A Tale Of Two Breweries (In One)
The next brewery on our random beer adventure takes us to the local area and Cheshire. Based in Mobberley, Mobbeley Brewhouse (MBH) https://www.mobberleybrewhouse.co.uk/ have been going since 2011, but by their own words found their true footing at the installation of custom equipment in 2017.
For this order I got their Core Taster Case for £13.60 (6 Beers, 1 of each of their core range) as well as a selection of seasonal beers which took the total to £51.45 for a total of twelve beers.
https://www.mobberleybrewhouse.co.uk/onlineshop
During this tasting unfortunately I had to say goodbye to my
favourite glass from Tenby Brewing due to an accident with the washing up, but
(mild spoiler) this should be rectified with the next beer order en-route.
First off how good does the new camera set up look.
A fantastic aroma to the nose with a certain lightness and fruitiness hidden away which really feels welcoming and in the general ballpark of what I would normally go for in terms of smell at least.
As with a lot of the DDH IPA's the Hop flavour is bold and punchy and hits just on the point of no return without seeing any negativity. The primary taste is that of a slightly fruity note that you come to expect from a craft IPA, with the hoppy flavour hanging on the extremities of the tongue with slightly earthy undertones which work well in harmony with the rest of the drink.
Obviously a visually appealing drink with the flavours to match. I know DDH IPAs aren't for everybody but for those that are happy to give them a chance this is certainly one that you should consider, with every sip/mouthful you become more acclimatised to the severeness of the hops as everything begins to meld together into one cohesive beer.
In fact, this is one of those beers that I’m wishing I had more than one of as I’m growing more and more accustomed to it and the zingy flavours the fruity aspect of the IPA leaves popping around the mouth. Very tasty.
Summer IPA - Mosaic- 6.0% (Seasonal)
This poured much like some kind of tropical juice and although there was a slight head to it, it didn't really retain it for too long. To the nose it reflects the same, a real fruity aroma about it.
The hops taste incredibly strong in this one with much of the fruity notes primarily being carried through the nose, being hidden away behind the hops which attack the mouth straight away. Once the initial punch in the face has been dealt with the subtleties of the beer start to shine. The tanginess is there and is a perfect accompaniment to the Mosaic hops which are in full effect here, but you do have to work for it to reach that harmony, but once the palate adjusts it all begins to sing together.
What I’ve come to like about beers like this is the challenge of finding that harmony that the brewer was going for, it would be quite easy to dismiss it after the first sip saying oooh it's too strong (flavour rather than percentage), but taking the time to let it permeate around the mouth a little, let yourself get used to the beer and explore the notes that it's putting out there, then you can really appreciate what a nice beer it is. I can imagine some being put off with it not being as fruity as it smells, but I think the flavours are there perfectly and it is a fantastic Summer IPA.
I'm not sure if there is a "standard" scent for Mobberley Brew House, we'll find that out as we go along but it does smell like the previous two drinks and this is certainly a good thing with that sweet fruity tang which is so prevalent. It pours like the others too but with a slightly deeper and darker note to the tropical like pour, which with a DIPA is to be expected.
You can definitely tell this is a strong beer, but not in a way that would make you recoil or even pull any sort of face. It's just very upfront with what it delivers and sits patiently on the taste buds waiting for you to assess it.
For a DIPA it's surprisingly smooth with very little "punch" about it without compromising on the flavour it delivers. As mentioned above the taste of the hops just sort of glides in and then glides out when it's done its job. As with the Summer IPA once your palate becomes accustomed to the hops it becomes a really enjoyable and smooth beer which is quickly becoming the selling point of Mobberley Brew House. The taste gets better and better the more that you have and that isn't just "more booze talking" as it's the first can of the evening the flavours that start hitting you are the first levels of hoppiness are fantastic and the truly fruit like nature of the IPA start to sing through.
I imagine this is going to be quite aggressive in the taste, typically DDH's are more slap you in the face and with it coupled with a DIPA it could be quite interesting. It does appear slightly lighter than the previous drink but still has that custom haziness where light would struggle to get through.
There is very little given away through the nose which, I think backs up my initial theory. Even when it takes a while to adjust the fruit like notes are normally still there, but this lack of a dominant smell lingers in wait to attack.
Let’s not beat around the bush this is very much a DDH beer the hops are front and centre, but I have to say not entirely overbearing. Again, MBH have found that real neat balance of being able to take often quite aggressive flavours and managing to just scale them back a little bit to make the more accessible. It does linger on the taste buds slightly longer than the others but it again doesn't become oppressive or outstay it's welcome.
Circlesquare - Toffee Crunch Imperial Stout -10.5% (Seasonal)
So, it's at this point I’m not going to say "I don't like Stout as I think it's clear from the reviews that I do like stout, I just don't like bad stouts so where does this one stand?
It does smell absolutely fantastic I have to say, the toffee really is already breaking through the nose before any taste at all.
Wow this is incredibly sweet, the toffee like caramelisation has really been pushed first and foremost there is no hiding away from the flavour of this one. I'm not sure I could have more than one of these in a row and not because I don't like it but because of just how sweet it is. This is obviously a stout I mean just look at it, but the primary flavour is almost like just chomping on a bunch of honeycombs.
It doesn't sit heavy and is deceptively light but doesn't compromise on the flavour far from it. To me this sits in the *sipping* beer category, you wouldn't have it on a night out, this is to be enjoyed on a cold night in watching a film or binging something after dinner. This is your desert, even though it's not technically a desert stout.
I think traditionalists might not like this too much due to just how sweet it is, but for my Sunday night stout as it's become, this is a really pleasant Stout.
Keeping Company - DDH IPA - 6.8% (Seasonal)
We're back on the double dried hops so I’m expecting something very punchy and hard hitting at first which dissipates into something lighter.
Mmm this is an adult IPA.
Let me clarify what I mean by this. Some purists might be put off by the current craft IPA scene, dismissing it as something that might be a bit too fruity for their liking and not a "proper beer" this DDH IPA addresses and challenges that preconception. From the very first sip the hops slap you in face as if it's insulted you thought it was going to be another fruity IPA which to be fair the nose does give an indication of, but here at In Search of Hoppiness we know better than that).
It's packed full of flavour and smooth to the drink which belies it's 6.8% strength. As with most of the DDH's I’ve had once the palate adjusts to the hops the whole experience becomes a lot calmer (not that the first slap in the face isn't good) and it becomes a nice enjoyable drink.
What I have loved about all of these speciality beers or seasonal beers is that they haven't been afraid to pack the flavour in, I think I’m still tasting the sweetness from the Toffee Crunch Stout.
The can of this states "Our Passion and aim in our IPA's and Pales is to create a balanced drinkability whilst showcasing the incredible variety of flavours and aromas from big hop additions and if you look at my notes above, I’d say they certainly have hit that brief and then some.
I'm interested to see how their core range holds up over the next six beers, these are ones that are available year-round and are their staples, if it's anything like their seasonal beers, we should be in for an ongoing good time.
Loco Juice - Tropical Pale Ale - 4.2% (Core)
The Smell of this one is really something and without being too obvious it's really tropical I tried to remember what it reminded me of and it is that old drink 5 alive from when I was a kid and now, I can't stop smiling. I don't think I’ve actively thought of that drink in about 20 years.
Anyway, let’s see how it tastes.
So, the hops used in this drink are very strong and almost a little over baring at first but I soon adjust as I realise the difference between an IPA and a Pale and adjust accordingly. I have to say I’m not entirely sold on this one, at least not in the sense that is wowing me. It's got a very slight undertone of tropicalness and maybe based on their signatures I was expecting a bit more, but I feel the hops overpower the tropical nature they are trying to push through, it's a really fizzy beer as well which doesn't assist in carrying the flavour through. It's not a bad beer but just isn't wowing me.
Snap Action - Session IPA - 4.6%. (Core)
I swear session beers used to be about 3.5% or so which is crazy seeing a 4.6% session which is borderline premium lager, but anyway. This does smell pretty "nothingy" no strong overpowering of hops and no fruity notes.
This again is not wowing me at all with its taste it's again not bad.... but it’s just sort of there without doing anything impressive at all. This is very much a safe IPA that pretty much anyone would be able to drink without any sort of distinctive flavours to pick out or discernible hops of note which make it stand out from the pack. I understand that session IPAs are intended to be that so you could drink it all day, (or for a session) and yeah you could with this, but I’d be looking for something else after my first drink for another beer with just a bit of something more about it.
I’m starting to paint a picture in my head of how this brewery is lining up now and am not hugely optimistic about the remaining core beers.
Note: At this point my glass broke (accidental not rage), as such there is a change of glass in the remaining photos.
Playback - West Coast IPA - 5.2%
I’ve not had a beer in a few days at the time of trying this so I might be a bit more lenient in my viewpoint of the beer.
I have to say it smells really nice and refreshing, off the top of my head I’m a bit out of touch with West Coast IPA's and the typical profiles that they follow.
To taste there is a really nice balance of punchy hops and a freshness which is extenuated by how cold the beer is too (certainly the way to drink this one). I can happily say from the core range so far this is the best of the bunch. It's a beer done well, it's not going to stand out from the crowd but it is a good IPA, which is very pleasing to the nose and has enough of a freshness to carry a light zinging flavour through the palate. I suppose what I have to consider with the core range is that these will be the closest to mass produced. When I consider breweries I’ve raved about like Boundary, Abbeydale and Tenby all the beer I’ve been fanatical about have been specials, or limited editions so by virtue they're liable to be a little bit more special.
Crush - Modern Pilsner - 4.4%
This smells pretty fresh which is what I’ve come to expect from a Pilsner as you drink it on a nice hot day (although they are slipping away from us at the moment), there is a slight zesty hint to the smell as well which certainly adds to the refreshing and pleasing smell that it is emanating.
This isn't as punchy as some pilsners I’ve had but I really really like it, the smell is reflected in the taste with a really pleasant mouthfeel which lightly coats the mouth and there is that slight citrus undertone to it as well which is incredibly complimentary.
This is a pilsner; I think I would be very happy to drink on a regular basis and would actively look for it if I was out and in the mood for a Pilsner. I've been a bit "meh" about their core range (the first two anyway) but the last two have made me feel a bit better, I still maintain though it's like two separate breweries did their core and seasonal beers, I wonder if research into them might provide a further insight.
Unchained - Session NEIPA - 4.4%
I'm used to NEIPA's being incredibly punchy hop heavy drinks and more often than not quite strong as well, so to see a session one is quite interesting as to how it will work, will the hoppiness be compromised owing to the lower ABV?
It certainly smells like a normal NEIPA and a good one at that with the subtle fruitlike undertones, but a notable lack of impetus from the hops to the nose at least.
I'm aware I’ve used the word punchy far more that I would have normally intended but that's how NEIPA's normally are the slap your taste buds tell you to deal with it and set up a holiday home there. Unchained has somehow found that balance to make it a session NEIPA without compromising "too much" on the flavour. I can imagine this actually being preferable for a lot of drinkers, who might be off put by the aggressive nature of a normal NEIPA. This drink somehow keeps the core flavour of a NEIPA but has completely reigned it in, making it accessible for everyone, which realistically I guess is what you're looking for from your core range of beers. Whilst I personally prefer the fuller flavour NEIPA's I 100% appreciate what they have done here in making a session NEIPA which you could stay on all afternoon and still feel fine for your evening meal out.
Big Idea - Oatmeal Stout - 5.2%
I'm pretty sure this is my first Oatmeal stout ever, let alone on the journey of beers that I’m on so I’m interested to see how it varies from the other stouts that I’ve had which have either been super traditional or some sort of weird flavour concoction derived by a mad beer scientist. To the nose we're smelling like a standard stout with that sort of rich molasses like nose to it, possibly a slight coffee like smell as well.
Ok so I’d say this very much falls in line with "traditional stouts". As the drink develops in your mouth after that first mouthful you feel the aggressiveness on the extremities of your tastebuds which leaves a slight tingling sensation almost which at first is almost tangy before switching into something much darker and harsher which sits around for a little too long before fading away.
The serving suggestion for this is cold but I can't help but think room temperature might be the way to go, even just stored in the fridge I think that some of the subtleties of the beer are lost in that first cool wave across the lips, that said it's an enjoyable stout. I've certainly had better, I much preferred the speciality stout by Mobberley, but as someone who's first drink of choice isn't normally stouts it's perfectly acceptable. I'm still unsure as to what makes it an "oatmeal" stout though, if anyone can let me know, whether it's brewing process or a flavour thing that would be great.
Final Thoughts:
Mobberley Brew House honestly confused me. When you look at how I felt about the seasonal beers, they were absolutely fantastic, top end, challenging and enjoyable beers. I couldn’t rave enough about them and the flavours that they were pumping out, to the point that a friend of mine who had previously had MBH beers wasn’t sure I was talking about the same place, but then I tried the core beers and it was just an overwhelming sensation of just…ok. I can’t outright say they were bad because that would be a disservice, but they didn’t reach the highs of the seasonal beers. Think of a horror franchise when you reach the third sequel onwards, they do the job sure but you’re wanting the originals that you fell in love with.
I would 100% take a look at Mobberley Brew House in the future to see what their seasonal beers were I can imagine their winter stouts being fantastic, but I would be lying if I was to say I would visit their core range again, because I know of the much better product on the next page of their shop.
Next County: City Of Dundee
