Citrus two ways

Two more new draught releases from Galway Bay, via the taps at The Black Sheep.

The more exciting one, at least on paper, is Kimigayo, a gose created in collaboration with Exale Brewing in London, containing yuzu and seaweed. It's a clear amber colour and headless after a few seconds. The aroma is sweet and lemony, more like a lemonade than a beer, even a soured fruit one. In fact the sourness doesn't show up for work at all. The citrus gets more concentrated on tasting. I've never eaten a yuzu, but here it tastes like lime, being sharp and a little oily too. The blurb promises umami and smoke from the seaweed but it's hard work to find either, with only a faint savoury quality hanging on in the aftertaste once all the sugar has departed. At only 4.5% ABV this would work as a thirst-quencher on a warm day. The heavy hand with which the yuzu syrup has been added makes it little more than that, however.

Two taps to the left was Lush, Galway Bay's new pale ale, of the "extra" variety. In defiance of fashion it is completely transparent, and indeed very pale, so no quibble with the blurb here. Although the texture is light, as one would expect at 4.3% ABV, they've piled in the resins, lending it a heavy dankness, one unimpeded by malt weight. And yet there's a noteworthy sweet side, giving me crunchy muscovado sugar and crisp candyfloss. I was fascinated by how it's fizzy and spritzy yet the hop oils balance that so it's not abrasive, helping the drinkability. Word is this is destined to become the house session IPA for whatever passes for permanent at Galway Bay. I'll miss Weights & Measures but am content that this characterful number is a worthy replacement.

The papers have reported troubles on the business side of Galway Bay/BRÚ this year. I can't speak to that but can say, from this side of the bar, that the beer end seems healthy.