Tasting International Women's Day Mixed Case.
On the unboxing video I did state that I would say which charity a donation was made to on purchase of their International Women's Day Mixed Case, but unfortunately as the case is no longer available (I purchased the last one) I can't see which charity it actually was, but it was a local women’s charity to them which I thought was a fantastic touch.
The background behind this case is that six of their female employees each picked their favourite beer and bobbed them into a lovely case. I purchase the 12-pack meaning I got two of each.
DECEPTION - NZ Pale Ale 4.1%
A multi award winner, including Champion Beer of Sheffield 2010 and 11
- A playfully fresh beer with a lovely aftertaste the lingers
around the mouth and pallet. As the
drink goes on more flavours begin to appear in an almost fruit like way, not as
bombastic or attacking like a sour, just nice and subtle. A lot of the time
lightness can lead to a lack of flavour but this is not the case here. You can tell why this has been part of their
history since 2008 and has won numerous awards. Just a really good relaxing
beer, light on the mouth but not on the flavour.
SERENITY - Session IPA - Cascade & Galaxy 3.8%
Vegan Friendly, Gluten Free
- Considering this is a session ale the flavour of the hops is really powerful, that said the overall drink is one of pleasantness. I’m not sure if it’s just the weather but both this and Deception have felt like summer drinks. Would highly recommend as a thirst quencher and cool down beer. and as it’s a session I can imagine drinking it all day and not feeling absolutely smashed, just that nice summer buzz.
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The first sniff I can tell this like is going to be a me beer. This is a beer that feels so familiar and comforting to me because it’s the sort of thing I go for a good percentage and packed full of flavour. Oddly a slightly warming quality as I drank it. Certainly, a lot punchier than the previous two it's not afraid to give you a slap in the face with its flavour profile which sits heavy but unobtrusively in the mouth. The more I drink this I realise this is a great beer. The other two were good sure but this is next level.
Post Notes Thought: Without hesitation this IPA goes up there with one of the finest I’ve drunk and I went to bed thinking about the beer. I nursed the second can for as long as I could just so I could enjoy it for that little bit extra. If ever I see this out and about, I will 100% pick up a few cans and you should too.
- Whilst it's
good. It's not what I expected. Don't get me wrong it's a strong sour with good
flavour profile but it's all a bit too subtle, reading the back of the can and
this seems like an intentional choice. I was just expecting something a bit
more POW in your face! Face scrunchingly tarty on the first mouthful, which is my normal go to want with a sour.
As the beer develops and you drink more it is genuinely lovely and the only negative really was my own initial preconceptions. Cranberries and Redcurrants are the winter berries in question but as they note they've dropped the pH on it.
4 time Gold Medallist (Stout category) at the CAMRA Champion Beer of Yorkshire awards (2017, 2015, 2011 and 2009).
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I always have a level of apprehension with dark beer, I’m still not completely there just yet but let’s see. As I noted in my unboxing, I love the fact it's 6.66%. It's very aggressive to start with a very bitter taste hits the palette and there is for sure chocolate after tones which kick in afterwards as the bitterness dissipates. The bitterness is only over whelming in the first few drinks and soon becomes complimentary as opposed to overpowering. It's certainly my least favourite so far due to personal preference but I can appreciate what the beer is doing, it's incredibly complex a hell of a lot going on and someone with a more sophisticated palette would be able to pull it apart much more.
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This is where I’m truly nervous, I have no idea what is about to happen. I poured it and it was like runny treacle in consistency obviously it's a dessert stout so I can almost imagine this being a bit "chewy" and at 12.4% could well blow my socks off as well... ok let’s go...
"Wow"
They've done it again; they get me all worried and then BAM! What a beer.
First off this does not taste like a 12.4% beer, far from it the Black Mass tasted stronger. This on the other hand actually does what it says on the tin, apart from tigers and rooftop Jacuzzi’s. If you read the flavour profile, Strawberry, chocolate, smoked, cherry wood-chipped. ...It's all there layered with strawberry being the main takeaway but only just. It's at the point where I think stout purists might not approve, but for me this is the standout from the collection. It's very much a sipping beer, it's rich and indulgent and meant to be enjoyed over quite a while in my opinion.
What a
collection, the only one I wouldn't actively have again would be the Black
Mass, which was just a little bit too challenging for me. As has been
noted before I don't like Stout but I’m now 2/2 for loving the ones that I’ve
had.
This is kind of what I was looking for from this whole journey it's very easy
to stick to what you know, but to challenge yourself is part of the life
experience.
The only negative we have now is that Abbeydale had so many more beers that I wanted to try, but the rules of the challenge mean we have to move onwards. From what I can tell they have an active tap room in Sheffield which I’ll happily visit next time in the area.
https://www.abbeydalebrewery.co.uk/home/brewery/
Please give these guys a look at there is a bit of something for everyone and I don't think you'd be disappointed at all.
Next County: - Dyfed, Wales
