Greetings beerthusiasts! We’ve got a few exciting additions to a jam packed Craft Cube this month. We’ve got a super fresh release from Ocean Reach Brewing (you will receive one of their two new Artist Series drops selected at random), a hazy pale ale AND a hazy IPA for the hop heads, a lager, a kolsch and an ESB for the crew who dig their malty brews, as well as a porter and a milk stout for those cold winter nights. We’ve also thrown in a Nitro amber ale loaded with cacao, marshmallows and chocolate!!
As always, feel free to hit us up via email (cheers@mrmods.beer) or on any of the social platforms if there is anything in particular you’d like to see in an upcoming cube, or to leave feedback on the cube you’re about to enjoy. Much love as always.
Love Rob x
Tasting Notes
Ocean Reach Brewing - Oat Cream IPA 7.2%
What They Say - The first release from our artist series comes this oat cream IPA showcasing a thick haze and full body. Double dry hopped with Citra and Azacca offering delicate fruity aromas with a complex yet smooth bouquet of tropical fruit flavours reminiscent of mango, orange and pine. Oats & lactose added for that added creaminess and well rounded finish.
What We Say - This pours an amazing hazy yellow, and delivers an aroma of nothing but juice. Lashings of tropical fruit on the palate and a smooth mouthfeel thanks to the oat cream are both wrapped up with a pleasant bitterness. Amazing!
Beer Soundtrack - Under One Sky by Chimp Spanner
Ocean Reach Brewing - Sour IPA 7.2%
What They Say - An Oat Cream IPA with added sourness, this creation has harnessed the hops and lactobacillus and taken on a whole new spin of flavours. Double dry hopped with Citra and Azacca, it offers bright, funky aromas with an explosion of flavours reminiscent of orange, citrus and lychee. Oats and lactose added for that additional creaminess and well rounded yet puckering finish.
What We Say - Not quite as hazy as the Oat Cream, this pours a lovely golden colour which is accompanied by a sour orange aroma. The taste is a great mix of citrus and that lacto, sour funk we all know and love. Heads up though, as the 7.2% ABV is nowhere to be seen.
Beer Soundtrack - Roquefort (with Empire Horns) by Karnivool
Ocean Reach Brewing - Porter 5.3%
What They Say - Brewed with English hops and an impressive range of specialty malts. Robust coffee notes and cacao undertones are just some of the flavours to this complex but sessionable porter.
What We Say - This is definitely a complex beer flavours wise. Imagine a shot of espresso, but one with a nice acidity and fruitiness to it. Now add some cacao and maybe a little vanilla and you’re getting close. The body is nice and light, delivering a great beer for a cold afternoon/evening without being too heavy.
Beer Soundtrack - Nine Below Zero by Buddy Guy
Wolf of the Willows - S’mores Man Toasted Marshmallow Nitro Amber Ale 6.2% (Please read the label on the can before pouring)
What They Say - The S’mores-Man is back! Biscuity malts with s’mores inspired ingredients of real toasted marshmallows, vanilla bean and organic cacao round out this hefty nitro amber ale.
What We Say - NITRO!!! As the beer settles, we are treated to a glorious amber ale with a sweetness reminiscent of marshmallows and biscuits. A creamy body delivers lashings of biscuity malts with subtle vanilla and chocolate notes. Sit on this and enjoy it so you can watch the flavour profile evolve as it slowly warms up.
Beer Soundtrack - Regulate by Warren G (feat. Nate Dogg)
Evil Twin Brewing - Even More 8lb 6oz Newborn Infant Jesus Milk Stout 5%
What They Say - This is the sweet milk stout baby brother of the even more Jesus clocking in at 5% with a nice creamy smooth drinkability to it!
What We Say - Pours a nice dark colour with a tan head. Smells like coffee and chocolate. Tastes exactly the same, with a nice toasty bitterness attached that just lingers on the palate. Definitely one to sit on and enjoy on a cold evening.
Beer Soundtrack - Space Lord by Monster Magnet
Hargreaves Hill - ESB (Extra Special Bitter) 5.4%
What They Say - Using new world hops juxtaposed with sweet malt character, this ESB is a classic example of the delicate balance between flavour, aroma and bitterness.
What We Say - This amber looking ale is a classic - malty with a bitterness reminiscent of burnt orange and a crisp body. A perfect addition for a cold autumn evening.
Beer Soundtrack - Golden Brown by The Stranglers
Co-Conspirators - The Mechanic Hazy Pale Ale 5.5%
What They Say - Slicker than a can of grease and smoother than Danny Zuko, The Mechanic is here to service your thirst. Like a well tuned exhaust, the unmistakable aromas of citrus, mandarin and pine steer you towards a radiating body of peach, apricot and tropical fruit. Don’t be a dipstick, The Mechanics qu-oats include a full body tune-up that gives bitterness a brake for a pale ale you won’t tyre of!
What We Say - Wow. Just wow. This was something else. Juicy as all get up, the tropical fruits definitely made themselves apparent and left us with an extremely enjoyable hazy pale ale. A nice subtle bitterness rounded the whole thing out - to the point that it almost didn’t make it to the cube as I was tempted to just keep the entire lot for myself.
Beer Soundtrack - The Regulator by Clutch
Bad Shepherd - Lager 4.0%
What They Say - We could have given this continental-style Lager a fancy name. We could have called it "The Cleanest, Crispest Lager You'll Ever Drink". Or even "Harold" - that's a solid name. But this Lager speaks for itself. An easy drinking beer that will keep you coming back for more.
What We Say - Bad Shepherd weren’t far off with their description - this is indeed extremely clean and crisp. A sweet, malt driven nose reminiscent of a more commercial lager and an approachable bitterness at the back leave us with a strong contender for “Best Lager of 2021”.
Beer Soundtrack - Original Sin by INXS
Venom Brewing - Her Ghost in the Fog Hazy IPA 7.0%
What They Say - A 20 grams per litre blend of US Azacca and NZ Rakau hops (Joel loves his Kiwi varieties) do a wee citrus, grapefruit and mango dank-dance atop a relatively lean, pale and ultimately quite resinous hazy IPA – one with more than a little of partner brewer Deeds' DNA in it, and a little boozy prickle too.
What We Say - Pouring a pale yellow, it looks like your standard hazy, albeit lighter. Smells juicy. First impressions were a sweetness not unlike that of an oat cream IPA with noticeable mango and grapefruit that evolves into a bitter, resinous after taste. Different, but definitely enjoyable.
Beer Soundtrack - Her Ghost in the Fog by Cradle of Filth
Badlands Brewery - Brewbacca Kolsch 4.9%
What They Say - A subtle, warm and cuddly beast. Light biscuity character from the German Pilsener malt marries with soft and understated slightly perfumed and citrus flavours from the king of German noble hops - Hallertau. A whiff of banana from the traditional Cologne yeast rounds out the picture.
What We Say - Aromas of malt mixed with light citrus notes from a glorious golden ale that delivers a crisp, malty and a subtle bitterness palate. A great starter.