Wylam - 'I'm Not Mary'
We are now into the real meat and gravy of this countdown and at numero quatro we have this weedbomb of epic proportions from the Geordie juicemasters.
Having had the fabulous ‘Thank Your Luck Stars’ in the first half of the year, I knew that Wylam and Imperial IPA together meant good things.
The can was invitingly colourful and kaleidoscopic with a hemp leaf pattern that promised dialled-up dank and sticky MJ vibes.
Did it deliver on that – well yes and no….
There was certainly some bitter herbal weediness in the mix but that was one facet of a wonderfully rounded oral explosion of passionfruit, mango, pineapple, summer berries and zesty citrus. As I looked to the ingredient list in delighted surprise, I saw that Citra and Galaxy were there as expected, my prime culprits for bringing the dank herbal chew (remember Greenbutt Skunk?) but ‘Mary’ was also packing Strata, Amarillo and Centennial.
Wow, there was no holding back on that hop bill and at the best part of tenner a can, too right I say!!
I had this on a late Summer’s day in the garden and nursed it for a good hour as the sun made its descent into the Southern Hemisphere and it really knocked my socks off. I don’t particularly want my beers to taste like liquified hash that’s been hidden in stale underwear at the back of a drawer for 2 years. I don’t mind having a hint of musk and must in my suds but give it to me like this – perfectly balanced by those aromatic, fruity and floral hop flavours that really show that whilst hops may be a distant family relative of cannabis and occasionally exhibit similar traits, there is a chasm between them.
My bronze medal winner is incoming imminently so keep a lookout!
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