Thornbridge Chiron American Pale Ale (£2.45, 50cl, waitrose.com)
Based in the Peak District National Park, but drawing inspiration from the full-on flavours of the US craft brewing scene, Thornbridge’s pale ale has an invigorating slap of redcurrant-like fruitiness to go with its toffee-and-Twiglet maltiness and a clean, tangy finish.
Brewdog Punk IPA
(£1.75, 30cl, sainsburys.co.uk)
Successful as it has been, Aberdeenshire brewery Brewdog’s in-yer-face marketing is sometimes in danger of obscuring just how good its beers are. And the sheer intensity of tropical fruit, creamy richness and pithy citrus bitterness of Punk IPA speaks for itself.
Goose Island IPA
(from £1.75, 35.5cl, tesco.com, sainsburys.co.uk)
Goose Island may have lost a few friends since it sold up to Budweiser’s owners, Anheuser Busch, in 2011, but this Chicago-brewed beer I’ve loved for years doesn’t seem to have suffered: it’s still a complex, layered, but ultimately refreshing treat of aromatic, fruity-hoppy intensity.
Purity UBU
(£1.99, 50cl, waitrose.com)
A favourite of mine from the Purity brewery in Warwickshire, a glowing dark amber, medium-bodied brew that has a delicious core of tangy mandarin-orange fruitiness, malt and hoppy bitterness and just a touch of sweetness. Like all the beers here, it’s great with food. Try this one with a strong cheese.
Battersea Rye
(£1.95, 33cl, marksandspencer.com)
Part of M&S’s excellent new range of British craft beers, and made by Sambrook’s Brewery in south London, the malted rye in the recipe brings dark rye bread flavours but there’s fruit and a peppery finish, too, in an intense, spicy brew to wash down a barbie-charred steak.
Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout (from £3.59, 35.5cl, beersofeurope.co.uk; realale.com)
At 10% abv, and with its dark colour, you might think this American stout is more of a winter beer. But sipped at the end of a meal, that intense, high-cocoa-content bitter chocolate and suave feel is irresisti
Brew by Numbers Saison 01/06
(£2.95, 33cl, realale.com)
Brew by Numbers has a range of beers using fruits and spices inspired by Belgium’s saison ales, brewed in winter for summer drinking. The 01/06 uses lime zest and tangy Motueka hops for a beer that’s crisp, zippy and invigorating. Look out too for a cucumber and juniper combination.
Meantime Yakima Red
(£1.79, 33cl, waitrose.com)
Alastair Hook’s Meantime has just been absorbed into a multinational, but the beers remain superb. None more so than this blend of Anglo-German malts and five hop varieties from Washington State: a rich but balanced, beautifully coloured 4.1% abv, with its blast of citrusy flavour.
Harviestoun Schiehallion Craft Brewed Lager (£1.79, 33cl, waitrose.com)
Very far removed from industrial lager, Scottish brewery Harviestoun’s classic retains the style’s drinkability but with a spectrum of floral, herbal, tropical fruit and barley sugar flavours, and a citric freshness that works so well with fish and chips.
Crouch Vale Brewers Gold (£1.99, 50cl, tesco.com)
This delightful golden ale from Essex brewery Crouch Vale is the perfect summer beer: light (4% abv), soft and with plenty of citrusy-hoppy tang to go with the mellow orchard and exotic fruitiness, it works as solo accompaniment for lazy afternoons or as a partner for Thai curry.
