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‘The full Boar crew’ brut dry IPA at 6.2% from Hillstown Brewery in Randalstown, N Ireland  IPA was the first style of craft beer I ever tried, back when I considered anything with the word Ale to be the drink of choice for old codgers in the North of England. With age comes wisdom & IPA as my gateway to the world of craft is still a favourite of mine. Hillstown latest bottled beer (been available on draught since Sept 18) is brewed in the dry champagne style for which it shares the name, Brut  It’s an IPA that has such strength & depth of flavour that it would take 3/4 similar IPA’s from lesser craft producers to compare to the mouth feel of this one. In fact it tastes like you may have already had a few of these after draining only half the pint. That is of course a compliment, not so much a result of the strength but the generous Hop count
Although the super dry style is on trend, which is a term expected from the hipsters, my personal preference means I remain a Squealing Pig fan. Full Boar is a full beer & I’m off in search of a second opinion, by that I mean a pint on draught The beer sampled was provided courtesy of Hillstown Brewery. No reward, financial or otherwise was offered for review
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 Sour beer, oh dear! It always strikes me as being more of an acquired taste than even that famous Irish porter ever was, to me at least. I have tried maybe three didn’t flavours from three different breweries and I’m not a fan, even in the slightest Dilemma is, I’m a fan of Hillstown Breweries other beers. So when I was offered the opportunity to sample this new release I was keen to be involved and conscious of my New Year resolution from 1997, ‘try new things’ That’s how I find myself staring at a pint of The Blueberry Badger Parade 1st sip - I don’t like this 2nd sip - see above.. 3-24 - internal battle And then it was done  By the end of the glass there is something strangely moreish about this sour, the tartness which i found almost overpowering at the beginning has somewhat mellowed to be more of a side effect on the palate as the blueberry begins to burst through.
I’m beginning to think sours may have a place on my bar, possibly as an intro beer before introducing something a little easier to sustain over a session. That may seem dismissive to some, but it’s a major leap from my previous stance on this type of beer Weighing in at 3.5% this is a lower ABV sour but that shouldn’t be misread as weak, it certainly isn’t. The blueberry & gin soaked juniper berries ensure It has a full vibrant flavour Well done Hillstown! You may have just converted me. *my bottle of beer was kindly provided by Hillstown Brewery! No reward, financial or otherwise was offered or implied for a favourable review* *if I thought it was shit, I would have said so |
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