Adnams Southwold, Explorer

Brewer: Adnams Southwold

ABV: 5.0% (bottle) 4.3% (cask)

Awards: GBBF 2009 in the blonde beer category

Runner up (3rd) in Champion Beer of East Anglia 2011.

Aroma: Citrus

Style: Blonde Beer

Tonight I will be evaluating the merits of Adnams Explorer, from the Suffolk based brewery Adnams Southwold. The brewery, established in 1872 has great pedigree so you would expect this beer to be somewhat of a revelation.

The beer pours a golden colour with a decent amount of head as you would expect for a blonde. It has a slight citrus aroma. However, upon first tasting, I sense grapefruit and a sweetness, like caramel. Asides from this I personally make out little else. Im left with a bitter washed out after taste. Yes, there is citrus and grapefruit when I drink but little else. I find this does little to assault the senses.

In terms of ingredients, the brewery say they have added caramel to add body to the beer which as I alluded to earlier is probably the most dominant flavouring in this beer. This blonde beer has a mixture of pale ale malts and a blend of American hops. Particularly the bitter highly acidic Chinook hop and the equally bitter Columbus hop which generally ensures there's an earthy citrus taste.

The Chinook hops explain the grapefruit taste I experienced upon fairer tasting. To add the sweetness, the brewery say they have added Molasses Malts which is essentially refined sugar, further accentuating the sweetness in this beer.

All in all, this isn't a great beer. However, it is drinkable. I know that isn't exactly a glowing endorsement but give it a go. Everyone's tastes are different and you may profoundly disagree.

2.5/5