The quality of drinks that are being produced by artisan companies continues to impress and the diversity of those products grows by the week, judging by the number of press releases we receive announcing new companies, products and brands.
Here at Hand Crafted Drinks Magazine we only witness a small proportion of the new products, but we relish every opportunity to promote all companies in this dynamic sector. And, when we’re sent samples we can’t wait to do a review and spread the word.
BRUBL is one such company, which we featured recently; they are producing a range of excellent beers, including the six that we were recently sent to sample.
If we were presented with any or all of the six beers at a pub or bar, we would have no hesitation ordering and recommending them. They were all confident and mature beers, and there was no sense that the brewer has only been creating craft ales for just a couple of years.
Of the six beers, the reviews of our favourites are summarised below:
Show Me The Honey 5.8% ABV
This golden IPA, made with the late addition of cascade, centennial, chinook, fuggles and simcoe hops, is a surprisingly light and easy drinking pale ale, despite the high ABV.
Once poured the floral aromas are subtle, but inviting; on the palate the IPA had a distinctive treacle taste coming through, which is deeper and stronger than any honey notes the name of the beer suggests, but still extremely pleasant.
Our overall verdict is very positive and this would be preferred over many of the more established IPAs given the choice. This was definitely our favourite, but this is not to suggest that any of the beers were not up to the mark.
Can The Mike 4.2% ABV
Described on the can as a hazy pale ale, once poured the cloudy wheat-coloured pale ale looked both intriguing and inviting.
Made with a blend of malted grains and oats, this easy drinking beer, softened with the addition of New Zealand hops (riwakak and nelson sauvin), retains a subtle, but never unpleasant, bitterness.
This is a thoroughly enjoyable pale ale and another one that would be chosen over more well-established brands.
Hazy In Love
Weighing in with an ABV of 6%, this New England IPA made with a blend of golden promise, oats and speciality malts to produce a very drinkable pale ale with a great mouthfeel and smooth finish with hints of caramel and roasted nuts.
The other three beers that we were sent also went down well, both figuratively and literally:
Big Beernana ABV 6.5%, Hoppy Fairy ABV 5.0% and Highway To Hop ABV 4.3%.
For more information visit Brubl’s website