Gel fach Gymraeg (A little Welsh gem) (13/94)
Once more we cross the border to the west and enter Wales and this time round, we are taking a sample of Lucky 7 Beer based in Powys. I had no preconception about this brewery and didn’t have any knowledge at all about them, although some friends have advised they think they have seen them “somewhere”, so they must be out and about somewhere.
Lucky 7 Beer describe themselves as an independent brewery making fresh, modern, creative beers. They produce beers that highlight the quality of the ingredients, that will stimulate and excite the palate and that will complement a moment.
What I love with this order is that it might be the lowest order I’ve had yet #1201 which fits in with the narrative I was looking to achieve when the blog originated. Exploring smaller unknown breweries. When I made the order, they only had five beers available and a minimum of 12 beers to qualify for delivery. As such I did have a few multiples.
The twelve beers cost £47.40 with £5.99 shipping, so averaging £4.44 a can so a little bit on the expensive side but with these I’d say it was certainly worth the cost.
https://lucky7beer.co.uk/collections/beer
Even as I opened the can I got a little whiff and made an audible “oh hello” involuntarily before the initial photo had even been taken. This looks lighter than some of the hazier IPA’s which I’ve become accustomed to and that might be a result of it being a session IPA although even at 4.4% that’s quite high for a session, something I was discussing when drinking Bermondsey Beer Mile, a little while ago how the definition of ‘session’ is being skewed a little.
To the nose it’s hitting all the tones that I typically get excited about in an IPA, that playful hint of citrus that just nestles at the back of your olfactory system. For the first time in a while, I’m getting that saliva build up as a smell it as the temptation and anticipation kicks in. As such there is nothing else for me to do but to try it.
The side of the can says ‘A Glowing Beacon of Hop’ which I love as it follows on the pun of this blog first and foremost, but it also reflects this beer. I might be biased as whenever I see Mosaic, Simcoe, Citra and Azacca hops I get excited and this has Citra and Mosaic (as well as Cascade which gives that undercurrent of bitterness as well as tang).
This is so good. When you take a mouthful, the bubbles open up your taste buds and scatters citrus flavours all over them, before a light bitterness slowly takes over as the citrus subsides. Despite its bubbly nature I don’t get the impression that this would leave you too gassy for a prolonged drink. You can pick out the different citrus elements too with a playful bit of grapefruit that rests right in the roof of your mouth.
I’ll be honest I was a little apprehensive about Lucky 7 when I ordered, as is alluded to in the introduction however any worries have been dissuaded, at least temporarily.
SIPA a very very good beer.
With this being a Milk Stout I’m expecting a subtlety with the flavour playing in the background of the tastebuds, then that little sour lactose like hit giving it the slight tang. To pour it seemed quite light, but has a rich and deep colour to it.
To the nose I am getting those tangy notes and the slightest hint of vanilla in the background. Other than that, not an awful lot is being given away by it.
Hmmm complex and tasty maybe a little too bitter for my own palate but not by much. When you first take the sip, you do get the lactose tang that I expected and this is quickly over taken with a dark rich chocolatey taste which coats the inside of your mouth, but stays there for a little bit too long. Right on the edge of the flavour profile there is a slight sweetness of vanilla but it could do a little bit more to cut through the bitterness.
As the palate adjusts to the flavour the more molasses like flavour seeps through from the maple syrup, but the bitter chocolate still is the primary flavour after the initial lactose.
What I will say is that the beer doesn’t sit heavy at all and is incredibly drinkable and has no discernible heaviness to it and is very drinkable.
This has that lovely tropical look to it and refreshing look to it. It appears pretty thick in the sense to look through it it’s incredibly hazy, but the movement of the liquid makes it appear like it will drink very lightly.
The nose is rife with the hops that I look to favour with the Citra and Mosaic really taking prominence with the tropical notes that play in the nose.
What you can tell to the taste is the hops being first and foremost but with that bitterness that accompanies the brewing process in a DDH.
If you let the drink flow across the mouth a little the flavours do start to kick on and matches the nose with an intense fruity flavour, which rests gently on the palate. This is a really refreshing beer that balances the fine line between bitter and tropical.
This pours with a confidence that it knows in itself it’s going to be a good beer. A deep thick tropical hue to it, which has the same light cutting out properties of a Guinness (although obviously not a stout) nothing is getting through it. I fully anticipate this to be a ‘chewy’ thick beer but maybe a little heavy.
The nose is all about the tropical and doesn’t pull any punches with have fruity it smells. If this was put under your nose blindfolded you could almost convince yourself you are going to have a drink of juice.
Mmmm now this is very nice. The beer notes within it are incredibly subtle, barely touching the palate with the slightest bitter notes, but the tropical Citra hops in line with Galaxy and Comet hops which lead to a truly joyous drink which hits everything a good beer should be doing.
You can pick out the tropical flavours as you swill it around your mouth, but then as you have more and more of the beer and the palate adjusts you get the more hoppy beery flavour. Ultimately leading to a very complex, yet welcoming beer which you would look to recommend to anyone.
The pun here for me is pretty wonderful and would certainly draw me in if I saw it in a bar or shop, but then I suppose I am the target audience for that sort of thing, starting to learn a bit more about beers, but still willing to be wooed by some word play.
As you can see from the picture this is incredibly dark and I imagine it to carry deep thick flavours with a honey undertone to carry through a chocolatey prominence. To the nose there are the hints of vanilla, chocolate and that underlying sweetness so my early impressions could well be on the money.
This is incredibly tasty and more importantly balanced. It somehow conveys a lightness when you first drink it which quickly becomes something much richer and heavier in the mouth and throat, with a full-bodied oomph to it.
The flavour profile matches the balance impeccably as well with the first play on the palate being the sweetness from the muscovado sugar and the vanilla and you can drink it down just there, however if you let it linger in your mouth for a little bit longer then the malted grains and cocoa nibs take over and cling to every corner of your mouth.
This is one I could think about for quite a while and not just because of the name.
Final Thoughts:
Lucky 7 was a brewery that although I didn’t have any true preconceptions about, the fact there was so little choice made me a little bit apprehensive. What we got however was essentially the equivalent of a speciality restaurant. What they do, they do to perfection it’s the set tasting menu and that’s it.
Even the beers which weren’t highlights for me were still good beers, that was apparent from the first sips. It was just that it wasn’t to my palate which as the beers and the orders continue is getting more finely adjusted, but also knows exactly what it likes.
The brewers at Lucky 7, have a very deft touch of flavour and understand how to utilise their hops to their full potential and more importantly balance as was demonstrated to perfection in Beertrix Porter, which even a few days later I keep thinking back on.
Also, of note there is no “silly” beers here. Don’t get me wrong I love a raspberry ripple imperial stout which sits at 15% ABV, but these more often than not can fall by the wayside if not done well. Lucky 7 hasn’t gone down that route and it’s to their benefit, as they have been able to work on the beers that they do produce something truly lovely.
Next County: Cornwall
