Golden Monkey

Brewery: Victory Brewing Company

Supplier: Beer Hawk

Another from this famous Pennsylvanian brewery, this one being a core beer but one that is quite strong. It's their version of a Belgian Tripel and thus comes in at quite a high percentage. I served this chilled.

Appearance: A thick gold colour with orange tinges, very opaque. The head is slightly off white, but thins out to nothing - though I didn't follow the instructions of pour vigerously. 

Aroma: Initially, loads of banana when the can was opened. This is a bit more understated after a bit, with lots of the classic Belgian spicy esters coming through with the sweet malt. 

Flavour: A slight but sharp tartness on the front initially but this dies down to a sweetness. 

Body: It's got some body in it as you would expect with a high alcohol beer. Still got a little bit of carbonation which is good.

Aftertaste: Lots of complexities in the afternote with lots of hop notes, and lots of melow mellon and spices complex. 

Overall: Therefore this gets a rating of 7, what I would imagine an American Tripel to be like, a low-medium level of the typical esters, coupled with some refreshing American hops.

Price Range: Another of the Mystery box, so about £1.50 for a 355ml can; absolutely fantastic price and I would definitely get it again for that price, though I don't think you will ever see it that low by itself.

Food Pairings: Mussels. With a nice spicy broth with chilli and lemongrass. The muskiness from the mussels would go well with the complex ester notes.

Vetlebror (Littlebro)

Brewery: Ægir Bryggeri

Supplier: Beer52

Based out of a brewpub in a little village in Norway this brewery has grown substantially since it opened in 2007. They have a wide range that they sell in cans, but these cans are unique as they have a top that is completely removed. This is one of their core range, a sessionable IPA. Marketed in the UK as Littlebro the original name is Vetlebror. I served this chilled.

Appearance: Pale but with a deep gold colour to the centre. The head is slightly off-white and of medium thickness, but thins to a fine but complete layer. 

Aroma: Prety much no aroma at all, there are some very faint traces of hops but that is about it. 

Flavour: Crisp malt and refreshing citrus hops.

Body: Very crisp on the front with a nice smooth bit of body and carbonation in the back. Very refreshing and satisfying 

Aftertaste: Some slight tartness from the hops leading into a slight hoppy bitterness.

Overall: Therefore this gets a rating of 5, I can see this being very popular for drinking outdoors on a sunny day, but there is nothing that stands out and more of a pale ale.

Price Range: Another from the box of 8 for £24 - so £3 for a 330ml bottle, not worth it for this price but if I saw it for lower I would get a few for everyday drinking beers. And probably a good price in Norway.

Food Pairings: Seeing as it is from Norway I would have to go with some salty white fish,  maybe on some rye bread.

Stone Cali-Belgique IPA

Brewery: Stone Brewing

Supplier: Brewdog Dundee Bottledog

This is from a San Diego based brewery that I had the fortune to visit while I was out there a few years ago, and I'm sure I had this beer whilst I was here. Whilst this is a San Diego based brewery, I think this was brewed in their Berlin based facility. This is one of their regular beers, and is a Belgian style IPA - one of my favourite styles - using Magnum, Centennial & Chinook hops. What I like about this sight is that they have a "fresh for" time, and for this one it is 120 days; as this one was brewed 89 days ago it's well in date. I served this chilled.

Appearance: The colour is slightly more vibrant than the picture suggests. When it's in the glass it has a nice rich, slightly opaque, golden colour; but when pouring it looks more like a livid yellow. The head is a thin pure white head that fades leaving a nice lacing. 

Aroma: There is a nice musky orange note, with a giving a funk reminise of oranges that are turning bad. There are also some of the classic belgian esters. This sounds bad but actually works really well for this beer.

Flavour: Initially a sweet, slightly sugary, malt. This is immediately followed by an intense orange and resin hop note. 

Body: Really full bodied on the front followed by a dry back 

Aftertaste: The hop note seems to develope into a more mature note of dried orange peel, cloves, and a little medicinal note - the hallmark of Belgian beers. There is also a slight underlying sharp sweetness. 

Overall: Therefore this gets a rating of 8, whilst Belgian beers aren't my favourite this was an excellent version of the style. Lots of flavour but really easy to drink.

Price Range: £3.33 (usually £3.50) for a 330ml can, fantastic price.

Food Pairings: A beer like this would cut through fatty foods like cheese so I'm going to pair it with what I had when I visited the brewery - Macaroni and Cheese.

True Blonde Ale

Brewery: Ska Brewing

Supplier: Brewdog Dundee Bottledog

This is another from Ska brewing, this one being one of their flagship pale ales and made with honey gathered from bees local to the breweries town of Durango - supplied by a company called Honeyville. I served this chilled.

Appearance: Pale yellow, thin when held to the light. The head is pure white and quite large, but thins.

Aroma: Typical beer yeast notes with some resin and iron notes.

Flavour: Quite a simple pale note, leading into a slight green hoppy note and a hint of fruit. 

Body: Thin but not too thin, just the way a pale ale should be; very refreshing as well

Aftertaste: The afternote seems to fall into a more traditional British yeast note, with a little yeasty bitterness.

Overall: Therefore this gets a rating of 5, quite a nice simple pale, more like a British ale, though I couldn't detect any honey notes in it.

Price Range: £2.19 (usually £2.30) for a 330ml can; probably about right for what it is, I wouldn't go out my way for it, but I would be happy with it.

Food Pairings: Simple beer so a simple food - a toasted cheese sandwich.

Black House

Brewery: Modern Times Beer

Supplier: Beer52

I first saw this brewery when it came up on Kickstarter, which allowed them to build their brewery. This is one of their 4 core range beers, which are all canned, and is an oatmeal stout brewed with coffee (75% Ethiopian • 25% Sumatran) which they roast themselves. I served this chilled.

Appearance: Black with brown edges when held to the light, with a steady stream of bubbles. The head is a rust tan colour, but thin and short lived.

Aroma: Burnt toast and coffee notes of the berry variety, there is also quite a cereal-esq note.

Flavour: Those strong berry-like coffee notes right on the front, but with none of the bitter notes that are ususally associated. In the back there are some burnt toast notes. Quite heavy at first but they lighten up with some drinking.

Body: I thought that this was going to be really fizzy but it's not, it is perfect, with an amazing mouthfeel.

Aftertaste: The coffee notes become a little sharper making it a little fresher feeling rounding it off. There is a little clinginess lingering there though. 

Overall: Therefore this gets a rating of 8, the mouthfeel makes this exceptional, and coupled with some simple but well crafted coffee and roasted flavour.

Price Range: £3.14 (usually £3.30) for a 473ml (1 US Pint) can, a great price for a very nice beer, especially as a end of dinner beer.

Food Pairings: As I said before, I think this would be great after dinner beer; so something like a light cream/pastry dessert, maybe something like a Sicilian Cannolo.

Pivo Pils

Brewery: Firestone Walker Brewing Company

Supplier: Brewdog Dundee Bottledog

From the famed Firestone walker brewery, this is one of their core "Lion & Bear" beers - a hoppy pilsner. Using a traditional pilsner base, but dry hopping with west coast hops - Magnum, Spalter, and Saphir. I served this chilled.

Appearance: A pale yellow with a slight hint of gold. The head is medium, but very airy, and pure white; it fades quickly.

Aroma: A bit metallic on the front with a hint of hoppy resin in the back.

Flavour: A little butyric acid on the front, with some pale malt in the back.

Body: I can't really tell as the carbonation is overpowering.

Aftertaste: No flavour in the back, but it does become quite refreshing. 

Overall: Therefore this gets a rating of 2, more towards being unpleasant to drink, disappointing from such a well renowned brewery.

Price Range: £2.46 (normally £2.60) for a 355ml can, any price isn't great.

Food Pairings: Anything really, it's just non-descript. Probably good with a curry.

Cannonball

Brewery: Magic Rock Brewing

Supplier: Brewdog Dundee Bottledog

This is one of the core beers from the famous Magic Rock Brewing. The style is a quite strong IPA made using 6 different hops; Amarillo, Centennial, Citra, Columbus, Magnum, and Simcoe - self described hop bomb. I served this chilled.

Appearance: An opaque pale brown ale with a medium and quickly fading white head. 

Aroma: A little off in the front, but then turns into something like sticking your head in a bucket of hops.

Flavour: A thick decent malt on the front followed by a large, sweet resiny hop profile with tropical and lychee notes.

Body: Quite thick, like you would expect for an IPA this strength. 

Aftertaste: Initially it is intensely perfumy from the hops, but this turns into a dank hoppy note with drinking. This is mixed with some cereal and grassy notes, with a little seaweed. 

Overall: Therefore this gets a rating of 6, very hoppy and quite an easy drinker, but not too sessionable.

Price Range: £3.09 (normally £3.25) for a 330ml can, not a bad price, but maybe a little on the steep side.

Food Pairings: I had this with a tomato and pepper soup, the intense hops seemed to work quite well with the vinegar and umami notes.

Gose To Hollywood

Brewery: To Øl

Supplier: Brewdog Dundee Bottledog

Another from To Øl, this is their sour Gose. Like all gose's this is made using salt, but it's also made using California oranges. This one is brewed and bottled at the De Proef Brouweru in Belgium. I served this chilled.

Appearance: Pale and slightly orange, and slightly opaque. The is also a thin but lasting pure white head. 

Aroma: Orange and a little funky, maybe my imagination, but it smells a little like the sea. 

Flavour: Sour on the front, with some saltiness, then some faint orange notes.

Body: Refreshing, but a little too fizzy. 

Aftertaste: The orange notes turn to a more tropical notes, particularly passion fruit. After the sourness, it turns a lot juicier. However, the tropical notes start to fade with drinking

Overall: Therefore this gets a rating of 8, I love sour beers and this is a fine example, with lots of lovely tropical notes that give a sweetness to complement the salt and sour. Would have been a 9 if the tropical notes didn't fade.

Price Range: £3.71 (normally £3.90) for a 500ml can, a great price for a great beer.

Food Pairings: A nice light white risotto.

Grunion

Brewery: Ballast Point

Supplier: Brewdog Dundee Bottledog

Another from Ballast Point, this is one of their core range but only sold in bottles & cans and is described as a hoppy pale ale. This one was designed as a homebrew by one of their staff using two relatively new hop varieties, American Mosaic & Calypso. They've won two awards in recent years; Gold at the 2014 Great American Beer Festival, and Silver at the 2015 Best of Craft Beer Awards. I served this chilled.

Appearance: Golden with a slightly amber hue and a reasonable clarity. The head is an orange hued white of medium thickness that fades as an average speed. 

Aroma: A bit soapy with a hint of hops. 

Flavour: A lot nicer than the nose, on the front there is orangey hops, with a hint of it becoming orange juice, then some mango on the back. There are also some very soft floral notes.

Body: A decent medium body, but a little too fizzy. 

Aftertaste: The soft mango notes come through, but there is also a little soap from the nose. 

Overall: Therefore this gets a rating of 6, despite the soapy note (that does fade) it's really nice and enjoyable drink and very close to a 7.

Price Range: £3.81 (normally £4.00) for a 355ml can, more expensive than I think it is worth - I think under £3.

Food Pairings: Something quite light, like a thin crust plain margarita pizza.

Revival

Brewery: Moor Beer Company

Supplier: Beer52

Part of their everyday favourite range, this is their pale ale brewed to celebrate the revival of the brewery. It's made with 5 different malts, including lager and wheat malts, and uses American hops and yeast. Between 2007 and 2013 this beer won no less than 14 awards. I served this chilled.

Appearance: A pale straw to golden colour, slightly opaque, with a thick white head that thins but still remains.

Aroma: Toffee, some citrus hops, and a little bit of musk.

Flavour: Not too much in flavour at all, a mild note of undistinguished malt and hops forming a weak, but lighter, version of a classic bitter.

Body: Reasonable body, great carbonation, and very refreshing to drink.

Aftertaste: A little piney, quite nice, and with some other hoppy notes. 

Overall: Therefore this gets a rating of 3, not much like a American pale ale, more like a light bitter, quite weak and flavourless but refreshing.

Price Range: Another from the box of 10 for £14, so £1.40 for a 330ml can; and OK price, but I wouldn't get it again.

Food Pairings: Could be paired with most things without much flavour, I would suggest barbequed chicken drumsticks.

Eternal

Brewery: Northern Monk

Supplier: St Andrews Wine Company

A Leeds based brewery that started in 2013, with inspiration for their brand coming from the monks of Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire, with their base of operations in a listed mill. This is their sessionable IPA, which is designed to mimic the big hop notes of the US IPAs. I served this chilled.

Appearance: A rich golden ale, slightly opaque, with straw colours coming through when held to the light. The head is white and average, but fades fast leaving only a trace.

Aroma: Loads of mango and quite a bit of pineapple, hop resin in the back.

Flavour: A nice sugar note on the front, but with a freshness from the hops. The wave of indistinct hoppy notes then follows. 

Body: Light, perfect for this style, and with the perfect amount of carbonation.

Aftertaste: These hop notes intensify in the aftertaste and couple with a floury/cereal note, and a slight grassy bitterness.

Overall: Therefore this gets a rating of 6, a very fresh and enjoyable beer, if not a little usual.

Price Range: £2.50 for a 330ml can; about right, that's all I can say really.

Food Pairings: I think this would go with a salty but more umami snack, such as seaweed or kale chips.

Heart & Soul

Brewery: Vocation Brewery

Supplier: Beer52

This is a brewery set up earlier this year by the same guy who set up Blue Monkey brewery. This is one of what they call their Launch beer, with this being their sessionable IPA, made with a range of american hops found in the iconic West Coast IPAs. I served this straight from the fridge.

Appearance: A pale straw colour with hints of gold. There is a medium white head that thins but remains throughout.

Aroma: Resin and grapefruit hop notes, with hints of malt and perfume in the back.

Flavour: A front of lots of resin notes, turning to a hoppy bitterness on the back. There are also distinct cereal notes in the back.

Body: Refreshing and quite light, but with a chalky texture on the back.

Aftertaste: Lots of dry hoppy bitterness.

Overall: Therefore this gets a rating of 4, nice, drinkable, and refreshing - but nothing special.

Price Range: The last from the box that had 8 for £14 - so £1.75 for a 330ml can; about right for what it is.

Food Pairings: The notes are plain but there are lots of hoppy notes, so something simple but with a bit of strength, such as macaroni and cheese.

Lucky Jack

Brewery: Lervig Aktiebryggeri

Supplier: Beer52

This is an American style pale ale that is brewed by a large Norwegian brewery (that also brews some of Evil Twins stuff). This pale ale is unfiltered and unpasteurised, and it is brewed with three different American hops - Amarillo, Chinook and Citra. I served this chilled.

Appearance: An orangy-straw colour, opaque, and with a thin and fading off-white head.

Aroma: A faint hint of hop resin with some citrus notes. 

Flavour: The front is absent of flavour. Sweet and with some strong notes of lemon iced tea and hop resin in the back. 

Body: There is a substantial body, but it is still refreshing. It looks like the carbonation is too much, but it's a nice level. 

Aftertaste: The aftertaste is just the fading continuation of the back flavours. 

Overall: Therefore this gets a rating of 7, close to a 6, but a nice refreshing ale with some nice iced tea notes.

Price Range: Another from the box that had 8 for £14 - so £1.75 for a 330ml can; a good price for a nice sessionable drink, plus it's in a can.

Food Pairings: A nice salty bagel with cream cheese, maybe some heavy vegetable on top.

Amber Ale

Brewery: Fourpure Brewing Co

Supplier: Flavourly

Another London based brewery set up in 2013. This is one of their core range, obviously it is an amber ale. It is based on the amber ales that they had in Colorado. This beer is flavoured with Willamette hops, I served this chilled.

Appearance: A browner amber colour with a medium cream coloured head. 

Aroma: Metallic with some hop notes, a very very faint hint of roasted notes. 

Flavour: Lots of berry notes mixed with a load of roasted chocolate notes. 

Body: Medium body but with a bit too much carbonation. 

Aftertaste: There is the berry notes but they sort of turn into that artificial note that you get in children's berry flavoured medicine, a little chalky. 

Overall: Therefore this gets a rating of 6, would have been a 7 if it weren't for the slightly disappointing aftertaste. The flavours aren't the usual.

Price Range: Part of the box of 8 beers was £12, making it £1.50 for a 330ml can; a good price, it's worth getting for something a little bit different.

Food Pairings: The classic combo is berries and chocolate; so I would say a chocolate mouse would go well with it, preferably dark chocolate and not too heavy.

Neck Oil

Brewery: Beavertown Brewery

Supplier: Honest Brew

The last of the Honest Brew box. Part of their core range, this is their sessionable IPA. It is made with a simple base, but with lots of late addition hops with about eight different varieties used. I served this chilled.

Appearance: Hazy, and a pale straw colour. The head is medium and white, it thins but lingers. 

Aroma: Lots of hop resin mixed in with peach and white sugar notes. 

Flavour: Mainly cereal notes coupled with a little flour. There aren't many hop notes in, especially for the amount that is in the nose. 

Body: Light, but not that light. It makes it seem more of a substantial drink. 

Aftertaste: The aftertaste is just the same cereal notes. 

Overall: Therefore this gets a rating of 6, it is what it says, a nice sessionable IPA, but that is it.

Price Range: The last from the box 6 beers for £9, so this worked out as £1.50 for a 330ml can; a good price and worth getting for something like a party.

Food Pairings: The refreshing simplicity of this would go with something spicy like mexican food.

Hipster Ale

Brewery: Evil Twin Brewing

Supplier: Beer52

Evil Twin Brewing is another gypsy brewer, just like his twin who started Mikkeller, except this twin is based in both the USA and Denmark. This is their Pale ale made in the Two Roads Brewing Co. I served this chilled.

Appearance: Thick slightly-off-white head that lasts for quite a while. A large stream of 

Aroma: Lots of hop resin notes with a hint of acidic malt in the back. 

Flavour: Hop resin notes in the front followed by a sweet mix of citrus hops and malt. 

Body: Refreshing but not light, and nicely carbonated. It becomes a bit dry at the back

Aftertaste: A hoppy bitterness that grows, almost becoming too much, there is a little hint of soapy hops though that goes but bites back. 

Overall: Therefore this gets a rating of 4, nice but a standard hoppy pale note, well executed apart from that soapy note at the end. Not as good as his brothers ones so far.

Price Range: Part of the box of 10 I got for £14 (usually £29), so it works out at £1.40 for a 330ml can, a good price for a nice beer.

Food Pairings: Probably a lot of things, mainly things with cheese; because I have a craving for them I would say Jalapeño poppers.

Faceless Spreadsheet Ninja

Brewery: Weird Beard Brew Co.

Supplier: Kris Wines

A seasonal brew from Weird Beard, it's a pilsner brewed in honour of their desk jockey, designed and overseen by him. This is a German pilsner brewed with lots of Citrus. I served this chilled.

Appearance: A burnished gold colour. There is a white head but that goes in a matter of seconds leaving behind only a trace

Aroma: Peach and pepper hop notes with a lot of malt.

Flavour: Slight citrus and peach hop notes, not much malt in it but an underlying sweetness. 

Body: Slightly light body, perfect for this type of beer. 

Aftertaste: A slightly unpleasant herbal taste, but that only goes and is replaced with a citrus hop note. There is also a slight note of plastic, not unpleasant though, just a bit odd. 

Overall: Therefore this gets a rating of 5, but only just as there are some odd notes in it.

Price Range: £2.50 for a 330ml can, not bad but not quite worth it for this price.

Food Pairings: Something like a nice light turkey burger with a nice malty bun would be great, not too strong a meat like red meat.

Wild Goose Chase

Brewery: Wild Beer Co.

Supplier: Kris Wines

This beer is made using a Saison base and fermented with Wild Beer Co's trademark wild yeast, I've seen it listed both as a sour ale and a saison but I think it airs more towards the saison style. This beer is made more complex by the addition of Gooseberries. I served this chilled.

Appearance: A pale straw colour that is slightly opaque. There is a thin white head the dissipates quickly. 

Aroma: Some very hoppy notes more towards the grassy side with some citrus in.

Flavour: There are much less hop notes in the flavour with followed by some fruitiness and a little tartness. 

Body: Quite thin like with should be but then leaves your mouth feeling a bit rubbery 

Aftertaste: The malt notes seem to come into play here but they aren't great and taste like weak cereal, there is also a very weak but definitely present note of burnt plastic. 

Overall: Therefore this gets a rating of 4, I had high hopes for this one but it turns out it is just a plain beer the is reasonably nice.

Price Range: £2.99 for a 330ml can, too much for what it is especially as you can get other, more flavourful beers from this brewery at the same price.

Food Pairings: Something with a delicate flavour such as white fish with minimal additional flavours.

Torpedo Extra IPA

Brewery: Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

Supplier: Beers of Europe

This is Sierra Nevada's year round IPA. Named as it is the first beer to use their Hop Torpedo, a dry-hopping device that they invented. I served this chilled.

Appearance: Pale with an orange hue, the head is a medium off-white that fades.

Aroma: Very hoppy with citrus and lyche, hints of roasted notes in the back.

Flavour: Nice hoppy notes but with some slightly soapy hoppy bitter notes.

Body: Fairly smooth body with a chewiness on the back.

Aftertaste: Quite clean with some hints of bitter hop.

Overall: Therefore this gets a rating of 7, a very nice and clean hoppy IPA.

Price Range: £3.29 for a 473ml can, good price for a nice beer.

Food Pairings: Something very garlicy, maybe like a creamy pasta.

Euphoria Pale Ale

Brewery: Ska Brewing

Supplier: Beers of Europe

Brewed during the winter along with a neighboring company "Venture Snowboards". This is a pale ale is made with lots of caramel malts, and hops providing a grapefruit hop aroma and flavor. I served this chilled.

Appearance: Not really pale more of an amber/brown colour with a short lived off-white head.

Aroma: Huge sweet resin notes, coupled with peach and raisin notes.

Flavour: Lots of grapefruit like hop notes with a sweet caramel malt note

Body: A bit too sticky but with a great carbonation level.

Aftertaste: A little hoppy bitterness with some spicy alcohol notes and a little bit of soap.

Overall: Therefore this gets a rating of 6, nice but there are some overpowering flavours, manly the alcohol notes, making not sessionable.

Price Range: £2.59 for a 355ml can, an OK price for this beer.

Food Pairings: I don't know if this is just a craving but I think this would go well best with mash potato of sausages.