We’re reviewing the entire Northern Powerhouse Brew Series – and this was the second beer we tried!
Another beautifully opaque beer, more vibrant in colour; a bright orange juice appearance and slightly less carbonation. The aroma is delightful – it’s got a wonderfully creamy, vanilla scent that rounds off the citrus fruit. This really drew me in.
Compared to the 008, this is dialled down as you would expect. What it lacks in a big, boozy hit from the previous beer, is replaced with smooth tropical fruit balanced out by a much more subtle, bitter hop finish. It creeps up on you, threatening to hit you with a palate busting finish but then it smooths out with a slightly sweet end, leaving you wanting more.
I was lucky enough to try Hawkshead’s most recent iteration of Key Lime Tau on release day last week – it’s a yearly release I make a point of trying. It’s basically a key lime pie version of a sour beer, originally a Rainbow Project release, that hits the spot every year.
