***2024 ADVENT CALENDARS ARE LIVE! MIXED VERSION HERE, HOPPY VERSION HERE***
Posted on 29/03/23
With beers out from Finback, Other Half, The Veil and the like, this week, you really do have the chance to try some of the world’s best beers.
Let’s go!
First up are the hop-magicians that are Other Half. Based in New York these guys are one, if not the, best hop-forward breweries going. I have a silly amount of brews from them and all of them are so so so good.
Personally, I thought the single hop beers were utterly out of this world. All Citra Everything was a fresh delight and as zippy on the tongue as beer gets and All Galaxy Everything was earthy and sweet in equal measures and bold and complex too.
On the slightly lower ABV level Instant Greens was brilliantly hoppy and packed with different levels of hops flavours jumping about all over the place.
The Veil are also one heck of a brewery. Located in Richmond south of Washington they create beers that excite and deliver every single time.
Caskets Caskets DIPA is a classic example of this. Heavy on the hops, oozing with class this brewery know their way about a hop or two.
This beer is brewed with a large amount of flaked oats and hopped equally with Idaho 7 and Citra to create a super hazy with notes of bubble gum, cotton candy and zest.
10/10 beers all over the place you can’t go wrong with both Other Half and The Veil!
These guys create utter madness in a can.
Drekker’s Can You Feel the Prrrt Tonight is a huge Pink Candy Sour that’s like someone’s liquidised a sweetshop into a sour beer.
And Braaaaaaaains brings lime, guava and pineapple in such measures it’s like you’re drinking a porn star martini beer!
Mortalis Brewing are new for us but have been on my radar for a while… And these guys are stunning.
Each can needs tipping and gently turning before opening such is the amount of funk and fun in each one.
Although the smoothie beers are thick and sweet there’s a really subtle use of flavours in each one that bring out genuine fresh fruit flavours and hints of natural goodness.
Hydra Schmoojee has the same consistency as a Pina Colada but with enough sourness to bring it back to earth before it flies off to goodness knows where.
Finback rival anyone for their brewing of the hop-forward stuff and they go toe to toe with them right here for best-in-class with beers like Fields of Tall Grass that actually has such massive bittersweet bite to it it’s like a freshly mown field.
Or for something less in-your-face the I See You DIPA is laced with a subtle edge of cantaloupe melon running through it leaving a lingering flavour right at the end with every sip.
Hudson Valley bring some sheer class to this week with impeccable sour brewing.
They’re known for their sour DIPAs so you can find out what the fuss is all about by sampling one of the nicest beers I’ve had this year in Holy Icon.
This beer bundles together fresh intense passionfruit with the right amount of sourness and on the finish leaves a hint of glorious vanilla.
These beers all ooze with swagger and sophistication.
Not wanting to be overshadowed by this week’s American brews, Amundsen dropped three mega-pastry brews to me in the form of their Easter Scream Egg Series.
You know by now what to expect from these guys. Over-the-top flavours and silly fun in a can and beers like White Chocolate Marshmallow Fluff Stout are the perfect sweet treat or Easter gift.
Azvex bring a brilliant imperial sour called Age of Annihilation which is 10% and dripping with blueberry, blackberry, raspberry & cherries.
There’s also some dreamy collabs kicking about this week, with the dream lineup of Baron, Verdant and Rivington colliding for a big IPA called End of Play.
Notable mentions this week that I simply couldn’t fit in because there’s so many beers include three pint cans of Arbor and a brilliant Mini Milk Session Stout.
There’s also Baron Birdbox – a really well balanced hoppy porter which is a delight to see the style… and to drink.
I also grabbed a QIPA from Heist which is big and sweet and boozy called What in the Hecatoncheires.
Lastly, I have a huge haul from Howling including a bunch of brilliant pale ales like Country Mile that is great value but full of flavour and only punching 4%.
Phew!
Happy shopping with this hug drop one and all. Cheers for your support!
Oli, Charlie & Agnes
(The people behind Craft Metropolis)
We trawl the globe tasting great beer