BEER REVIEW: 54

BREWER: Faversham Steam Brewery (Shepherd Neame), Kent, England

STYLE: Pale Ale

ABV: 4%

VESSEL: 500ml clear bottle

DATE POSTED: 19th October 2018

 

JYMI SAY’S…

This is a readily available Pale Ale that the majority of beer drinkers in the UK will have seen knocking about in their local supermarket. Though I have consumed WBPA before after being handed a few over the years probably whilst visiting friends, I have never purchased myself. I’m putting this down to never really being a fan of the packaging…. But now I have it in front of me I’m trying to work out just what it is that I don’t like?

The dumpy set bottle is a break from the norm when it comes to a supermarket ready 500ml ale and I like it. The colours themselves and how they sit together are good also and the lovely little sketch of the boat on the flat as glass water is incredible! So what is it that I don’t like…?….

!!WARNING!!

YOU SHOULD PROBABLY STOP READING NOW AND NEVER BOTHER WITH MUSE ON BOOZE AGAIN AS THIS IS HOW RIDICULOUS MY BRAIN IS AND I PROBABLY SHOULDN’T BE IN CHARGE OF REVIEWING BEERS.

…the label is too small. Yes, that’s it. The packaging is great but the label is too small and wrecks the whole appearance in my bizarre opinion. If the label went the whole way round the bottle it would help it along no end. Right, I’m going to shut up and see what she tastes like under professional beer tasting conditions.

The information on the label told me that I would be getting a spicy citrus nose and that information was correct. The nose is without doubt lovely and refreshing and gets you nice and ready for what you think would be that first refreshing sip…. and that sip is indeed that, refreshing. The beer is smooth and crisp (which surprised me as is very carbonated in glass). You could no doubt settle into a few of these for sure, though possibly not of a freezing winter’s evening. So all in all very positive so far.…

BUT… BUT BUT BUT, there is a negative twist..

The body to Whitstable Bay Pale Ale is so thin that anything positive that was going for it gets diluted, which is a shame because as mentioned there are definitely positives.

Wait, what’s that? Oh no, here comes another negative!

There is a woody and earthy undertone too due to the malt. For me this clashes with the refreshing citrus and almost makes the whole thing confused.

And that is exactly where WBPA has left me… confused.

Jymi’s Rating: 67%

 

 

SAMMY SAY’S…

Whitstable is coastal town in Kent, a county in England renowned for its hop growing. This beer is named after that town. I like the fact that this beer is named after such a town.  It’s a good solid name and it works for this beer. 

One might expect a beer named after such an English town to be very traditional in its appearance.  But it’s not. It’s in a very tempting clear glass bottle, which is neither too modern nor too traditional.  Just as I like the name of this beer, I like the way it looks inside and out of the bottle.  Good job to the people at The Faversham Steam Brewery!

Whitstable Pale Ale only has two major stumbling blocks.  The first is the nose.  The promise of citrus fruits and spice is there but it’s so mild one has to sniff so deep to get a hint of it.  It is far too mild on the nose.  The second is the initial taste.  It’s thin and almost non-existent.  However, the very good news is that this taste improves remarkably over the following sips.  It grows and once you’re into it, it’s good.  It’s light with hints of malt and citrus, which becomes very pleasant.

Just like the hops grow in Kent, this beer grows on the consumer, so don’t be too hastily put off.

Sammy’s Rating: 74%

 

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 70.5% 

 

MOB review next weekend: BETTY STOGS by SKINNER’S BREWERY

MUSE ON BOOZE

 

Yes, we’re posting about a Beer named FRIDAY IPA, on a Saturday. Whatever next. The main and frankly only reason for this is simply that one of us two didn’t hand their homework in on time. Who that was however, you will never know… 

(It was Sam)

 

BEER REVIEW: 53

BREWER: And Union, Bavaria, Germany 

STYLE: IPA

ABV: 6.5%

VESSEL: 330ml tin

DATE POSTED: 13th October 2018 

 

JYMI SAY’S…

It’s not often, well ever in fact, that I want for a busy, full on and arduous day at work. It’s not that I mind getting my head down and putting in the graft, I actually I have a very good work ethic, but to say I wake up of a morning and WANT an absolute full on taxing day would be wrong.
But today was different.
The reason being today was the day I was testing the incredibly named Friday IPA. Whether a wine, beer or spirit guzzler there is nothing quite like getting home from work on a Friday evening and grabbing a drink to unwind and relax with, especially if you have had a particularly hard week.
So with a tricky week already behind me I really wanted to earn this Friday beverage like never before with a tough ol’ day of graft… And I got one! HURRAY!!!
Now during this difficult day at work, other than the job obviously, I had a few things on my mind..

How much I was looking forward to cracking FRIDAY IPA open later on.
How much I loved the simplicity and fine detail on the tin that was currently housing my ale.
And also I was wondering what percentage it would be packing. With such a name proceeding it I really hoped that it wouldn’t be below 4.5% for some reason?! I honestly think it was only because of the name that I didn’t want it to be too weak as it doesn’t normally bother me as long as it tastes good.

So I returned home and approached the fridge. I came to the door, and I looked inside. I grabbed that great little red tin and …. Hallelujah…. 6.5%, BAM!!

Friday poured fairly dark amber and gave off a nose of obvious citrus, which was pleasant but nothing new nor special. Two things then struck me upon swig. Just how wonderfully creamy the head was and also how smooth FIPA was. Which is actually really pleasant because the citrus, malt and hoppy smacks really get those saliva ducts going but then it slips down the throat with an almost butter like texture. Friday tastes strong. I know I was asking for a high percentage but that was for the instant relax. However upon the taste you really can tell this is 6.5% which isn’t necessarily a good thing.

Friday IPA, I like it. It’s different without being weird. Though I have to say although I got my instant Friday relax fix, it didn’t blow my socks off.

Jymi’s Rating: 72%

 

SAMMY SAY’S…

A strange concept of a beer, this one is.  An IPA from Bavaria, Germany…have you ever heard of such a thing?  Well, you have now because that’s exactly what Friday IPA is.  

Friday IPA…hmm…the jury is out on the name.  Not sure if I love it or if I hate it.  One good thing about it – it’s got me thinking.

The packaging, however, I really do like.  The red can, with 3D effect and a white top, works very well for me.  It’s unique and sets it aside from the rest of the market.  

So even before drinking, there’s a lot to talk about with Friday IPA.  But we all know its about amber lining the throat that’s the important thing.

On the nose, it’s exactly as you’d expect for a craft IPA.  There’s the unmistakable hoppy punch, which plays the main role here.  In support, we have the usual tropical and citrus cast.  All in all, well balanced and very pleasant. 

As much of a strange mix it may be (Bavarian IPA), it is a cracking beer.  There’s an unbelievable balance of bitter and sweetness on the palate, with hops and citrus notes working in perfect harmony. Neither one over balances the other and the length of the taste is fantastic.  

Friday IPA is a corker.  It has firmly staked its mark in the ground as being a stand out, special beer that is well balanced on all fronts.  I’ll be reaching for it again.

Sammy’s Rating: 81%

 

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 76.5% 

 

MOB review next weekend: WHITSTABLE BAY PALE ALE by FAVERSHAM STEAM BREWERY 

MUSE ON BOOZE

So here we are…  One year on from reviewing Landlord , it’s our FIRST BIRTHDAY!!

 

BEER REVIEW: 52

BREWER: To Øl, Copenhagen, Denmark

STYLE: Imperial Mango IPA

ABV: 9.3%

VESSEL: 50cl tin

DATE POSTED: 5th October 2018 

 

JYMI SAY’S…

Dangerously Close To Stupid Amount Of Mango really is some name for a beer! My first thoughts were., that’s very descriptive and very different….My second thoughts were, that’s totally rubbish and trying way too hard to be different.

Trouble is this off the wall Danish brewer got the name wrong. It’s not dangerously close to stupid amount of mango. It is a stupid amount of mango! And that would indeed be a more accurate name.

Now we come to the packaging… I’m all for breaking the mould and something a wee bit different but I’m sorry, this stinks of trying just that wee bit too hard to be different once again. There have been some marks awarded in this department for sure as I quite like the piece but don’t think it sit’s brilliantly on a tin of beer if I’m honest. Though it certainly makes it intriguing as you have to go searching the tin to find out what on earth is going on.

As I’ve already alluded to, this beer has too much mango going through it. It is way too sweet for my liking and I have to say from first sip to last (though it did improve a little as it went along) I was not at all a fan.

However one thing very positive did stick out, DCTSAOM is super, super smooth and slips down very well which suggests it has been brewed with a lot of care and attention to a very high standard. It is just not for me.

As smooth as the Fonz and as sweet as Richie Cunningham but just not Happy Days for Jymi.

Jymi’s Rating: 45%

 

SAMMY SAY’S…

To Øl brewery (a micro brewery from Denmark) have a range of Dangerously Close to ales.  All come tinned up with artistic designs on the can and I happen to be really drawn to them.  They are class and unique: first box ticked.  It is hard to search out the name, but that gets you looking at the can closely and I like that interplay with the product. This particular one is an imperial India pale ale mixing it up with mangoes.  

The nose is as you might expect from the name – tropical fruitiness with bags of…mango. It has to be said that the colour of the beer is incredible.  It’s a tempting light golden, which promises greatness…big expectations…

The taste has a light sweetness that is incredibly refreshing.  There’s so much going on when you drink this.  The sweetness gives way to a short bitter after taste.  All of this leads to a cracking beer.  It’s exciting, different and challenging.  To Øl have demonstrated their brewing credentials with Dangerously close to Stupid Amount of Mango.  

I have no doubt that there will be those of you out there that find this too sweet. But make no mistake…this is a good beer. 

Sammy’s Rating: 73%

 

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 59% 

 

MOB review next weekend: FRIDAY IPA by AND UNION 

MUSE ON BOOZE 

Well, almost one year…

So, on Friday we will be reviewing our 52nd beer and after posting one review every weekend a young bright spark in the MOB back office spotted that that would make it our First Birthday. 

So we thought we would publish a Top 10 so far for you to see what is currently at the top of the tree, in our opinion at least. Go find them. Go drink them. They are all incredible.. 

 

One – YU LU by Siren Craft Brew, Berkshire – 93%

Two – NECK OIL by Beavertown Brewery, North London – 90%

Three – PURITAN by Two Cocks Brewery, Berkshire – 88%

Four – PUNK IPA by BrewDog, Aberdeenshire – 87%

Five – DEAD PONY CLUB by BrewDog, Aberdeenshire – 86.5%

Six – PRIDE & JOY by Vocation Brewery, West Yorkshire – 85.5%

= Seven – LEVELLER by Two Cocks Brewery, Berkshire – 84.5%

= Seven – GOOSE IPA by Goose Island Beer Company, Illinois – 84.5%

= Seven – WHITE TIPS by Siren Craft Brew, Berkshire – 84.5%

Ten – CAMDEN PALE ALE by Camden Town Brewery, North London -84%

 

See you back here in a year to see what other superstars have come our way!  

BEER REVIEW: 51

BREWER: Banks’s Brewery, West Midlands, England

STYLE: Bitter

ABV: 3.8%

VESSEL: 500ml brown bottle

DATE POSTED: 28th September 2018

 

JYMI SAY’S…

So I once knew a bloke called Ralph. Though we got on he wasn’t necessarily a friend as such. Now Ralph was well over 6ft tall and probably 7ft wide. He was covered tattoos (I can’t rule out one of them being a Lion wielding an axe), had military short hair and just looked like a right tough b*****d. But there was one thing in particular that really stuck with me about this man mountain. His handshake. I distinctly remember when I first met him and shook him by the mit. I remember almost bracing myself and thinking, “come on Jymi, you can handle this”. I hadn’t have worried. Because I had gone in the with strongest handshake I could muster and Ralph had the handshake of an empty marigold I pretty much crushed all the bones in his right hand to tiny little pieces. I have a feeling this is why we never made it to friends status.

This brings me seamlessly to Banks’s Amber Bitter. Great name by the way chaps, blimey!

The packaging, when it comes to the font, colours and artwork make’s this brew seem like a bit of a tough lad. So you might think what is going on inside the bottle may well follow suit. Well, you would be very wrong. The nose is weak and almost no existent, though not at all unpleasant if you do manage to pick up anything. The taste is thin, weak and a long way from exceptional but again not at all unpleasant. I genuinely think this would work well as a session beer due to the percentage and it actually tasting alright…

There isn’t much more to say really…. Bye!

Jymi’s Rating: 50%

 

SAMMY SAY’S…

What we have here is a very average British bitter.  I’m stating that right from the outset.

Banks’ nose is malty with a very, very subtle hint of citrus.  It is neither offensive nor is it especially pleasant.  I suppose it is fair to say, like everything else with this beer, it is very run of the mill.

The drinking is incredibly middle of the road (what a surprise) with malt and dried leaves as the main fore-flavours.  Bitterness plays a secondary role here, leading to Banks falling slap bang into the middle of the session ale category.  It has a slightly off texture, which leaves one with the feeling of having had beer flavoured mouthwash once swallowed.

You can’t help but feel that Banks belongs somewhere in the late seventies.

In my opinion, there is no other way to write a review of this beer, than to fill it full of idioms and clichés.  To be fair, the best way to describe Banks Bitter is to imagine a cliché in beer form, well then you will be close to Banks. 

The slogan for this beer should be: Quite Quaffable!

Sammy’s Rating: 55%

 

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 52.5% 

MOB review next weekend: DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO STUPID AMOUNT OF MANGO by TO ØL

WOULD YOU ADAM n EVE IT, IT’S MOB’S FIRST BIRTHDAY NEXT FRIDAY!!

YES INDEED, IT WAS ONE YEAR AGO THAT WE TOLD YOU OUR OPINION ON LANDLORD BY TIMOTHY TAYLOR’S. AND 52 REVIEWS ON, WE’RE TASTING THAT CRAZY THING ABOVE! ↑↑↑

MUSE ON BOOZE

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