• Brewer: Metalman
• Style: Black IPA
• In: 330ml can
• ABV: 4.3%
• From: Molloy’s
• Price: €2.80

I adore black IPAs. They are very possibly my most favourite style of beer. Nice rich body, roasted malt on the noise, and a wad of hops on the end.

Metalman’s Orange Is The New Black is another of their interesting experiments, this time mixing orange peel into a black IPA. What they’ve ended up with is a fine, sessionable black IPA with the very faintest taste of orange on the nose, and after taste.

Personally, I’d like a bit more of the orange personality shining through, and a little bit more body in the beer. Not a bad beer by any means, but it feels like a missed opportunity.

Oh, and it’s vegan friendly too, if that’s something you care about.

• Brewer: Beavertown
• Style: Saison
• In: 330ml can
• ABV: 8.7%
• From: Molloy’s
• Price: €4.95

I’m going to preface this with a statement - I don’t like Saisons. I find them too bubblegummy and sweet. Every time I see a new saison, and decide to try it, I usually remember the fact that I don’t like them half way through my pint.

Beavertown have to go, and upset my dislike of them. Applelation is a wonderfully tart saison, far from the bubblegum taste that I associate with saisons, while keeping that wonderful yeasty, spicey flavour along with bitter cooking apples. Pouring a hazy golden colour, it has a nice amount of carbonation, and a crisp white head that lasts.

At 8.7%, this is definitely one to try out.

I need to get a beer to review before I can review a beer. Patience…