Beer Today’s regular round-up of news in brief: new releases, venue openings, event announcements.
There are three new brews from Burning Sky, including their first ever no/low brew. Low Life (0.5% ABV) is described as a ‘No Coast IPA’ brewed with Maris Otter, Munich, and Chateau Aroma malts, along with Chinook, Citra, and Nelson Sauvin hops, hop dipped and finished with hop kief.
Petite Pils (3% ABV) is a crisp and crushable pilsner. There are classic bready notes from the malt and yeast, and lively and fresh grassy aromas from Mittelfruh, Spalter and Sladek hops.
Numbers (5.8% ABV) is a West Coast style pale ale, brewed in collaboration with Yakima Chief Hops to showcase experimental varieties HBC 522 and HBC 638 (both are like super Centennial). “We paired them with Chinook and Centennial to compliment and enhance,” says the brewer. “Super resinous pine notes and pithy orange peel on the palate.”
The annual brew of UnBarred’s barrel-aged Imperial Bueno Shake will be available closer to Easter. Intense and complex, it possesses a thick, creamy body with a luxurious chocolatey warmth.
Prominent flavours of melted dark and milk chocolate, toasted hazelnuts, and cacao accompany fragrant spice and vanilla that work alongside the signature sweet wafer finish. Lightly smoked and spiced bourbon makes an appearance on the finish.
I’m Still Standing, a 5.5% ABV DDH hazy pale, has been brewed and named by Crafty Devil in response to the turbulent times the industry is facing, with breweries and bars closing week after week.
Packed with Rakau, Nectaron, and Citra, it delivers big tropical and citrus hop character, a soft, juicy body, and an easy-drinking 5% ABV finish. “A proper celebration of resilience in beer form,” says the brewer.
DEYA have a new addition to their core range, a 4% ABV pale ale, Boost. “Boost is the culmination of many years of experimentation, imagination, and a true commitment to deliciousness, says the brewer.
Nelson Sauvin and Motueka hops, from the Moutere Valley in New Zealand, are backed up by an appropriate amount of Citra. Expect waves of juicy limes, passionfruit, and tropical funk.
Last year, Bearwood came up with a new idea for a series of beers: hazy NEIPAs, built to showcase one hop only. This time, it’s Vera, a new American variety. Bearwood were joined by hop merchant Charles Faram for the brew day. “At 5.8% ABV, expect ripe peach, mango, white grape, and soft pineapple, in a smooth, pillowy haze,” says the brewer.
Stewart Brewing’s latest cask special is Louder Than Words, a 4.3% ABV pale ale. It’s pouring now and is also available in five-litre mini-casks. Brewed with Harlequin and Cascade hops, it’s a bright, refreshing pale, with plenty of citrus and stonefruit character.
Jo and Steve Stewart are running the London Marathon this spring to raise money for the National Deaf Children’s Society, and a portion from every mini-cask sold will go towards their fundraising.
Neon Raptor has an Easter-themed variant on its core beer Clusters. Caramel Egg Clusters is a chocolate and caramel egg stout, coming in at 5.2% ABV. “We’ve caramelised our eggcellent asteroid-cracking chocolate stout so it’s slightly sweeter than usual, but retains that massive drinkability,” says the brewer.
