It’s likely that this year is going to be the first normal Easter many of us have had for some time. So, it’s time to kick back and enjoy the lighter days with a session beer that’s sure to make friendly gatherings stretch out long into the evening.
From Attic Brew Co in Stirchley, Birmingham, a microbrewery local to me, comes a fabulous flagship beer. Intuition Pale is just 4.4% ABV – the perfect strength for drinking more than one while not becoming totally incomprehensible. It’s hazy, with the tantalising aroma of peaches and pineapple, translating into a moderately bitter finish. It’s one I can’t put down. The other cool thing about Attic is that owners Oli and Sam, who met at university, have a glorious taproom that’s family-friendly and a welcome addition to our local scene. Most coffee shops can’t oblige with alcoholic beverages, of course, but if you don’t want to head to the pub, the taproom of your nearest brewery is worth checking out – you can usually have a good snoop at the mash tun and fermenting vessels, where all the magic happens. Supporting your local breweries as they emerge from the devastation that covid wreaked on the hospitality industry is important.
You can’t move for TV shows about Yorkshire – vets, farms, even steam trains! – but if you’re lucky enough to live there, or take a walk across the moors, you will know there are a plethora of magnificent breweries. Black Sheep, Ilkley, Kelham Island, Northern Monk and Timothy Taylor are just a few –I could go on and on. One I’ve known and loved over the last decade or so is Saltaire. A fab team of really cool guys make terrific beers in Shipley, about 15 minutes from Bradford. Its exquisitely balanced Unity Authentic India Pale Ale is a favourite of mine. A gentle tropical fruit aroma bursts as soon as you’ve flipped the cap off the bottle – mango and orange comes through, it pours copper and offers a soft, smooth mouthfeel with delicate sweetness and a marmalade-like quality in the tasting. The end offers a lip-smackingly resinous finish with a pronounced bitterness.