I’ve just returned from a much need restorative ramble filled with scenic sojourns and cultural constitutionals. I saw natural wonders and man-made masterpieces in the ever charming company of my darling companion.
And yet, the night before I return to work – to quote Raymond Carver – "I can hardly sit still. I keep fidgeting, crossing one leg and then the other. I feel like I could throw off sparks, or break a window - maybe rearrange all the furniture".
Why? Because the beaches of Barcelona – and indeed of coastal Aberdeenshire – are yet to fully embrace the charms of craft beer, and I’m sure I will be welcomed by delicious new deliveries on every shelf. My return to the grind cushioned by myriad mouthwatering wares. I was not disappointed.
Who likes sunshine and relaxation anyway?
Moor PMA (£2.80/5.3%/330ml)
An all too easy drinking pale I would have been delighted to enjoy on a Barcelona beach. Citrus and floral hops and malty biscuit aromas with pinapple, mango and soft citrus flavours which ebb away to a refreshing bitter finish.
Dark Star Six Hop IPA (£2.80/6.5%/330ml)
A resinous orange pour brings forth potent earthy hop aromas with some malt in the background. As bitter as a Tom Cruise divorce with more of those earthy hops in the flavour alongside some juicy grapefruit and citrus notes balanced by the malt in a nice lingering finish.
Weird Beard Saison 28 (£9.50/10.2%/660ml)
A big, bold and dirty – in several senses – farmhouse IPA with aromas of earthy fruit, ripe oranges and that classic saison spice. The light oily fizz brings flavours of pineapple, mango, more of those oranges, some yeasty hints, malt, white pepper and more of the classic spice notes which linger on alongside a little alcohol warmth which – fortunately – never overpowers any other element.
Thornbridge Days of Creation (£13.20/7.0%/375ml)
This Burgundy barrel-aged Raspberry laced sour Red Ale was an award winner in this years World Beer Cup, so I was positively frothing at the mouth before I had even popped the cork. Very much in the Flemish Oud Bruin style, said cork popping revealed sour raspberry and vinous aromas in abundance which carried on in the clean flavour alongside more Burgundy, nice tannins and an acidity which drew my gums together at the end. This will only develop in the bottle, so I’m glad to have a second for the cellar (cupboard).
Redchurch/De Molen Black & Brett (£3.70/10%/330ml)
A collaboration between two of my favourite breweries, this Bretted Russian Imperial Stout pours thick, dark and funky with added aromas of of bitter chocolate, bonfires, horse blanket and citric and green fruit notes. There’s a nice balance of sweet and savoury with flavours of liquorice, vanilla, well fired coffee, more burnt wood, light tropical fruit tang and further farmyard funk with the ABV very well hidden in the strong espresso and cigar box finish.
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