I found these couple of reviews kicking about in my notebook. I seem to remember them being from sometime around the end of June (which was just before my son was born, so that’s probably why I forgot to upload them!) These are not full reviews as I’m only going on the notes I’ve got…
My notes also say that these were both part of a Friday lunchtime drink at the Black Prince in Woodstock…and joy of joys they’re both local: Loose Cannon hang out in Abingdon and Vale are based in Brill. Nice.
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Loose Cannon: Bombshell
Straw coloured and slightly hazy due to assumed dry hopping.
An extraordinary hop aroma, well on par with anything Thornbridge produces: strong and penetrating vegetal, greenery, ozoney, cirtusy and almost seaweedy nose.
Very light malt but with a really good bitterness and complex hop flavour all meshed under a comforting alcoholic warmth.
Vale: MetrolandVery odd name, and in a similar vein to the bombshell, so it was a little bit of a shame to have the both on the same bill as it meant I had to choose a favourite…and Metroland was mine, but only by a smidge.
Excellent hop aroma, strong clear and bright. Very evident in the taste too was bright lemon and citrus. A little more in the way of malt weight than the bombshell which was probably what made it for me.
Very nicely matched malt, alcohol and hop regime leading to a perfectly balanced taste. One of the most accomplished beers I’ve had for a while.
