Beer of the year is often an interesting thread to follow, though determining my own beer of the year often proves a fruitless task. So many factors influence the decision and there is so much good beer out there. I still have a pretty good idea of what my top three for 2016 were judged by the definition I have in my head but can’t necessarily articulate, but if I skew that definition to being about the beer that exceeded my expectations the most, a new candidate leaps straight to the top.
By challenging one’s preconceptions and expectations we often find joy in the most surprising of places.
Lager.
In my younger days cold and flavourless lager was my drink of choice for several years and my development as a beer drinker leaves a snobbish opinion of lager by association with those years. It’s an outlook I see repeatedly in the beer shop – it’s almost not the done thing to buy lager if one is into indie beer.
Thus, last year I tried to push my own boundaries and started to drink one or two lagers, reminded of the definition of lagering – to cold store during conditioning – rather than seeing a pint of Carling Black Label in my mind’s eye.
And now, if I think back to 2016 with the definition of best beer being the one that exceeded my expectations the most I have a clear winner – Marble Brewery’s Metal Series Your Betrayal American Pilsner. It’s a while since I had this beer but what particularly sticks in my mind is the tremendous flavour hit from the Equinox, Citra and Cascade hops but more so, the incredible body and mouthfeel – from a lager. My interest was piqued.
I’m never good at predictions (though I think sours will be big in 2017) so perhaps I should focus on styles I will make big for me in 2017 by challenging myself and seeking out good quality examples of that style. For me therefore, I predict that lager will be much bigger in 2017 than it was in 2016!
With that in mind and having persuaded my boss at the bottle shop to give Lost & Grounded Brewers a go on the shelves, I recently dived in to a Lost & Grounded Keller Pils that I bought, alongside another of their lagers – Running with Sceptres - from Copper’s of Gosforth, where I work.
Lost & Grounded Keller Pils
It poured a pale, golden straw colour with a white frothy head and carbonation looked spot on. I got an instant malty aroma which was certainly inviting and provided promise for a beer with flavour. For me, I’d have preferred better head retention as by the first sip there was little of that frothy head remaining but determined to drink with senses other than sight, I delved in.
On taking a draught and letting it linger on the palate a little I was struck by the very full mouthfeel presented, not dissimilar to that of Your Betrayal – it danced on my tongue as I started to detect savoury biscuit and toast flavours, that with it’s subtle woody and bitter finish, made this lager a pleasant drink to the last.
From a 330ml bottle I was left wanting more and whilst my sessions tend not to see the same beer poured more than once I could quite easily enjoy a session on a few schooners of this, particularly on a hot summers day. That said, it hit the spot in the bleak mid winter too. I would heartily recommend trying Lost & Grounded if you’re yet to do so. I expect to see exciting things from them in this, their first full calendar year in production. This and the saison ‘Hop Hand Fallacy’ which I had at the back end of last year in Pleased To Meet You, have both impressed.
So really, despite already having had the odd excellent lager from the likes of Marble, Anarchy Brew Co and Cloudwater Brew Co last year, I feel that my lager quest has now truly begun. Don’t get me wrong, I shall still be consuming my fair share of IPAs and APAs, but I am determined to scale my wall of prejudices this year too. I would encourage you to do the same, whether it be with lager, saison or sour beers (or whatever), talk to your bottle shop or the staff in your pub and ask them to help you push your boundaries and stretch your horizons. Over the past couple of years I have grown to love sours, not least with the help of the terrifically knowledgeable team at the Free Trade Inn who have introduced me to sours properly (don't miss their excellent annual Sours Festival) and encouraged me to try more along the way. What’s the worst that can happen? There’s always another beer out there after all.
By challenging one’s preconceptions and expectations we often find joy in the most surprising of places.
Lager.
In my younger days cold and flavourless lager was my drink of choice for several years and my development as a beer drinker leaves a snobbish opinion of lager by association with those years. It’s an outlook I see repeatedly in the beer shop – it’s almost not the done thing to buy lager if one is into indie beer.
Thus, last year I tried to push my own boundaries and started to drink one or two lagers, reminded of the definition of lagering – to cold store during conditioning – rather than seeing a pint of Carling Black Label in my mind’s eye.
And now, if I think back to 2016 with the definition of best beer being the one that exceeded my expectations the most I have a clear winner – Marble Brewery’s Metal Series Your Betrayal American Pilsner. It’s a while since I had this beer but what particularly sticks in my mind is the tremendous flavour hit from the Equinox, Citra and Cascade hops but more so, the incredible body and mouthfeel – from a lager. My interest was piqued.
I’m never good at predictions (though I think sours will be big in 2017) so perhaps I should focus on styles I will make big for me in 2017 by challenging myself and seeking out good quality examples of that style. For me therefore, I predict that lager will be much bigger in 2017 than it was in 2016!
With that in mind and having persuaded my boss at the bottle shop to give Lost & Grounded Brewers a go on the shelves, I recently dived in to a Lost & Grounded Keller Pils that I bought, alongside another of their lagers – Running with Sceptres - from Copper’s of Gosforth, where I work.
Lost & Grounded Keller Pils
It poured a pale, golden straw colour with a white frothy head and carbonation looked spot on. I got an instant malty aroma which was certainly inviting and provided promise for a beer with flavour. For me, I’d have preferred better head retention as by the first sip there was little of that frothy head remaining but determined to drink with senses other than sight, I delved in.
On taking a draught and letting it linger on the palate a little I was struck by the very full mouthfeel presented, not dissimilar to that of Your Betrayal – it danced on my tongue as I started to detect savoury biscuit and toast flavours, that with it’s subtle woody and bitter finish, made this lager a pleasant drink to the last.
From a 330ml bottle I was left wanting more and whilst my sessions tend not to see the same beer poured more than once I could quite easily enjoy a session on a few schooners of this, particularly on a hot summers day. That said, it hit the spot in the bleak mid winter too. I would heartily recommend trying Lost & Grounded if you’re yet to do so. I expect to see exciting things from them in this, their first full calendar year in production. This and the saison ‘Hop Hand Fallacy’ which I had at the back end of last year in Pleased To Meet You, have both impressed.
So really, despite already having had the odd excellent lager from the likes of Marble, Anarchy Brew Co and Cloudwater Brew Co last year, I feel that my lager quest has now truly begun. Don’t get me wrong, I shall still be consuming my fair share of IPAs and APAs, but I am determined to scale my wall of prejudices this year too. I would encourage you to do the same, whether it be with lager, saison or sour beers (or whatever), talk to your bottle shop or the staff in your pub and ask them to help you push your boundaries and stretch your horizons. Over the past couple of years I have grown to love sours, not least with the help of the terrifically knowledgeable team at the Free Trade Inn who have introduced me to sours properly (don't miss their excellent annual Sours Festival) and encouraged me to try more along the way. What’s the worst that can happen? There’s always another beer out there after all.
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