In Suffolk over Christmas, and a chance to try some of the new Adnams beers from Southwold – notably, two seasonal beers of theirs. Seasonal winter beers ordinarily appear to mean high ABV, but this isn’t apparently how Adnams think – there again, Adnams appear to think pretty differently to most beer companies, having recently produced their own carbon-neutral brews and covering the top of their distribution centre in grass.

Trying both from the bottles – and both rather too warm, it should be said…

Adnams Gunhill was a dark, very malty, and rather sweet beer, at only 4%. They call it a ‘dark, ruby ale’; however, I found it rather overpoweringly malty for my taste. I wasn’t too impressed.

So, it was a good job that Adnams Lighthouse came to the rescue. They call this a pale ale, though it’s almost as dark as the Gunhill, which came as a surprise. The taste, however, is a very hoppy pale ale – a really splendid pint, this, and I’d not mind trying it again at a more sensible temperature. It tasted surprisingly close to the american pale ales I like – but at just 3.4%, this is a session beer and a thirst quencher. What I don’t really understand is the thinking behind releasing it as a seasonal ale at this time of year – to me, this would make an excellent summer drink.

Both Gunhill and Lighthouse are in East Anglian Tesco and Co-op stores. Hopefully they’ll make it a little further west, too.

adnams, England, gunhill, lighthouse, southwold