BEER BOX SET CLUB SUBSCRIPTION NOTES
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Issue 67 - APRIL BEER BOX SET CLUB NOTES
Ponderings:
The first Bank Holiday of the year... And it's the longest one. That's a win on both fronts! Am not mentioning the weather as every time I do it changes...
Your box this month is celebrations, collaborations and comparisons.
Celebrations & Collaboarations - International Women's Day brews and Anspach and Hobday turning 12...
Comparisons - A DDH and a Dark Ale from Abyss. And some super items from Utopian.
Enjoy the month and we'll see some of you soon.
Anspach & Hobday | The Big Top Bitter | 4.3% 440ml
Anspach & Hobday say...
"The Big Top Bitter (4.3%) - Brewed with whole cone East Kent Goldings hops, Big Top Bitter is a rich and complex beer pairing dark berry and fruitcake aromas with caramel and biscuit notes from the malt. Produced to mark the 12th anniversary of Anspach & Hobday, this extraordinary Bitter showcases the best of traditional British ingredients."
We love these guys. The fact that their London Black has challenged The Black Stuff in indies everywhere is fabulous. It's lovely drop usually in our fridges. But this is all about the Bitter. Gareth loves a Best Bitter. Sparkled if possible but that's a contentious issue! This was brewed for A&H's 12 Birthday. We remember supping their beers on cask at various South London juicers including the delightful Sylvan Post in Forest Hill once owned by the excellent Antic pub group. This is a fabulous beer. It punches above its weight and pours and tastes more like a stronger ESB (Extra Special Bitter) which usually hits around 5.5%. It's a rich one and would go well with your Easter Sunday Roast and some Chas and Dave, well why not?
Verdant Brewing | Headband | Pale Ale | 5.5% 440ml
Verdant Brewing say...
"The use of dual yeast strains brings both a clean crispness to the finish and juicy peach aromatics. A touch of medium crystal and some superstar hops results in a satisfyingly orange hue that marries up to strong orange citrus notes.
Headband has come a long way since its inception, but still retains the original hop bill of Mosaic, Citra, Chinook and Columbus. These days, it’s a beautifully hoppy beast with a big tropical nose and a hint of dankness to balance out the flavours. One factor which is often overlooked, though, is the malt bill. The use of Munich and Crystal malts have given Headband the burnt orange shade of a sunset, and sweet caramel vibes to accompany the candied pineapple flavours. We’re so excited to bring this OG back, and we hope you are too."
A legendary beer from Verdant. The first truly Orange Hazy beer maybe? Beer went through a phase when it was all orange a few years ago. But this is a balanced orange beer. It's so good. Balanced with a delicious bitterness. All the hop character and still with that Verdant Yeast BOOM! Which really helps the hops come through. This is part of an annual series where Verdant Bring back old classics. We were so pleased to get a case. But alas the keg flew so we couldn't grab one. It's the first Verdant beer we really fell in love with. We hope you feel the same. It's the perfect beer for a Friday night curry, and some Friday night Chugg...that's a style of music, for those that don't know. See ALFOS on Bandcamp.
COMPARE AND CONTRAST - LIGHT VERSES DARK
Abyss Brewing | Equinox | DDH Pale | 5.5% 440ml
Abyss Brewing say...
"Savour Spring with a celestial Haze for lighter times and liberated minds."
Abyss Brewing | Equinox Cascadian Dark Ale | 5.5% 440ml
Abyss Brewing say...
"Bridging the seasons this deep shadow of an ale packs a bright hopped surprise."
Although the beers aren't the same, far from it, different hopping schedule, different hops, different grain bill, we thought they should be drunk together as they are a perfectly suited pair. Abyss fly out of the fridges and on tap for us, so when we saw this double release we were super happy. We called them and found out they were being canned on Thursday. Yes, the day the Beer Box is ready for collection - Yes, we know, this is late!
So, these arrived fresh off the canning line in Lewes to be popped in the box, so no chance for us to taste them either. And we love a Black IPA! Expect excellent Abyssness though. Sure to be a couple of crackers. Maybe time it so you have the Light just before Sundown and the Dark just after? Perhaps tune the music too - The Orb Little Fluffy Clouds, with some light spicy snacks. Followed by The Orb UFOrb and some dark chocolate perhaps?
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY COLLABORATION BREWS
Merakai Brewing x IWD | Espresso For My Depresso | Coffee Stout | 5.4% 440ml
Merakai Brewing say...
"Brewed for International Women's Collaboration Brew Day, this cocktail-inspired stout uses 10 different grains to create a smooth chocolate and caramel base beer, which is then infused with Madagascan Vanilla beans and Edgcumbes Italian Blend coffee beans. The resulting beer gives deep chocolate and caramel notes with a smooth creamy body. Vegan"
Another beer that was literally flown in by Olly The Brewer. It wasn't really flown in because their brewery is only on Warwick Street, yes, right in the middle of Worthing Town Centre! In their bar The Tasting Rooms. They have snuck a 400 litre kit in a room at the back. They hosted an International Women's Collaboration Brew Day on 8 March - International Women's Day. Gemma went and had a hoot. It was hosted by Emma and Olly, owners of Merakai. And they made this Espresso Stout. We have yet to try it as timing was tight to get it in the box. Olly is really happy with it. We can't wait to try it. AND LOOK AT THE CAN...so, yes, some dark chocolate, or a brownie and something joyous like Fine Day by Opus 3, Or Chime by Orbitol. And a Big Ole kitchen disco!
Polly's Brew Co | Root and Stem - IWD2026 | DDH Pale Ale | 5.7% 440ml
Polly's Brew Co say...
"Our participation in the annual International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day is a given at this point, and a highlight in the early part of our calendar for the year. Celebrating and elevating the wonderful women who form the backbone of our industry, we’re now on our sixth iteration of this incredible multi-national collaborative brew - this year’s theme being that of Belonging.
Reaching out to influencer Nina “hoptilidrop” Taylor and champion for all things independent brewing Della Hyde, both of whom were instrumental in the recipe and label design on this beer, we invited their knowledge as well as the knowledge of the incredible women of our taproom Polly’s Social and close friends of the brewery for a brewday that yielded the magnificent Root & Stem.
A DDH Pale Ale positively packed to the nines with in-house favourites Galaxy, Citra and Idaho-7, alongside a brand new to Polly’s hop variety in Anchovy, developed by Segal Ranch hop farm in Washington State. The result is a soft, pillowy pale ale that pushes the boundaries of pale ale strength, punching toward IPA territory with raspberry, boiled fruit sweets, fresh cut citrus fruits, and pineapple with a mellow piney bitterness underneath."
COMPARE AND CONTRAST - LAGER, LAGER
Utopian | Rainbock 2026 | Maibock Lager | 7% 440ml
Utopian say...
"Rainbock is a Maibock-style beer, brewed as a celebration of spring and for new beginnings, much like a rainbow after a storm. Brewed in the depts of winter and matured for 100 days, we use a traditional decoction mash to develop rich and complex flavors from the malts. A generous addition of British hops gives the beer balance and even more character. A beer to be gently savoured. "
Utopian | Regenerator | Dopplebock Lager | 7.5% 440ml
Utopian say...
"Brewed with a double decoction mash and lagered for 10 weeks, our Dopplebock has a luxurious body, a complex aroma of bread crust and dark fruits with a warming finish."
To finish this month's Beer Box Set Club we're going big. Two BIG Lagers. Two very different lagers. One, the Rainbock is the beer that made Jude realise he actually liked lagers, well this one anyway. Both have had extensive lagering times. The Rainbock is brewed to celebrate the change in season. Brewed in winter and lagered (stored) until spring. It's joyous beer rich and complex, just a treat really. Great with some pretzels, German or Swiss cheese.
The Doppelbock we have yet to try. We did recently have the Burning Sky Doppelbock on tap. As a style it's rich and boozy, a bit like a fruit cake. A treat with some blue cheese or equivalent.
Both can be enjoyed with German or British Electronica.
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