Now this was a surprise.
Not the best surprise in the world, but a surprise nonetheless.
Pouring a lovely deep orange and with a good fizz, the smell is ever so slightly Lucozade and treacle.
The surprise came when I took a sip as I wasn’t expecting anything so malt heavy.
And this really is, steeped in burned sugar syrup and wrapped in a big woody, earthiness.
Flavours that I’d more readily associate with a black lager, BrewDog’s Zeitgeist for example.
To be honest, if I’d bought this in a pub I’d be rather disappointed as if I’d ordered an amber lager I’d be after a lot more rounded honey and floral stuff going on.
The hops here are bark brittle, dry and crisp, and the finish is pretty good, but it’s just too heavy for its ABV.
Not a patch on this brewery’s Premium Lager.