TOAST OF THE TWEED
With honey and “secret” herbs, this local brew goes down a treat on a cold winter’s night
TO make your mark in the highly competitive craft beer market you need to be aggressive in getting your product out there.
That could be the reason for the name of Tweed Heads’ Pickled Pig Brewery’s latest product, Angry Bear.
This luscious dark ale is an ideal drop for the cooler months, boasting flavour, body and the desired ability to warm you up from the inside.
This is the “big brother” to the brewery’s Midnight Special dark – a hoppy dark ale – with Angry Bear featuring English dark malts, organic honey and some “secret” herbs.
The result is a full-bodied dark beer with plenty of flavour.
The brew is black in colour with a tight white head and offers a rich roasted chocolate nose. The first taste gives an indication of the blend of malts and honey, although you suspect a hint of licorice (none used), that gives way to an even roasted malt and caramel flavour.
This combination fills the mouth and is well balanced – not too sweet, which can be a downfall of some beers that use honey.
There’s a good degree of bitterness, which leaves the palate ready for the next mouthful. As is the case with many dark drops that use a healthy degree of malts, it tends to develop new characteristic the longer it sits in the glass ... but there is no way I would suggest you pour this and leave it to get warm.
Instead, as it does get a little “less cool” you’ll notice it smooth out into a very sessionable drop.
At 4.6 per cent, it is full strength. While a little heavier in the gut than your mainstream drops, it’s an ideal winter ale.
It would go well with a slowcooked beef brisket or thick winter stew.
Tough on the outside it may be, but the Pickled Pig’s Angry Bear is definitely a brew you can make friends with.