Strength: 4.2%
Brewed: West Norwood, London
Founded in 2014 by brothers Ed and Sim Cotton, The London Beer Factory operates from South-East London’s increasingly trendy West Norwood. Dedicated to crafting beers with character, unique flavours and distinctive qualities, they are also the first ever UK brewery to use 360° cans, with a unique ring pull design that allows the lid to be removed completely, allowing a full spectrum of tastes and aromas to be enjoyed, without the need for any glassware (or washing-up). What’s more, alongside their five-strong core range of beers – each month sees a brand new experimental beer from The London Beer Factory, launched as part of their Pilot Range, which aids the team’s constant search for new recipes and brewing practices.
A phrase traditionally associated with defying convention – ‘Beyond The Pale’, the brewery’s American Pale Ale does exactly that. An incredibly hoppy affair, ‘Beyond The Pale’ is brewed with a blend of American Magnum, Cascade, and Mosaic hops. As a result, bold fruit aromas are omnipresent, with strong notes of citrus (orange and grapefruit, mainly) and melon joining back notes of bread. The prominent fruitiness continues onto the palate, with hints of pithy orange, black plum and some mango followed by a malty back note of biscuit and caramel sweetness that counteracts some of the intense hop bitterness. Some hop bitterness often associated with India Pale Ale is present, though ‘Beyond The Pale’ is generally a very light beer with its lingering dry, fruity finish.
Further information on The London Beer Factory can be found at thelondonbeerfactory.com.