Beer Today’s regular round-up of news in brief: new releases, venue openings, event announcements.
Tornado Smith, a 5% pale from Pomona Island, is a collaboration with Little Earth Project and the White Horse Inn. Smith was the man who brought the Wall of Death to England, along with his pet lion, which rode in his sidecar. There’s a base of Suffolk-grown malt, with Nelson Sauvin hops and a touch of Hallertau Blanc. “The aroma hits with gooseberries and has a vinous quality,” say the brewers. “A bright white wine note hits first, with grape and white currants, and a pleasing bitter finish.”
Black Iris have collaborated with Saint Monday on Death Valley, a 6.2% ABV California IPA. “Not a juicy, hazy East Coast NEIPA, and not a bitter, resinous West Coast IPA,” explain the brewers. This beer sits somewhere in between, with the classic citrus kick of Cascade, Columbus, and Simcoe in the boil, with plenty of Cascade, Chinook, Krush, and Strata in conditioning. “Big and hoppy, whilst being clean and refreshing.”
For the return leg in Green Cheek’s Ghost Writer series, Left Handed Giant have brewed one of their West Coast pils in their Brewpub. Showcasing Mosaic, Simcoe, Citra, and with bucketloads of Strata, Orange County Pils comes in at 5.5% ABV. “We’re getting Cali vibes – dank dripping hops and a crisp backbone, thanks to German pils and spelt malts,” say the brewers.
There are three pales and an IPA among Track’s releases this week. There are two 5% ABV pales, Elegant Variation, hopped with the Tropical Fusion blend, and Free Treasure, featuring Mosaic, Galaxy, and Muinosa. The third pale is West Coast style and called Stream. Hopped with Cascade, it comes in at 5.2% ABV. Fnally, Open Road is a 6.5% ABV IA, showcasing Citra, Galaxy, and Vic Secret hops.
Brewed Awaken is a new 9% ABV breakfast stot from Vocation. Pouring deep and dark with a velvety body, it layers roasted malt with notes of chocolate, maple, and coffee. Cold-steeped beans add cocoa and caramel, while maple brings a gentle warmth. Built on a chocolate-toffee malt base and balanced with subtle Goldings spice, it finishes clean, smooth, and bittersweet.
Electric Bear has released two new sours. John Lemon (4.3% ABV) is a lemon sherbet sour, bright and zesty with a citrus punch. More Passion, More Energy (4.5% ABV) is a passionfruit sour, with “a bright citrussy snap, before rolling into those juicy tropical waves of flavour”.
• Mitchells & Butlers has added four venues to its estate. They are The Charwood, Edinburgh, 73 Cathedral Road, Cardiff, The Long Reach, Whitstable, and The White Swan, Arundel.
