Beers I Enjoyed - January 2024

I think I have started 2024 strong!  I’ve done a bit of stash busting while I’ve had time at home.  I don’t know about you, but I’ve definitely got an overflow of beer left over from orders throughout lock down and trying to support all the great breweries out there.  But with some creative solutions (beer & book and beer & tarot pairing anyone?!) I’m getting it under control.  I also did a little trip to the Bermondsey Beer Mile where Tori and I took in a few bars.

One of my personal challenges this year is to try as many different styles of beer as I can.  I’ve gone full beer geek on this and started a spreadsheet to track my progress.  I’ve got every beer style from Untappd on there - including ciders, meads and hard seltzers.  I don’t think I’ll get all of them (the cider and mead will be difficult!) but I’ll track how many styles I’ve ticked off each month here too.  

Number of beers tried this month: 66

Beer styles tried: 47 

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

Velvet Underbrown by Heavy Riff Brewing

I love a brown ale, but this was billed as an American Brown, which should be hoppier.  This version however contains lactose so is sweeter - much more like an English brown ale - which I prefer anyway.

My thoughts:

Very dark brown with a gold highlight and a fizzy beige head. Coffee and dark chocolate aroma, touch of vegetal hop, cola, walnuts, vanilla. Moderately carbonated, nutty, chocolate, vanilla, dark roast coffee, full body, dry finish. Very drinkable.

You Should Try This If: You don’t mind a beer with lactose in it and you enjoy a malty beer with layers of flavour.

Universal Truths by Wilderness Brewery 

If you haven’t had any beers from Wilderness Brewery, you need to run (don’t walk!) and get some!  They make beautiful wild and mixed fermentation beers that are just accessible and Universal Truths is no exception.  If you want to ease yourself into these kinds of beers, this sour pale ale will get you started.

My thoughts:

Lightly hazed pale yellow with a thick white moussy head.  Light bretty funk aroma, earthy, slightly sweet.  Well carbonated, earthy funk, crisp, refreshing, touch of honey sweetness in the finish. 

You Should Try This If: You want to start trying sour and wild beers.

Moonflower by Hidden Springs Ale Works

I’ve got a few American beers in this month’s list.  Tori and I enjoyed this beaut at Craft Beer Junction while exploring the Bermondsey Beer Mile.  I literally laughed and called this beer dumb when I tasted it - the flavours worked so well together.  A sour ale with blackcurrant, hazelnut, chocolate and vanilla was right up my street.  The chocolate and vanilla were very subtle, but the blackcurrant and hazelnut were just delightful.

My thoughts:

Lightly hazed berry red with a low white head. Sharp berry aroma with hazelnut, blackcurrant earthiness. Lightly, tart, blackcurrant, hazelnut, chocolate, dry finish.

You Should Try This If: You love sour beers with interesting, distinct flavours.

Imperial German Chocolate Cupcake Stout by Angry Chair

Also at Craft Beer Junction (their selection the day we were there was amazing!), I really enjoy a German chocolate cake beer from the US.  I’m not really sure what makes it a German chocolate cake specifically, but the beers I’ve had around this flavouring are always great.

My thoughts:

Black with a ring of creamy tan head. Coconut, bittersweet dark chocolate aroma, raisin, rich. Smooth, sticky, coconut, sweet chocolate, vanilla, rich.  

You Should Try This If: You love a decadent stout and want to find out what German chocolate cake tastes like!

Koyt by Jopen

While in Bermondsey, Tori and I wandered to the newest bar there - It Ain’t Much If It Ain’t Dutch.  All the beers on offer are from Dutch breweries and there are Dutch inspired beer snacks too.  The service was great, so give the bar a go if you are in the area.  I grabbed this Gruit beer from Jopen - a beer made with a historical herb mix instead of hops.  A Koyt is also a beer brewed with three grains - malted oats, barley and wheat.  I had to grab this one for my beer style challenge - I’ve not had a Koyt before and it was delicious.

My thoughts:

Lightly hazed chestnut amber with a low white head. Herbal aroma - lemongrass, honey, rosemary, fragrant. Lightly carbonated, honey, rosemary, lemon, toffee, really interesting!

You Should Try This If: You want to try out a historical style.

Should I write a blog post on gruits and Koyt beers?  Let me know!