Yes, I know it’s the title of Depeche Mode’s classic hit from 1981, but when we sampled the three beers that were sent from the award-winning Badger Brewery, that was the overarching emotion, their beers are just so good.
Some breweries can try a bit too hard to be different, but in the case of Badger Brewery, they have created unique expressions that really hit the spot.
The first one we tried, Master Stoat, a 5% ABV coffee stout, was very smooth.
it was like the perfect espresso martini combined beautifully with a hearty stout, with a flavour reinforced with roasted barley, which provides the jet black colouring.
We have tasted many stouts since we first launched, but Master Stoat, was stunning.
Yet, despite the depth of flavour and complexity of the coffee-infused brew, it was very easy drinking and the only disappointment was when the bottle was empty.
The other two beers that we were sent, Fursty Ferret and Cranbourne Poacher, were also very good.
Fursty Ferret, a 4.4% ABV amber ale, was another crowd pleaser, and a beer that we would happily choose over the more mainstream brands.
Weighing in a 5.7% ABV was the third beer: Cranbourne Poacher, a fine full-bodied ruby ale, which has a confident fruitiness balanced perfectly with liquorice notes, complementing the rewarding maltiness.
The overall favourite from this triumphant trio was Master Stoat, who velvety-smooth brew delivered an all-round flavour and taste sensation.
Badger Beers have been brewed in Bland-ford, Dorset since 1777 by independent regional family brewer, Hall & Woodhouse, which also owns around 180 pubs across the south of England. The business is now under the stewardship of the seventh and eighth generations of the Woodhouse family.
The Badger range of characterful, award-winning premium bottled ales (PBAs) have widespread, national distribution, with listings in all major supermarkets and in thousands of independent grocery and specialist drinks stores, as well as with leading wholesalers and cash & carry outlets.
In April 2023, Badger launched a range of craft beers under the new Outland brand, which we have previously sampled and we were very impressed with; the range now includes nine variants, packaged in 440ml cans. Outland was developed to offer the interesting, innovative flavours associated with craft beers, presented in a way that also appeals to more mainstream beer drinkers.
Badger Brewery’s products have won an impressive number of awards in UK and international beer competitions over the years. In 2024, Outland was a finalist in the Grocer Gold Awards, and in 2023 was named Supreme Champion, Pack Design, in the International Beer Challenge. Badger took eight medals in the World Beer Awards 2024 across its PBA and Outland ranges, including a Country Winner medal for Outland Ginger Pale Ale.
In an age when international breweries are increasingly trying to produce artisan-styled products, to tap into the hand-crafted sector, it is refreshing to see that a long-standing brewing family is not only surviving, but thriving.
For more information visit their website