Barley Davidson Barley Wine – ABV 9.7%

Insane levels of hopping and a distinctly bittersweet flavour profile; if you can resist drinking it immediately, this beer will age superbly over time.

Look: The beer pours hazy golden brown with a nice white head

Aroma: This keeps up the American tradition of making barley wines which are quite different their English counterparts and this has similarly huge flavours of resinous hops and honey.

Taste: Intense pine and citrus the hops, set against a body of dried fruit and vanilla.

Verdict:  The delciious dried fruit and vanilla will become more pronounced over time so leave it if you can. Refrigerate for 30 minutes to enjoy this beer at its best.

Food pairing: The intensity of the hops works really well with strong cheese. Try it with the sharp tang of a mature cheddar.

Skadoosh Second Verse DIPA – ABV 11%

Syrupy-sweetness combines with citrus and hops crispness – dangerously drinkable and surprisingly refreshing despite this being a  whopping 11% DIPA.

Look: The big beer pours golden orange with some foamy head

Aroma: Big resinous tones and lemon zest aroma the hops and yeast.

Taste: It’s all about the big hoppy bitterness that’s loaded with grapefruit, orange, lime and pine needles, balanced by a slightly syrupy-sweetness that makes it very drinkable.

Food Pairing: Salty fried foods are the go-to pairing for big IPAs and by adding chilli you can really take things to the next level. Try this beer with crispy deep fried chilli beef for a mouthwatering combination.

Verdict: It’s big, it’s bold – and it comes with a picture of a panda with a backwards baseball cap. What’s not to love?

Heaven & Hell Imperial Stout – ABV 11.9%

‘Heaven and Hell’ features double the amount of dark roasted malts for a boozy and creamy chocolate treat with surprisingly high levels of hoppy crispness.

Look:  Brown-black colour with a thick and foamy tan-coloured head.

Aroma: Boozy warmth and chocolate to start, fading to vanilla sweetness.

Taste: Loads of rich chocolate and floral hoppy notes – surprisingly so for such a malt-driven brew – and more vanilla. Super-full bodied and persistent which dries to bitter, crisp, finish.

Verdict: The taste is absolutely Heavenly. If you can leave it on a shelf for nine months it will become more complex and even richer – but that wait will be pretty Hellish.

Hercule Stout – ABV 8.4%

Originally billed as the ‘only self-proclaimed Belgian stout’, this beer is dry yet malty-sweet thanks to its fermentation for ten days in German oak casks.

Look: Deep brown colour with a caramel-beige head. 

Aroma: Cocoa and red fruit with some malt and bread; a clear toffee and caramel bass punctuated with spicy, fresh pine.

Taste: Rich, creamy caramel and some alcohol warmth with a hint of spicy sweetness in the finish  the yeast and fermentation in oak barrels.

Verdict: Detective Poirrot himself would be proud – this is a world classic.

DIPA with Uiltje Brewing Co – ABV 8.5%

Brewed with a plan to “chuck in a silly and irresponsible amount of hops” including Mitra, and Simcoe, this is packed with pine, fruit and alcohol warmth.

Look: Amber-orange and hazy; fine carbonation with a lasting white head.

Aroma: Pine and tropical fruits such as mango with some spiciness, and grapefruit and zesty orange undertones.

Taste: More fruit – loads of pineapple and pine, nice chewy medium-bodied bite and a dry finish.

Verdict: That ‘silly and irresponsible ‘amount of hops has churned out an unsurprisingly in-your-face DIPA. Solid, solid, stuff. 

Halycon IPA – ABV 7.4%

No less than 5 hops are used to create an IPA brimming with pineapple, lemon zest and resinous hops. 

Look: Clear gold with a nice white head.

Aroma: Lemony, herbal aroma.

Taste: Golden caramel, laced with pineapple, sharp citrus and pine. 

Verdict: Lovely bitter refreshing IPA that is perfect on a warm day sitting in the sun. 

Extra Porter – ABV 7.4%

A coffee-lovers dream, this classy Porter is infused with cacao nibs and El Limon Bourbon Guatamalen coffee beans.

Look: Dark brown with a medium beige head.

Aroma: Rich roasted malt and coffee. 

Taste: Deeply roasted malt, dark chocolate, coffee and vanilla balanced out with a little sweetness. 

Verdict: Rich, dark, complex, smooth and sophisticated. That’s enough about me, now drink this beer, because it’s absolutely wonderful.  

Brann & Sceolan IPA ABV 7.2%

BB date April 2018 but still tastes great!

An American-style IPA made with Irish malt and 5 American hop varieties. Piney, citrusy hop flavors are balanced by a full, malt backbone.

Forest for the Trees – ABV 8.6%

We’re bringing a touch of the west coast back home for this winter double IPA. Crystal and Vienna malts provide a hearty backbone and red hue, then we’ve gone all in on heavy hitting Simcoe Cascade, Centennial and Mosaic hops (including Simcoe & Mosaic Cryo® powder). Expect old school bitterness, evergreen aromas and punchy berry hop notes.

Temptation – ABV 10.0%

Temptation is a Russian Stout; a style that was exported to Imperial Russia in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Crystal malt, amber malt, black malt and roast barley in generous quantities generate a deep black colour and flavours to match. Roast bitterness, coffee and liquorice notes combine in a velvety rich malt texture. A full and sweetish body is balanced by traditional Goldings hops.