I was full of the big talk last week, praising the classics, the ones that we can all return to again and again.

Then, the moment I returned to work after a single day off my head was immediately turned by a plethora of positively flirtatious one-offs and new batch brews. Beautifully packaged, weird and wonderful, filled with the promise of exotic new experience. I was getting the glad eye from gluten frees, the promise of untold riches from stouts. I couldn’t resist.

Verdant Headband Pale Ale (£2.90/5.5%/330ml)

If I’m completely honest I was more drawn to the quite stupendously stupid nomenclature of their I Played Trumpet On That Tune IPA, but it appears I wasn’t alone and that disappeared from the shelves quick smart. On tasting the two of them side by side this one was the winner for me, with juicy orange and soft citrus on the nose alongside a light floral note. It’s smooth and refreshingly bitter on the palate, before mango, tangerine and orange juice drench your taste buds and scarper leaving a dry and zesty finish. I could drink a few of these, no sweat.

Tempest Nelson Sauvvy (£3.20/5.5%/330ml)

I sometimes feel like Tempest get more than their share of column inches from me, but if they keep knocking it out of the park – like they do with this single hopped lager – then that’s probably going to keep happening. Crisp citrus on the nose followed by a warm biscuit malt aroma and maybe even a little passion fruit, the flavour has a an extra helping of the tropics and zesty orange, a lovely creamy feel on the palate and a long dry finish with a refreshingly sharp gooseberry note.

To Øl Mr. Pink (£2.40/2.2%/3300ml)

To Øl have some of the most eye catching packaging in the beer world, a shelf full of their cans is a wonder to behold. However, it must be said that it’s not always easy to glean a lot of information about the contents without a keen eye and/or a magnifying glass. Fortunately my years in the field have taught me a thing or two about reading labels so I was able to spot the fact this is low ABV, gluten free and included the magic words "passion fruit". Super light and refreshing with a good balance of malt character and the tart refreshment of the titular fruit that was a perfect foil for the first rays of spring sunshine.

Magic Rock Fantasma (£3.90/6.5%/500ml)

The second gluten free offering this week, perhaps not time for coeliac beer lovers to hang out the bunting just yet but hopefully a good intimation of where things are going. This bright and juicy IPA from Magic Rock is another sign that there’s no reason to expect gluten free to equal enjoyment free. More of those oranges, clementines, tangerines and mangoes throughout with a distinct piney note for those that don’t like things too sweet. The 6.5% assures that it delivers on flavour and it’s remarkably full bodied and crisp for the lack of gluten. Hopefully this will join Magic Rock’s core range.

Buxton/Stillwater Subluminal Imperial Stout (£5.20/10.0%/330ml)

Two of my favourite breweries collaborate on one of my favourite beer styles, reckon I’ll like it? Spoiler alert: too right I did. A huge, delicious and complex Imperial Stout with rich dark chocolate, coffee, Christmas cake, treacle, sweet spice and black pepper and a little vanilla fudge. There’s definitely some booziness to proceedings, but no burn at all, just a little welcome warm in the finish.