Showing posts with label Brakspear Bitter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brakspear Bitter. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Ode to ABV

There just isn't enough low alcohol session ale around Ireland. The only draught bitter available at the moment is The Porterhouse's TSB, which for some strange reason I got a freezing cold pint of the other day instead of the usual cellar-ish temperature. It didn't taste the same either, though on a recent Irish Craft Brewer tour of their brewery they did mention a few changes around the place.

Drinking full flavour low alcohol ale is a real joy. I like to be able to put away a few pints, enjoying every last drop and still be in a respectable state afterwards, so I was very happy to come across this 3.2% ABV bitter in the off license last week. Sadly the cost of bottled English ale in Ireland prevented me from grabbing a multiple of it, but it's good to see such beer hitting the Irish shores. I had previously tried Brakspear Triple and found it to be an immensely complex beer with flavours I couldn't hope to pin down. Their Bitter clearly indicates that a specific yeast strain is responsible for this flavour mix because it is as complex as the Triple, but the over all flavour isn't as intense. There is a satisfying lengthy bitterness balanced well with rich malt followed up with a mesmerising mix of flavours and aromas stemming from a combination of English Fuggles and yeast effort. Over all a very enjoyable session ale with a flavour profile you won't confuse with any other.