Brewskie
In 5: Refreshing, Crisp, Cheap, Golden, Tasty
“Is it pronounced Sisk or Chisk?” we asked the lovely Maltese waitress, “Sisk, Chisk, however you want to say it” was the helpful reply. Turns out service isn’t high on the list of priorities in Malta, eating and more importantly drinking beer are very high. On a previous trip to Malta we had a seat on the captain’s bridge of the Malta – Gozo ferry, on the way back we sat in the bar and tried to keep up with our Maltese guide drinking cans of Cisk like they were water. His goal was to drink a can for every 10 minutes of the journey. Our struggles just made him smile.
Everywhere you go in Malta you will see signs for Cisk, outside bars and cafés, on billboards and on umbrellas and verandas. There is no doubting it is the Maltese beer of choice for both locals and tourists alike. Generally speaking the beer you have on holiday will often taste nicer on holiday, and when you get home you go back to your regular tipples. This is not true with Cisk, although we’ve never seen it stocked in the UK the little supply we brought back with us taste just as good this side of the Mediterranean, especially as a curry chaser (lamb tikka jalfrezi if you must know)…
It is a lovely refreshing lager with a nice crisp finish that will barely make a dent on your wallet. By the pool, at the bar, with a meal, it seems that Cisk comes out trumps in any scenario and the Maltese are very proud of this.
It is refreshing to visit a country where the local produce costs local prices and the imports cost imported prices. If only the UK would take note and support local beer!
This article is copyright © 2012
Brewskie
In 5: Refreshing, Smooth, Organic, Malty, Mellow
We picked up this funny little misshaped bottle of beer on an educational trip our local Waitrose – to see how the other side live. It is brewed on the site of a medieval hall from water they pull out of the ground on the brewery site itself, which is always nice, considering beer is pretty wet and water is by far the largest constituent ingredient. It is also organic and approved by the Soil Association… Yes, there is something called the Soil Association. Apparently the worm wasn’t so sure but the ants ganged up on him and made him vote yes and no one likes the slug so they didn’t tell him when the vote was.
Back to reality… When you get yourself one of these beers obviously the first thing that strikes you is the shape of the bottle. After drinking so many beers from round bottles we didn’t even realise the shape was like an old medicine bottle until we go it home and into the fridge. Apparently the bottle is a copy of one from Gibbstown, near Philadelphia which dates from c. 1770. There is no real explanation why they copied this exact bottle shape but who cares, it’s different and it’s pretty cool.
So enough waffle, what’s the beer like?
Well firstly it’s got a lovely amber colour to it. There is a lot going on with the aroma too, fruity with a hint of something sweet. When we finally tucked in we were thoroughly impressed with how it tasted. It’s a lovely mellow brew, which is both refreshing and smooth. It has a slight malty undertone to it and as an organic beer the flavours could be a little too strong, and although the beer occasionally borders on the wild side it is just about kept in check with a delicate balance.
This is a real easy drinker and one of the better organic ales we’ve come across. St Peter would definitely have this coming out of the taps in his Basilica if he were still around.
This article is copyright © 2012
Brewskie
In 5: Earthy, Refreshing, Easy drinker, Crafty, Blonde
We recently discovered a little micro bar (cunningly called Micro Bar) in the Manchester Arndale Centre with a healthy little stock of bottled beers as well as a few real ales on tap. It was quite a find and it’s where we picked up this little crafty bottle for a couple of quid, probably a bit over the odds from what you can get it for in the supermarket but we’d rather support the little guys where we can!
It has a belting little label with all kinds of Halloweenesque scribbles on including a wicked Wych whom perhaps subconsciously cast a ‘buy me’ spell on us, who knows…
On pouring into the bottle we were a little surprised with its colour, expecting something a little paler and blonder than the golden delight we were presented with.
The label declares it as being thrice hopped which I would imagine should give it some kind of complicated smell and flavor although we’re not so sure. It hits the tip of the tongue and has an earthy nature, but not necessarily in a bad way. It is certainly refreshing although a little dry in the aftertaste and makes for a nice easy drinker you could keep ploughing through on a big session.
If it’s a question of Wych Craft (see what we did there?!) beer to buy, although it’s nothing amazing there is nothing wrong with the Blonde Beer. It’s certainly closer to a cracking natural blonde than a fake with dark roots.
PS, it goes really well with beer battered onion rings!
This article is copyright © 2012
Brewskie
In 5: Refreshing, Light, Bland, Wet, Doggy
OK, before we even start to talk about this beer, we admit, we only bought it because of its name and unfortunately that is the level we operate on. So I suppose this review should concentrate on answering the question on everyone’s lips, is it sHite?
The label in the beer shop said it’s not, we’re not so sure!
Surprisingly for a brew coming from the well known beer capital of the world South Korea it actually starts off by hitting the Hites, but ultimately it fails to exHite. It’s refreshing and lHite and would be a wonderful compliment to a BBQ on a warm nHite – just make sure you lock up Rover if you’re inviting any of the locals around. Unfortunately though, after the initial bHite it soon loses its fizz and quickly dies leaving a rather bland and well, wet, drink that barely resembles beer at all. If you can drink it while it’s fresh on a lovely summer’s day and you’re in the pool or on the beach then yeah, it’d be a decent choice.
Probably not so great with a curry but rest assured we haven’t tested its ‘dog compatibility’!
So, is it sHite? We have to say yes, but Fido might like it.
This article is copyright © 2012
Brewskie
Many people believe that the taste of a beer should reflect the place that it originated, in this case Barnsley. Thankfully with Barnsley Gold, this is not the case. Instead, you can drink this tender brew while laughing at the audacity of the brewer to combine the words – Barnsley and Gold. Perhaps this would be a bit harsh toward the brewer however in fairness, this is the only gold that Barnsley has ever produced and as such, should be celebrated as an achievement in itself.
Perfect for a sunny day in summer, autumn, winter or spring this lovely golden brew was a breath of fresh air on our recent trip to the CAMRA pubs of Yorkshire. Anyone who ever tried eating an acorn as a child (or a student doing a dare in return for beer) will vouch for the fact that they are minging. Fortunately the good folk at Acorn Brewery used a more traditional approach to brewing beer which avoided the use of any acorns. However, much like an acorn, the Barnsley Gold grows with every mouthful into a fine and mighty pint which Jill Masterson of Goldfinger fame would be proud of. With each swig you get a hint of flavour without lingering too long on the palette. It really flew down and has refreshing qualities which leave you wanting more.
Be careful not to tell too many people about this wonderful brew, or there will be a gold rush at the bar!
This article is copyright © 2012
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