When is a beer not a beer? When it’s a beer, so the unhealthy joke Ben Griffin simply made up goes. But it’s an perspective held by some beer fans. It’s no coincidence that Hobgoblin ale had a marketing campaign slogan that remarked: “What’s the matter lagerboy, afraid you may style one thing?”
Is lager that unhealthy, although? Positive, with out naming names (Fosters), some are to flavour what Russia is to neighbourly relations, however some give IPAs, pale ales, session beers and so forth a run for his or her cash – does Jeremy Clarkson’s Hawkstone Lager (just lately adopted up by a cider) do the identical?
Being globally well-known because of the unique BBC High Gear TV present’s success, Hawkstone Lager can commerce on title recognition and witty, social media-based advertising that utilises Clarkson’s fashion of humour. Had I been duped into shopping for a sub-par beer?
The thought had crossed my thoughts. However then the Amazon Prime sequence Clarkson’s Farm revealed not solely that few individuals are pretty much as good at making any topic accessible and watchable, however he additionally confirmed real ardour and endurance regardless of many setbacks and far pink tape.
And that makes it laborious to think about the barley grown in unforgiving Cotswold soil at Diddly Squat Farm is something however high quality. That the ‘grasp brewer’ talked about on the bottle is infinitely higher at making beer than Clarkson is at ploughing fields and that the water it makes use of as a base is as pure as a lily is reassuring.
In actuality, Hawkstone Lager – named after a neighborhood Neolithic stone – tastes prefer it has extra weight and physique than your common Carlsberg or Kronenbourg and boasts a darker amber color. It sits nearer to a lighter IPA – maltiness, perfume and fruitiness included. But regardless of these issues, it retains that important thirst-quenching high quality of a very good lager.
The place some beers linger for too lengthy or attempt to idiot you with overly harsh hoppy bitterness, Hawkstone Lager will get your palate and mindset prepared for only one extra. Which, in fact, it hardly ever is.
Some beer bros have criticised Clarkson’s 4.8% brew for not having sufficient head. Nonetheless, it avoids tasting flat, and anyway, I don’t wish to spend three hours ready for it to settle so I can end pouring. Bubbles effervescent away assist with crispness – that’s what you get.
Provided that the lager tastes glorious, it’s unusual Jeremy Clarkson (and his farm sidekick, Kaleb Cooper) is so absent on the packaging despite the fact that he does the advertising. As he jokes on Instagram, the UK’s “44 greatest pubs” all coincidentally serve Hawkstone Lager.
Not that I used to be anticipating an image of his face on the label – and in some methods, on condition that a number of the inhabitants can be anti-Clarkson and pro-beer, it’s most likely tactical. Nonetheless, even Diddly Squat Farm will get diddly squat of a point out, which appears odd, despite the fact that it was partly brewed by the Cotswold Brewing Co.
Now I can not think about the author of the laughably biassed one-star Clarkson’s Farm evaluate over on the Guardian can be selecting up a crate anytime quickly. Or anybody else he has offended alongside his prolific writing and presenting profession.
And there may be an argument to be made for getting different beers. Primarily as a result of whenever you issue within the supply cost of £5, six beers work out at practically £3 a pop. 4 for £6 is a factor in supermarkets, and there are many thirst-quenching options to select from.
That makes Hawkstone Lager tougher to justify. In truth, I might most likely be extra inclined to order it by the pint in a pub for a fiver (to help native companies, clearly) than purchase one other batch of six, as a lot as I loved the six I paid for.
Nonetheless, a part of me thinks that perhaps paying somewhat additional for a high quality native product shouldn’t be the worst thought, the place attainable. Clarkson’s Farm was, in spite of everything, about exhibiting simply how in want of assist Britain’s farming trade is. 4 for six can’t go away a lot in the best way of revenue.
In fact, perhaps you simply need a good lager to get shit-faced on. Or ease the self-induced flaming distress of a vindaloo. During which case, Hawkstone Lager does the job properly. Cheers to that.
What: Hawkstone LagerHow a lot: 12 for £35Where: Amazon.co.uk
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