The Bee’s Knees Honeyed Ale (Aldi) By @SpectreUK

The Bee's Knees can traditionally mean the "height of excellence", and also something "sweet and good" from "when bees flit from flower to flower the nectar sticks to their legs". This golden English Ale from the Hogs Back Brewery, was brewed with honey and dry herbal hops. At 4.2% volume the label talks of sweetness from the honey, herbal and grassy notes from the bitter hops, and the light toasted flavour of sesame from the roasted barley. of course, ever the trooper, I won't take their word for it… I'll have to try The Bee's Knees myself.

On opening there was a sweet almost syrupy roasted barley smell, almost like dates, to start with followed by a sheer herbal hoppiness. On pouring this beer is a deep reddish brown colour, not as golden as I had been lead to believe from the label. On taste I wouldn't say "smooth" was the first word that came to mind. There was a syrupy fruity sweetness with a hard roasted edge to The Bee's Knees in the initial taste. This was followed by bitter herbal hops that produced a sort of smokiness to that sweet roasted flavour whilst moving into the aftertaste of the beer. I can imagine this beer would go well washing down barbecue ribs or pulled pork. However on its own it seems to be begging for a sticky smoky sauce smeared all over a meaty meal, rather than something to be enjoyed with a good film. Maybe some barbecue flavoured crisps would do it… now there's a thought!