Beers I’ve Enjoyed - October 2023

I’m going to start adding a selection of beers that I particularly enjoyed each month here.  Hopefully you will find something new to try!

In October I visited a couple of festivals (IndyMan Beer Con in Manchester and Generation Craft in Ashford, Kent) and went to a conference in France for work, so there were plenty of beers to choose from.  I’ll pick my favourites from the month and give you a recommendation to look out for from a French brewery.

Number of beers tried this month: 68

If you’d like to see all the beers I try, come find me here on Untappd!

Experiments Coffee Porter by Talking Tides

Style: Coffee porter

I tried this delight while at IndyMan Beer Con.  The guys from Talking Tides are such a lovely bunch - I’ve seen them at several festivals this year, so I had to grab something of theirs and I wasn’t disappointed.

Very dark brown with a red highlight and a foamy beige head. Smooth cold brewed coffee aroma with a touch of vanilla. Lightly carbonated, smooth, full, coffee, almost a creamy vanilla taste. 

You should try this if: You enjoy rich, full coffee flavours in your beer.

Michael Romance by Queer Brewing

Style: Raspberry wheat beer

Another beer tried at IndyMan - arguably, Queer Brewing had one of the best bars at the festival, turning the Turkish baths into a mini gay bar and I was here for it!

Hazed pink blush with a low white head. Tart raspberry aroma with a touch of creamy wheat and lemon. Lightly carbonated, light tartness, fruity raspberry, creamy wheat body, refreshing.

You should try this if: you love a tart, fruity wheat beer or anything raspberry, like me 🍓

A Tavola by Pastore

Style: Table beer

I meet up with a bottleshare group in my area when I can. The last few months I haven’t managed to make any of the get togethers. Luckily this month I joined the lads at The Royston in Ramsgate and we brought along a few beers to share. This table beer from Pastore was a real hit with everyone.

Lightly hazed yellow with a foamy white head. Zesty aroma, some coconut, very subtle funk. Carbonation tiz, zesty, full of flavour for a table beer!

You should try this if: you want a flavourful, lower abv beer - watch out though, it’s zesty with a tart kick!

Vault Dweller by Vault City

Style: Sour beer

I tried a lot of good beer at Generation Craft, but this offering from Vault City was very appropriate for Halloween weekend!

Bright, almost luminous green with a foamy white head.  Zesty aroma.  Tart but sweet, tastes like lemon sherbet sweets.  Could be an easy starter for someone looking to get into sours.

You should try this if: You like beer that doesn’t taste like beer!

Civilisation Equation by MakeMake

Style: Sour IPA

I tried beers from this up and coming brewery for the first time at Generation Craft.  I look forward to trying more of theirs in the future!

Hazed orange with a foamy white head.  Fruity aroma, touch of lime, strawberry.  Lightly carbonated, each of the fruits come through - balancing lime, then strawberry and kiwi finishing with just enough vanilla.  Very easy drinking.

You should try this if: you want to try a sour IPA that isn’t too sour with lots of flavour.

Laureate (2023) by Dolphin Brewery

Style: Fruited Gose

I love Dolphin Brewery, they are a small brewery in the Reading area.  I am always amazed that not more people know their fantastic beers, but then I realised that I probably only know them because Tori buys them for me!  Keep an eye out for them, their beers are a treat and Laureate has an interesting combination of flavours.

Lightly hazed, green tinged yellow with almost no head.  Cucumber aroma.  Tart and refreshing with sweet melon balancing out subtle cucumber.  This would be brilliant in the summer.

You should try this if: You love trying interesting flavour combinations.

Les Rougeurs de l’Aurore by Fauve

Style: Fruited Berliner Weisse

As promised, here is my French brewery recommendation for you.  I really like the beers that Fauve produce and they have a lovely bar in Paris too, if you happen to be in the area!

Hazed berry red with a foamy pink-tinged head.  Berry aroma with a touch of lemony wheat.  Tart, red berries - cranberry, cherry, raspberry, clean and refreshing.

You should try this if: You like a tart beer with lots of berry flavours. This is for the more seasoned sour beer fan.

Are you going to try any of these?  And what did you enjoy this month?  Let me know in the comments!