Bison Beer
~Bar~ ~Crafthouse~
"Ever since I was a young boy, I've played the silver ball. From Soho down to Brighton, I must have played them all."
PETE TOWNSHEND, 'Pinball Wizard', Tommy, 1975.
The Who had a way with enticing fans and always left them wanting more, so it's only fitting that we picked a Brighton based 'Beer'o' to feature this month, as this lovely seaside town, in the city of Brighton & Hove, is a hub for beer enthusiasts and all things beer related.
Basically the story starts with a meeting between ourselves and Andrew. Andy brought over a couple of tester beers and one of them was a DIPA, Dirty Rascal (which we think was a Bison x Arundel Collab). It was fairly chewy and it packed a punch at 7.5% and we were somewhat impressed but didn't know much about Bison or who was brewing their beer.
Fast forward a couple of months and we had discovered 7 East Street Bottleshop, had a chat with a couple of the guys and got to place the connection between Andy, Bison, Jordan (head brewer at Unbarred) etc etc etc.
Bison initially started as a Bottleshop back in 2015 but with the various connections, then also decided to put out a couple of beers. They have been rated in the top 50 breweries in the UK since 2016 and they have a pretty awesome bar/bottleshop hybrid in Hove aptly named Hove Actually.
In Summer 2018, they teamed up with Humble Plates to open a Bar + Kitchen which is a really stylish (in the cool kinda way), easy going hangout in the North Laine. A great selection of beer and some fantastic bar snacks, small plates and hand food in a really great venue made up of several floors.
So, the beers....
The See Side APA (American Pale Ale) has a moderate malty base carried by some moderate to heavy hop tones of mandarin, orange and slight apricot. Unfiltered and unfined, this vegan-friendly beer is naturally conditioned in the can giving it a hazy appearance. Perfect drinking for a warm summer afternoon...preferably down by the coast.
The Brighton Away See Side APA seemed more aromatic with a light kind of earthiness. Good malt base with a hazy amber hue. Smooth mouthfeel with a aromatic, fruity hopiness coming through with a mild earthiness. Tones of mango, papaya, white grapes and citrus zest, fine malt taste and light bitterness on the end. A really great easy drinking, no fuss, solid APA.
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