHEPHERD NEAME