BEER: Little Creatures Single Batch East Kent Goldings Ale
They do good things over at Little Creatures, crafting the sort of interesting, masterful brews that I want to drink. The cellar door is a heap of fun if you’re in Freo too. More power to them.
As for this beer? It absolutely hits the spot. Says everything it says it would, the back label’s description that essentially calls it ‘sessionable’ (to use a Bennieism) without being soft. A mild, dry, lightly earthy style, if a little sweaty, built on medium bitterness and weighing in at just 4.5% alc.
Entirely drinkable beer without pandering to the boredom of the lager style. Yes.
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3 Comments
This is okay (2.75/5 for me), and less obviously a "Little Creatures" beer than some of their other single batch brews, but I found it a little too hard on the palate to be really convincing as an English-style ale (and certainly didn't taste Kentish). It's sort of in an odd spot with respect to its idiom. I think I preferred the India Pale Ale (3.25/5), even if it did taste a bit "Little Creatures" (nothing too wrong with that though).
Have you ever tried Fuller's London Porter? Find it if you haven't. Best new beer I've tried for ages (well, at least a year). I bought all the stock I could when I found it, and have shared it around – everyone loves it. Have 500mL of that in a nice pint glass and you'll be pretty happy. I'm even prepared to say that it's better than Fuller's ESB – though only just. Everyone needs to drink more real English ale!!
"Sessionable" is a pretty common word among the beer community isn't it? "Sessional" also pretty common. Not sure of the difference though … I probably use "sessional" more.
MichaelC
Will hunt down the Fuller's Porter. If it's anything like the Harviestoun Old Engine Oil Porter then I think it'll be my bag.
As for 'sessionable' that's just a running line with Mr Bennie, who's no fan of 'fruity' beers (like Little Creatures Pale).
Nothing like the Harviestoun, which I don't really think a porter per se (it's a good beer in its own right though). The London Porter aims to be like the original porters of the 1700s or whenever it was. It's not a ridiculously heavy, bitterly roasted sort of think. It's ultra-smooth. You'll love it!!
I'm with Mike then. No fan of 'fruity' beers either, unless it's that tension between fruity yeast and dry savoury finish that the best Tripels achieve, or the fruity quality of a top Weizen.
MichaelC