– Review: Evil Twin – Mad Dog Pale Ale by Niall Lecoustre
As the craft beer revolution gathers pace more and more good beer is reaching British shores from Scandinavia. Mikkeller set down the benchmark for quality craft beer from the region releasing ground breaking beers such as Beer Geek Breakfast, an exceptional Oatmeal stout. Others followed such as Nogne and Haandbryggeriet from Norway and Hornbeer and Evil Twin from Denmark. Some of these breweries are really hard to come by in the UK but thankfully Port Street are sourcing more and more gems from the area.
Evil Twin comes from particularly good beer stock being the brainchild of the brother of the man behind Mikkeller. Like Mikkeller, Evil Twin is a gypsy brewer, brewing his beers at such luminaries of the beer world as De Molen and Brewdog. Evil Twin states that his mission is to disturb, cause disorder and enlighten drinkers with his beers. I would go further and say Evil Twin are making beer fun with such ridiculously named beers as ‘The Talented Mr Orangutan’ and ‘Christmas Eve in a New York City Hotel Room’.
Despite the crazily named beers Evil Twin shouldn’t be dismissed and considered a novelty brewer as he is making great stuff. Probably the most interesting Evil Twin beer to date has been the Imperial Taiji, (recently renamed simply as Yin and Yang) a combination of Yin, an exceptional imperial stout and Yang a super hopped double IPA. The combination of the two beers created a moreish hoppy stout which works incredibly well. Both beers were brewed at Brewdog like the latest Evil Twin offering at Port Street, Mad Dog Pale Ale.
Mad Dog is an easy drinking offering from Evil Twin and is a good introduction to the brewery. It doesn’t have the high ABV of Ying and Yang but is still packed with flavour and is unique in its own right. It pours pale amber and has a nice slightly frothy white head. The aroma is light and hoppy with both floral and fruit notes which hint at the tastes to come. Upon tasting, first the sweetness comes to the fore and there are clear hints of citrus fruits and spices. When the sweetness subsides it is replaced by a long, bitter finish which will definitely meet with the approval of hop heads. Mad Dog doesn’t fit the stereotype of the typical American Pale Ale and is surprisingly bitter for such a low strength beer. It is a nice starting point for exploring the Evil Twin Range before trying the big hitters such as Yin and Yang and some of the magnificent imperial stouts which the brewery is producing. I have tried some of the breweries stouts and haven’t been disappointed yet. Even More Jesus, the latest Imperial Stout from the brewery is definitely on my to-drink list next time I’m in Port Street.
If you haven’t tried any offerings from Evil Twin, give them a go. You will not be disappointed.
Brewer: Evil Twin
Brew: Mad Dog Pale Ale
Style: Pale Ale
ABV: 4.7 %
– Brewers’ Group / Tuesday 20th November 7pm
“Brewers’ Group is an informal, monthly gathering for anyone who’d like to learn a little more about beer and how it’s made. The group aims to connect people with an interest in brewing, professional or amateur, so that we can all share knowledge and experiences and learn from each other in an informal setting.
We meet once a month upstairs at Port Street for chat, beer tasting, brewer’s mastarclasses, brewery visits and, of-course, a pint or two. It’s free and everyone’s welcome. If you’re a homebrewer, please bring along some of your homebrew to taste: letting other people taste your beer can be a little daunting at first (especially when there’re professional brewers in the house) but it’s a great opportunity to get valuable feedback, improve your brewing skills and learn something new; and that’s what we’re all about.
This month James Campbell, head brewer at Marble brewery, has kindly agreed to come and share his knowledge about high gravity brewing. James has made some excellent high alcohol beers during his time at Marble (and I’d highly recommend trying the Decadence if you get the chance) so we should be in for a treat.”
Where: Port Street Beer House, 39-41 Port Street, Manchester, M1 2EQ
When: Tuesday 20th November / 7pm
Free entry – for more info please email : brewersgroup@freshjava.co.uk
– Meet The Brewer with Hawkshead / Monday 26th November 2012
5.30pm door – events starts at 6.15pm
SOLD OUT
Hawkshead Brewery is Cumbria’s largest independent brewery, having grown rapidly since its foundation in 2002. It is one of the new wave of independent breweries which have revitalised British beer.
The family owned and run brewery now located next to the River Kent in Staveley brews ‘traditional beers with a modern twist’ using the finest whole cone hops and best malted barley.
Their award winning ales can be found not only on the bar at The Beer Hall (the brewery tap) but all over the North-West. The Beer Hall is ‘a showcase for real ale & good food’ and provides a unique experience to visitors.
http://www.hawksheadbrewery.co.uk/
– Photos / Meet The Brewer with Kirkstall – Monday 29th October
Yorkshire’s finest Kirsktall Brewery paid us a visit to show off their wonderful beers. As always here are some wobbly, out of focus photos!
