Just a quick post on last Saturday’s open day at By the Horns.
Christmas jumpers and mince pies abounded in the small Wandsworth brewery, welcoming all to the warming embrace of their London craft beers.
Their Christmas beer Jolly’s Revenge was very moreish – it’s an oatmeal brown ale spiced with chilli and ginger. It was deep and malty, with a lovely sweet-spiced flavour that was perfect for a cold afternoon. The Hopslinger Summit was everything an American-style IPA should be – tangy, citrusy hops at the front with a nice clean, but not too dry finish. And, as an extra, they had a brand new red rye Hopslinger that had the trademark rye spiciness, but also a sweet finish that balanced it very nicely.
My recollection grows hazy of the later hours of the evening as I think I was quaffing the beers a little too quickly for my constitution. And I was slightly tender the next morning. But it was worth it.
I do remember Alex telling me that they will be launching a definitive Hopslinger next year, rather than the monthly specials, which will be packed with a variety of hops to give it a complex but balanced flavour. I’m looking forward to that one.
Right, back to work now I guess.
