Adnams Spindrift

Brewed by Adnams
Style: Premium Bitter/ESB
Southwold, England

Serve in English pint

had this yesterday at 26 smithfields - one of the best beers i have ever had.

On tap at the Hog in Armour, Norwich. I think this is a wonderful addition to the Adnams range particularly for the summer. While i love ale, the thought of a warm beer in summer puts most people right off. Reckon this will be a great midway beer to tempt more traditional larger drinkers to try ale instead, particularly for the combination of taste & refreshingness.

Bottle ( an unusual blue colour ) Bronze and clear with a strange spicy flavour which I wasn’t expecting. Some herbs as well.Pleasant and definitely different.

Tasted from the bottle, what a great bottle I must say, I really enjoyed this, light, zesty and refreshing, will be a good summer beer

Keg in Sole Bay Inn, Southwold. Brewery is next door so this is beautifully fresh. Clear amber, with foamy white head. Nose is lovely grapefruit, barley grain, bit of something tropical in there too. Taste is citrous, grapefruit, lemon and grain malt. Full flavoured and yet light and refreshing. Good Summer ale.

When coming to a decision on how to rate a beer, I personally think that the aroma and flavour characteristics are the most important. If it looks good then great although I have enjoyed many hazy or cloudy pints of cask-conditioned ale. The UK drinks with their eyes too much. Another factor when rating a beer that creeps into some peoples thoughts is what state the brewer is in terms of the business side. Should a large multinational brewer with no artisanal qualities be marked down even if the taste of their beer is great? Likewise, should a small craft brewer with his DIY sensibilties be marked up for not giving in to the lucrative corporation? Adnams are none of these, they have embarked upon a marketing campaign to try and sell their beer. I think that’s quite acceptable. Their beers have not declined. This new beer, Spindrift, was brewed (I imagine) to try and tap into the ’I don’t want to drink traditional bitter, but still want flavour’ market. Great. It’s served chilled from a keg. Great. It’s brewed to be served that way. And it’s damn tasty too. It actually reminded me of Duvel in aroma, there is a great hoppiness and citrus character. Adnams’ classic full malt body is evident and along with the hops imparts a clean, refreshing taste that lingers, but not for too long. In short, preconceptions really are not much use. Judge the beer for what it is. Thank you Adnams for brewing a great non-cask-conditioned ale, this country needs more like this and Meantime. Maybe one day we can call this real ale? I’m quite sure I could feel and taste something while I was drinking it.

Bottled@Uusi Apteekki, Turku. Golden colour, small head. Aroma is sweet malts, quite floral and grassy hoppy with some slight notes of minerals. Flavour is sweet malts, some grass, floral notes and mild notes of fruits. Quite refreshing. Quite similar hopping to Fullers ESB, but at the same time

On tap. Aroma is a full throttle malt, with some mild fruitiness, light copper, tiniest tan head, some pretty lace . Flavour is a fuller fruit, some decent malt and a touch of caramel.Light bodied, very well balanced pleasantly sweet mouthful. A really fine session!