Wednesday 19 August 2015

The Pale Armadillo

Brewery: Tempest Brewing Co
Supplier: Beer52

As the previous one was so bad I thought I would do another, and as I now the Tempest do do good beers (the previous one being an exception), I thought I would give them another shot tonight. This one is not designed by Beer52, only supplied, and it is one of Tempest's core range. It's there bitter pale ale hopped with Amarillo but made with local barley. I served this chilled.
Appearance: A nice light golden colour with a little opaqueness in the thicker parts of the glass. The head is thin and white, but dissipates only leaving a remanence. 
Aroma: On the nose there is huge amounts of lychee and an exotic floral note (jasmine maybe). Full of fresh fruity hop notes, and very sweet. 
Flavour: Loads of lychee in this, mingled with a variety of other tropical notes and bursts of orange peel. These flavour die and pop up independently throughout the drink, making it enjoyable each sip. 
Body: Light and refreshing but not watery, the carbonation is perfect
Aftertaste: Hints of Chinese tea notes but in a refreshing way mixed with lemon, a bit like a natural iced tea (one that's not over sweetened). A little grapefruit as well, with a nice mild hoppy bitterness. 

Overall: Therefore this gets a rating of 8, probably closer to a 7 but I love lychee notes and I'm probably overcompensating because of the previous beer. a great example of a simple and sessionable beer that hits all the buttons, a complete reverse of their Mambo Jambo that I reviewed earlier today.

Price Range: From the box of 8 for £14 - so £1.75 for a 330ml bottle; excellent price and perfect to become a standard to drink all night.

Food Pairings: Something simple but with dark roasted flavours, something like a simple beef burger.


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