Wednesday 20 February 2013

Great Heck`s Citra 4.5%


One of my favourite producers of fine ales over the past few months and delighted to see them with increasing frequency around the steel city. Great Heck seem to appear a heck of a lot at The Harlequin which suits me fine and makes the trip on the 53 well worthwhile. I liked this one with a drinkable ABV and striking green eye-catching pump clip. No prizes for guessing the main hop. Nice.
Mike`s Score - 7.5 Danny's Score - 7

Steel City`s Corrosion of Conformity (Rum and Raisin IPA)


Very happy to stumble across this brew in The Harlequin on Nursery Street. I`d heard that Steel City Steel City Brewing were not going to be making ale very often now (one of the brewers has emigrated to Wales, I believe) so I was pleasantly surprised to see this on the bar in one of my favourite establishments on a Monday afternoon. Although Steel City have been one of my preferred brewers over the last couple of years, I didn`t sample this IPA until last in a short session(going with less ABV offerings first) as I feared that it might blow away my taste buds for a fair bit. Also Rum and Raisin didn`t really appeal to me but I always like to try Steel City`s `leftfield` delights. You don`t see them about too often although Shakespeare`s and Rutland are occasionally lucky enough to stock them as is bottom Welly (though never seen them there). I`d never really had a Red IPA and this one was memorable. At 5.8%, I opted for just a half as it was a Monday afternoon after all but I went back for more! A really well balanced brew in my opinion that I understand was cuckoo brewed in Staveley with the Raw team. A real treat! yum! (Also had this ale at the Derby Winter festival at the Roundhouse and it was still a belter served at gravity).
Mike`s Score - 9 (I want more, now!) Danny`s Score - 8