Beer Review: Kiwheat fruit beer by Cromarty Brewing

 

In the three years since launching with their delightful Happy Chappy session pale ale, Cromarty Brewing Company have built a solid reputation for producing an accessible yet flavour-packed range of beers (their Rogue Wave pale ale is a particular favourite). Although the majority of their beers are made using isinglass, Cromarty are planning to phase this out. When they do, vegan beer fans should make bottles of Cromarty a regular presence in their fridge.

New Zealand hops feature heavily among their beers, bringing big tropical and citrus notes and heaps of bittering. With such a focus of new world hops, it's hardly surprising the Black Isle-based brewery now produce a beer using kiwi fruit.

Unlike their core range, Cromarty's Kiwheat kiwi wheat fruit beer (5.2%) isn't made with isinglass, and is a must-try for all beer fans, vegan or not. It pours a warm, hazy amber, with a gentle fizz and heaps of citrus character and bitterness coming from the Waimea and Riwaka hops.

First off, it has a tart fruity hit that develops into a playful sweet and sour dance that's like a mouthful of sherbert lemons, wine gums and royal gala apples. But it's not all sharp fruit flavours (you'll find grapefruit there, too), there's an easygoing, slight biscuit, wafer feel from the wheat malts, giving the beer depth and backbone before settling into a long, slightly sour and refreshingly clean and bitter finish.

2 Craigs unstout by Cromarty Brewing

2 Craigs unstout by Cromarty Brewing (2%)

2 Craigs unstout by Cromarty Brewing

Fresh pine, resin aroma on opening bottle that was more fragrant than flowery. The hops really dominated on this one, pushing much of the maltiness to the side, as you'd expect with its mighty low ABV and unstout moniker. It poured a thick and dark, dark brown. The head left quick, though grudgingly, leaving some splendid lacing. Had some dried fruits in there too, raisins and dates. Plenty of bittering on the aftertaste. Refreshing. Minded me of driving back from Skye and stopping at the Cluanie Inn for a Sweetheart Stout.

Rogue Trader*

I got to say, Cromarty Brewing Co's Rogue Wave is one of the finest pale ales you're ever going to try. And you are going to try it. You need to.

Cromarty's Rogue Wave

What is it? It's a hop-packed IPA-style beer that pours light but packs a punch. They call it an "explicitly hopped extra pale ale". Lip-smacking hops there are aplenty.

It's a dry, fruity ale that is both sweet and tart. On the aroma, you get citrus and grapefruit, mango, grape and that crisp apple/pear smell that minds you of late summer and comes from the heavy doses of Cascade and Calypso hops. Much of that is followed through on the tasting - which was delicious. Tart and refreshing with a dash of bubblegum sweetness for balance.

Pours with a lovely dark golden colour, partially cloudy, and a clean white robust head. Texture was smooth and mild. Lovely summer beer this.

Cromarty Brewing really is one of Scotland's best brewers right now. I reviewed their mighty Brewed Awakening not so long ago, and I've yet to hear anyone describe their beers as anything less than brilliant. Branding's pretty good too. 

Would hoppily have again. And it minded me of this sweet video.

*For you WH40k vets out there xx

Of stout art

I'd high hopes for Cromarty Brewing Company's Brewed Awakening. It was a recommend from a chum, and is widely trailed as a mighty fine stout. Won a few awards too, though I don't hold too much from that.

Well, this delicious stout did not disappoint. It badges itself as a coffee-infused stout, and you get that straightaway on the nose and on the taste. I also got a bit of chocolate and an earthy sweetness that kinda reminded me of the wild summer flowers you get along the sides of single-track roads on the west coast. Only not to smell, but if you ate them. It had a pleasurably dry and bitter aftertaste.

My Brewed Awakening was served chilled and had heehaw head on it. It was dark and rich and heavy, though it had poured smooth and silky and had enough of those sexy bubbles to tickle the back of my mouth on the way down.

On the label, Cromarty Brewing Co boasts of the stout's clean and crafty character, and lists wheat, oats and coffee from some Invernesian coffee den called Artysans among its ingredients, which is just grand.

A stout with heart and a 4.7% soul. Would hoppily have again.