7th July 2018

Wylam & Friends – Northern Powerhouse Brew Series 2018

Earlier this year I had the pleasure of serving beers alongside Dave Stone, one of the owners and directors of Wylam, and Ben Wilkinson, their head brewer and all round good guy, at Hop City in Leeds. Their enthusiasm and infectious personalities make it impossible not to love these guys and I had a blast serving their excellent beer and chewing the fat with them both.

It was here that I first heard of Wylam’s intentions to release a collaboration that would go on to be called the Northern Powerhouse. READ MORE

7th July 2018

Wylam x Thornbridge – Northern Powerhouse Brew Series 004 – American Wheat

Beer Reviews No Reply

We’re reviewing the entire Northern Powerhouse Brew Series – this is the final beer in the series, after 008, 006, 007, 001, 002, 003 and 005.

The last of the series is one of the more traditional styles on show. The beer pours a lightly hazy golden colour, with notes of brown sugar and bubble-gum leaping out of the glass. Just when I was flagging, this brought a nice fizzy zing to the party. READ MORE

7th July 2018

Wylam x Magic Rock – Northern Powerhouse Brew Series 005 – Forest Fruit Kettle Sour

Beer Reviews No Reply

We’re reviewing the entire Northern Powerhouse Brew Series – this is the penultimate beer, after 008, 006, 007, 001, 002 and 003.

Wow. This beer was very much right place, right time. The last two beers had very strong flavours, in their own ways, and packed a big hit so what better than a low ABV sour to mix it up? Well, nothing better as this was the beer of the series.

7th July 2018

Wylam x Black Lodge – Northern Powerhouse Brew Series 003 – Mixed Fermentation Fruited Farmhouse

Beer Reviews No Reply

We’re reviewing the entire Northern Powerhouse Brew Series – this is beer six, after 008, 006, 007, 001 and 002.

I was glad to see a saison come out of the fridge next and this delivered exactly what I wanted with traditional aromas of earthiness, bananas, cloves and a rich savoury note. The flavour backs this up – there’s that trademark ‘Belgian’ flavour supplied by the choice of yeast that gives this beer a beautiful funk with plenty of banana and bubble-gum in the mix.

7th July 2018

Wylam x Cloudwater – Northern Powerhouse Brew Series 002 – Strong Brown Ale

Beer Reviews No Reply

We’re reviewing the entire Northern Powerhouse Brew Series – this is beer five, after 008, 006, 007 and 001.

I had very high expectations, and that’s a sign of how much I love Cloudwater and Wylam but this was my first slight disappointment of the series. From the can, it poured a viscous brown and there was an instant hit of big sweet smells spilling out of the glass. READ MORE