15 October 2017 - Best Beer HQ
Urbanaut Brixton Pale Ale Review
New Auckland craft brewery Urbanaut is based just around the corner from my house, so I was very keen to try this can of Brixton Pale Ale when I saw it in my local bottle store. It doesn’t get much more local than this, apart from the fact that it’s been named after a city on the other side of the world…
ABV: 4.4%
Blurb on the can: The clean fruity aroma of this well-balanced pale ale makes it the ideal beverage to enjoy all afternoon. The bright auburn appearance is showcased through a mix of pale malts, and a subtle bitterness comes forward with citrus and spicy undertones.
As a tribute to the home of pale ale, we use English hops and brewing techniques, but with a modern New Zealand take on this British staple. This ensures every sip brings you back to the Brixton pubs in which it was first enjoyed, stopping over at our Kingsland brewery on your way.
Each Urbanaut beer is designed to celebrate the city that inspired its creation. Whether you know the destination well, or yearn to explore it someday, this beer embodies the culture, the people and the atmosphere.
Taste test: Though I lived in London for around four years, I didn’t drink much craft beer there. No-one really did back then; not like they do now, anyway. So this beer’s English roots are lost on me.
Instead, it tastes like a fairly typical Kiwi-made pale ale; light, bright, fruity, perhaps a wee bit thin in the middle, but a nicely refreshing drop nonetheless.
I drank it straight out of the can, as God intended, so I can’t comment on the colour of Urbanaut’s Brixton Pale Ale. But I can tell you that the artwork on the can is really cool (see above). It gets top marks for presentation.
The verdict: Perhaps I’m just in a picky mood, but I’d prefer Urbanaut’s Brixton Pale Ale to have more impact at a slightly higher ABV, or to come in at 4% ABV. As it is, this beer is middle of the road in terms of taste and alcohol.
Beer/movie combination: Wicked British sci-fi horror comedy flick Attack the Block is based in Brixton…