Shropshire Born & Bred Beer (Co-op @WoodsBrewCrew) By @SpectreUK

We all have to come from somewhere. This Shropshire Born & Bred pale ale was brewed in Wistanstow by the Wood Brewery. It's a session ale at 3.8% volume, meaning it's low alcohol by volume so it used to be drunk during break times at work when the world was a little more fun. The label sports a floral aroma and tropical fruity hoppy flavour. Citra and Celeia hops were brewed with Maris Otter and Crystal Malts to create this light amber coloured beer. I must admit on reading the label I was salivating by the end of it. After my second week slowly settling in at work, I could do with a brew that's not too high in ABV, but high enough to tickle my fancy before Gaming night tonight.

On opening the bottle I was first struck by the pre-described floral smell. There was a citrus fruitiness at the back of the aroma, with a touch of pale malt. This deep straw coloured pale ale tastes of pure sweet pale malts to start with, then the floral and citrus fruitiness from the crisp bitter hops merged perfectly with each other. That refreshing lip smacking bite from the hops travels into the aftertaste. This Shropshire Born & Bred was born and bred just down the road from where we live, and I was born not far away from here myself.

I was born and bred just within the borders of the Black Country not too far away from Birmingham. An area born from coal, and soot, and steam during the beginnings of the Industrial Revolution. An era I never fail to find fascinating. The best places to see more about it around here are The Black Country Museum in Dudley, which is deep in the heart of the Black Country, and the Severn Valley Railway in Bridgnorth, and also Ironbridge and the Victorian Village in Telford, of which are in Shropshire. This beer joins both areas together perfectly. And here I am in the middle - a fairly oldish and overly posh Black Country man enjoying his session pale ale on a Friday night with a packet of pork scratchings on the side. Cheers! ;-)