Beer 2, oxygen 0

The prologue to today's beers is that they were both recalled from the market. A problem with the can seamer meant that not all of them were properly sealed, running the risk of oxidation. Craft Central were kind enough to refund me the cost of the beers and I checked with the brewery, Lineman, if it was OK to review them, since I couldn't detect any flaws. Mark showed me how to spot the defective cans and I'm confident that neither of these were affected by the issue.

We begin with a pilsner called Can You See Me? I guess it's one of those modern takes on it, using modern hop varieties Motueka and Hallertau Blanc, in such a way as to accentuate their fruity sides. It's very slightly hazy as well. Nevertheless, it still looks like proper pilsner, especially the tall crown of white foam. Hallertau Blanc's white grape effect is front and centre in the aroma, fresh and succulent, with the toasty fruitiness of Prosecco. The texture is light, reflecting the mere 4.4% ABV. The sweetness of the hops wouldn't sit well with a sweet malt body, so it's just as well that it's crisp and quite dry. Lightly browned toast features in the flavour, where the hopping is dialled back to allow that refreshing cleanness to sparkle. Just when I thought the Motueka had been drowned out, I got a pinch of eucalyptus and aniseed right in the finish, bringing a bittering complexity which contrasts nicely with the juicy grape. This is very well put together, offering summery, thirst-quenching, accessible lager vibes, with plenty for the chin stroking connoisseur to discover and enjoy as well. Chapeau.

On then to the double IPA, Machine Soul. They've upped the ante on most Irish examples, at 8.6% ABV. It's medium-pale -- mostly yellow with a bit of orange -- and its hops are Citra, Simcoe and newbie Luminosa, seemingly not trusted to carry the beer without support from the established varieties. It smells heavily dank, and also a bit leafy, an effect I've come to associate with the tail end of a keg, where all the bits end up in your glass. Unsurprisingly it's heavily textured, very much a sipper not a slurper. And the hops help with that too: there's a strongly resinous and bitter side, palate-coating and a little too warm for comfort, and then what may have been intended as juice but is more concentrated and cordial-like. Assuming the intent was to create a punchy, full-spectrum hop powerhouse, then it succeeds, and I'm sure there are people who want this kind of beer even though it hasn't been 2010 for a while now. While I found it technically perfect, it's a little too loud and brash for my palate. The pilsner is more my pace.

It's sad to think of either beer being wasted, but Lineman's commitment to quality has always been impeccable and I completely understand why it has been done. That I got two freebie cans out of it is some comfort at least.