Pandora by Jilly Cooper + Rhubarb White by FrogBeer
Pandora is, in traditional Jilly style, a sweeping saga that covers 60 years of rich people being sexy and nasty to each other at turns with some art heist-age, quality puns and charming dogs thrown in. It is, true to form, delightful and exciting.
And so, pop goes the cap on a Rhubarb White by FrogBeer. Why? I’m glad you asked, settle in…
The true star of all the Rutshire Chronicles, and this one is no exception, is not the sex, the puns, the ponies or even Rupert Campbell-Black (forgive me Alison Urquhart). The true star is the stunning, moving, breathing and yet breathless english countryside. Never still for a second, never quiet, never without scent or colour, wild garlic reeks after a rain shower, cow parsley froths, hawthorn explodes in creamy fountains… there is no respite from natures insatiable grasp on Jilly’s imagination and word count. A second factor that I enjoy very much, is that no one is one dimensional, villains are redeemed, goodies fail and virgins screw. I read an article today saying that Jilly Cooper was great but not something you told people you were reading when you were trying to impress them, I guess you might say the same for fruit beers in beernerd land...
To hell with that.
This Rhubarb White is silky smooth, slightly sweet with a luxurious mouthfeel brought on by some friendly oat and wheat additions in the mash. A lovely golden colour that glows with Jillys candlelit oaks and stirs images of rolling fields ripe with husky wheat and barley heads. On the nose you’ll get a short acidic burst of fresh rhubarb, it stings and pulls you in at the same time, before that first soft bready mouthful rolls across the tongue, slightly sweet and pleasantly lingering. The hops start to kick in while you’re still cherishing the sugars, a bitter punch, an acidic top note, a swoosh of rhubarb, a memory of kitchen supps in late supper… nettle stings and blushing at a country fete.
Comments
Post a Comment