Cornish Crown Brewery

My job is probably one of the best on the world. Not only do I get to drink from a constantly expanding range of around 400 craft beers from around the world, on occasion people just walk in and give me free beer in the hope that we’ll stock.

While there’s never any guarantees on that front, the upside of course is that I can always write about them here. So to that end, today I’m reviewing Mr Josh Dunkley’s, Cornish Crown brewery. Or more precisely – His “Causeway” session bitter and a “Strong” Pale Ale. Though as we’ll see its really not that strong.

Causeway Bitter 4.1% 

Its a brown bitter. The type my Dad would go for in a pub. There's nothing wrong with keeping it traditional every now and then is there?

Looks 

Pours a clear amber colour with virtually zero head that diminishes faster than I can say "is that it?". The labels looks nice enough although its a good job they are plain white and not red or it would look like Royal Mail branded beer. 

Aroma

The hops come through nicely with the an almost spicy wild garlic like hum that I can only assume comes from the summit. Works very well with the bready notes that come through from the malt. There's also a light and familiar floral note. 

Taste

Quite sharp on the palate and very full bodied caramel, toffee like flavours. From the hops we get a tiny more of that vegetal spiciness from the summit but not a great deal. It's meant to the be the session beer of the range so we're not after massive hoppy mind-blowing effects. Still there's a pleasant citrus grapefruit-like flavour that hits the spot. All in all its actually very good. 

Strong Pale Ale 4.7% 

Its a traditional pale ale. Although I'd wouldn't call it strong exactly. I'd go with SS Pale Ale but that sounds a little like Hitler Beer so probably best I wasn't involved in the naming process. 

Looks

Hazy orange/amber with lots of sediment. Did I store this one upright? Nope. Virtually zero head once again and what there is fades away quickly. 

Aroma

More of those lightly spicy vegetal hops with light citrus thrown in as well. Faintly sweet malt aroma but its the hops that are dominant on the nose. Not exactly mind blowing but again its worthwhile remembering we're on the traditional end of things. 

Taste

Caramel, biscuit and a lot more of those citrus hoppy notes mix together pleasantly enough. There's some oniony aspects too which I'm enjoying along with the tomato salsa I'm eating. Not at all bad. 

Verdict

Still a very young brewery and they are playing it very safe to start with with some fairly standard issue beers. Clearly its aimed not at the 18-25 market and it should appeal to the more beardy, beer lovers out there but I can't help thinking at those East London Brewing beers I reviewed this month. Still quaffable, easy-drinking session ales but with modern twists added that help set them apart. Cornish Crown don't quite manage anything that lofty but its good quality, well made session beer that your Dad will like all the same. 

East London Brewing Company - Pale Ale and Orchid.

When Brad at ilovefreebeer asked me to review this brewery my response was: "Say who now?" I'd never so much as heard of East London Brewing Co before last week - much less tried their beers. Which I'm actually quite pleased about going into this review. Nice and impartial. Like Paxman.

East London brewing have been brewing commercially since December 2012 and comprise a husband and wife team of Stuart Lascelles and Claire Ashbridge-Thomlinson. This is literally all I know and I got it from stalking them on twitter. I do that to people.

EAST LONDON BREWING - PALE ALE 4%

Its a Pale Ale. A friend of mine recently drank it in her hairdressers. Maybe I should get my haircut*

Looks

Branding wise I think they've played a blinder with this range. Its exactly the style of label I want to pick up and coo over and would easily fit into the range at The Beer Boutique. Modern looking but also classic. Best of both worlds. On pouring: a promising cloudy orange with an energetic but sparse head that doesn't hang around for long. 

Aroma

The hops are incredibly floral, the malts are subdued. Lasting impression is certainly the perfumed aspect with hints of very light citrus and a generous hit of Elderflower. 

Taste

A biscuit malt with hints of buttery syrup remind me faintly of cheesecake while the hops that were floral in the aroma become more citric and fruity. Orange and lime bitters, rosewater and that malty background all combine to make marmalade on toast. I hate marmalade on toast but I'd happily wake up to this every morning. The floral hops come back into play in a textbook long bitter finish that you'd want in any pale ale be it 4% or 6%. Can't wait for my next sip. 

EAST LONDON BREWING - ORCHID 3.6%

Its a Mild. Brewed with vanilla. From Madagascan orchids. Madagascar is far away. 

Looks

Nearly black with lighter hues of brown and red thrown in. A rocky and fast diminishing beige head. This glass is absolutely awful.

Aroma

Certainly getting the vanilla! Its gentle though with a slight spice and huge chocolatey base from the malt. Very promising. 

Taste

Chocolate with hints of coffee and more of that vanilla. In short pretty much everything you'd want. A little more viscous than I was expecting for 3.6% and certainly much more flavour than I'd bargained for. The finish is long, creamy and brings back more vanilla with hints of lactose and very little bitterness. All sweet and all good!

The Verdict

Awesome stuff. The Pale Ale does exactly what the branding does - combines all the best of the old and the new. Floral, aromatic hoppiness and biscuity malts but in perfect balance - for my palate at least. Not trying to out bitter anyone. There's a similar story with the lower ABV Mild. There's everything you want in a Mild (chocolate, coffee, roasted flavours) but with that great twist of vanilla to give it that extra something. Super nice beer and looking forward to drinking it at Urban Sessions. Or the hairdressers. Whichever I manage to get to first.

*Beer aside. I probably should.