My top 5 beer connoisseurs that keep me coming back for more!!!
Back in the day, as a teen, first diving into the dizzy universe of alcohol, the first beer I set my lips upon was a cheap bottle of session supermarket lager. And I must admit, I was blindly satisfied for many years, frequently going to a local bar and blurting out "pint of bud please", overlooking the many guest ales on draught that day.
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That was until I was introduced, to what then seemed like a black, liquid gift from the gods. "pint of bud please" soon improved to "pint of Guinness" every time I hit the bars. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy a cold pint of Guinness from time to time.
Fast forward a few years, the craft beer craze has grabbed me firmly by the scruff of the neck and I've never looked back, logging onto honest brew (<<find £5 off at the bottom of this page) every week to get my hands onto the freshest beers available. Here are the 5 breweries that I always rely on.
5. Arbor Ales
There's just something very appetizing about a good beer, brewed really well! That's exactly what Arbor produce.. every time! From crisp, no nonsense, single hop IPA's, to more head spinning 7.4% oatmeal stouts, Arbor offer them all! Previously when hunting for an Arbor beer, you would stroll into your local bottle shop and keep your eyes peeled for a tall 568ml bottle of goodness. Now I'm pleased to say, they offer their beers in cans, keeping your precious beers fresher for longer, and before you wonder. Yes.. they are sill pints! For under £4 a can, I'm not sure you will get better value elsewhere.
Favorite beer: Zero Zero - Session IPA
4. Cloudwater
One of the heavyweight names on this list, Cloudwater, although slightly dropping in my rankings from last year, are still producing some smashing beers! including one of my favourite beers of this year, 'Chubbles', and yes I know this beer was a collaboration, but anyone who had anything to do with this beauty, knows what they are doing when it comes to adding hops and yeast to water. So why aren't they in my top 3? Although they are masters at producing silky smooth, fruit packed IPA's... I love a good strong stout (the weirder the better), I have found these are few and far between with Cloudwater, if anyone spots one, please point me in that direction!
Favourite beer: Chubbles - Triple IPA
3. Northern Monk
From peel-off labelled cans, and beers inspired by your grandmothers cooking, Northern Monk produce a wide range of wonderful stuff. My favourite being their patrons project range. With clever collaborations they produce some interesting beers, with insane can art that just adds to the occasion! 'Once, twice, three times a whale cool name right? this beer is the birth child from a collaboration with Northern Monk, Fin back brewery and tattoo artist James Butler. Fruity juice bombs like this, and flavourful stouts are never far away with these guys!
Favourite beer: Haze Outdoors/Haze-le-nut - Hazelnut Porter
2. Wander Beyond
"Fu#@ing hell, look at that!" was my first reaction when pouring a Wander Beyond beer, so you can imagine what insane beers these guys produce. Octopod, ill never forget, was my first ever try of a Wander Beyond beer. Its strange to think that I was in two minds as to whether or not I should buy it. After all the 12% beer I had previous to it was a big boozy car crash, I cant even remember what it was. Despite my doubts, I bit the bullet and said "stuff it, ill try one".. and I've never looked back since. Because of their modern, no nonsense, big hitting brewing style, It is often up for debate whether Wander Beyond produce beers, or alcoholic smoothies, what's my opinion? If it has hops in, its a beer, and they are delicious!
Favourite beer: Octopod - Imperial mango and passion fruit IPA
1. Wylam
And here it is, my number one pick for the best UK brewery I have tried in 2019. Wylam just do it all... extremely well! From sharp and refreshing pale ales, to fruit packed juice bombs! and that's not including a wide range of smashing stouts and porters. My favourite being the Imperial Macchiato. Its a tongue tingling, double hazelnut, praline and coffee porter, weighing in at boozy 10%abv, it is well hidden behind huge hits of coffee and brown sugar.
Wylam are based fairly local to myself, up in Tyneside. I haven't yet paid them a visit, but I will be very soon, whether its a festival, concert or a tipple in their own taproom.
Which leaves me with another reason Wylam are so good, outside of their beer, the brewery is also a venue. Organising brewery tours and hosting weddings!
Favourite beer: Imperial Macchiato - double hazelnut, praline and coffee porter
Want to try some amazing craft beers?
Wylam, along with the rest on this list, plus many-many more can be found on honestbrew, just click this link and find £5 off your first order!