Hook Island Red Beer (DiscoverBrew) By @SpectreUK

A little while ago I was sent a box of beer from DiscoverBrew after Cinabar had won a competition. As far as I'm aware this Hook Island Red is the last of the beers in that box. Not that I've avoided it, as I have a special love for spicy red rye beer. This 6% volume Hook Island Red was produced by the Five Points Brewing Company, in London. It was brewed with Chinook, Columbus and Simcoe hops, as well as malted barley and my much desired rye. We have an estate called Ryefields nearby, and whenever I pass it, it makes my heart sink a little as there must have been rye some time ago instead of houses there.

Anyway, on opening this Hook Island Red, there was the expected spicy aroma from the deep red beer inside the bottle. There was also something else though, I could swear there is some chocolate malt in there too. There must be chocolate malt in there, because right at the back of the smell there are lightly roasted coffee undertones. The sweet chocolate malt flavour is predominant from the first taste and then the spiciness from the rye kicks in, which mixes with the three herbal hops and is finally followed by roasted coffee into the aftertaste. This is a very complex beer indeed. I just expected a spicy red rye beer, which of course I would love, but the chocolate malts ensure that this beer is definitely a pudding beer to be enjoyed on its own or with a good chocolatey after dinner treat.