Okay, you don’t have to try all five of the beers this week, some of them might not be found in your local off license (maybe even most of them won’t) but let’s accept that they’re at a level that makes them worth searching for (the links at the bottom should help you out). From the fruity tones of the Scandi pale ale to the dry, yeasty quench of Belgian regional session ale, there is something in these five beers for everyone. Look out for the new regular Beer of the Week feature from next week and forever more.
To Øl Brewery, Eurodancer, 6.5%
An intense, hoppy American IPA from To Øl Brewery straight out of Copenhagen. With a name like Eurodancer, you know that this brewery has a sense of humour, and suspicions are confirmed when you discover that this beer is named after the European Electronica movement. And if you thought that was peculiar then here’s the brewery’s description of its – delicious – beer, “Eurodancer is a hoppy Pale Ale at 6,5% ABV. It is a fresh, fruity thirst quencher and a genuine stupid fuck.” Go figure.
Beavertown Brewery, Gamma Ray, 5.4%
Forget Brew Dog’s Punk IPA, Meantime Brewery and Camden Brewery’s Pale offering, the Beavertown Gamma Ray is the go-to choice for those who like their ales to zing. Not so much grapefruit as totally tropical, this is a beer you could session all day long – within reason.
Saison Dupont, 6.5%
Beloved by the Belgian farmers who once took flagons of the stuff into the fields with them, the Saison Dupont is also beloved by me. Dry, light and refreshing, there’s some seriously zesty spice in there but it’s subtle enough to have more than just the one.
St. Bernardus, Abt 12, 10.5%
When you want a beer that mixes the pleasures of a glass of expensive wine with indulgence of a rich dessert, why would you go anywhere else than this Belgian beauty? The St Bernardus Abt 12 is a legendary Quadruple beer, with a fruity, complex depth. You’ll need at least two before you begin getting to the bottom of this one’s body.
Howling Hops, Pale Ale, 3.8%
Not so far from the cask side of carbonated, the Howling Hops Pale Ale is an extremely quaffable beer that appeals on a day when you might be having more than just a few. The Abv also makes it conducive to a session. In terms of flavour, it is probably the least bold on this list but that’s not to say it’s a bad thing. Sometimes you want something that just goes down smooth and doesn’t leave you mulling over the notes left on your palate. When you want that, go for this.
You can find the beers on this list at:
The Stormbird
The Dovetail
Hop Burns and Black
