BBNo - 02|07

The title for this blog can be somewhat confusing if you're not particularly close to the current London craft brewing scene, which is fine, we're not snobs here, I just thought it looked so damn classy like that! I'll explain. BBNo, or Brew by Numbers, with 02|07, which is their code for their Golden Ale, brewed with Amarillo and Pacific Jade. It's either really simple or really complicated, depending on just how hard you decide to look at it.

It seems that there is nothing that Brew by Numbers can't do, they have even brought out 2 golden ales, seemingly in an attempt to revive the breed from neglect and mediocrity. When I went to Brodie's and mentioned that BBNo were making an "exciting" Golden Ale, I was nearly laughed out of my own van but after pouring this beer I can assure you that "exciting" really is the word. It smells piney and earthy, which probably comes from the Amarillo but there's a little hint of spice and warmth too. The body is indeed golden, absolutely spot on in the colour department with translucent cloudiness, medium carbonation and heavy lacing which simply whitewashes the sides of the glass if you tilt it.

There is a lingering, almost salty, bitterness that persists with a sweet and tangy base. A beer with 3 pronounced levels of being, starting with simple, smooth, pleasure; it's rich and sweet and delicious. After that it hits you with a big punch of zingy hop bitterness that dances on your tongue like a deranged and broken mechanical puppy. It finishes with a long afterburn, the kind that simultaneously lets you think that you're ok but also lets you think you could breath fire out of your nose if you wanted to.

An excellently crafted beer by a brewery who will, one day, be vying for British craft crown with the likes of Thornbridge and Kernel. You mark my words, it'll happen, they're that good.

...And the scary thing is that they're only getting better.

Food suggestion: Piri Piri chicken... Not necessarily Nando's... But I'm not exactly saying NOT Nando's... But it's not served there either, is it?... So, takeaway?

Drink this if you like: Similar to many American Pale Ales out there like Gamma Ray by Beavertown and Mariana Trench by Weird Beard.