Avid readers of this publication will probably be aware there's a fair bit of fondness for red IPAs / hoppy red ales among the Crafty team scattered around the country. Indeed, it's one of the benefits of the slide into winter, which elicits a Pavlovian response in brewers to produce such beers.
One brewery that's been doing so rather well for a few years is Holgate Brewhouse, and they're back at it with the 2024 release of Campfire – the eighth outing for their 25 Years Of Beers series. Its arrival at Crafty Towers acted as confirmation that my olfactory system and memory of beers last consumed months or years earlier haven't started to fade with age just yet; after one sniff and sip, I shot their head brewer a message to ask if they'd upped or altered the hops from past years. Turns out it's the former, and you sure can tell.
The citrusy / stonefruity / red berry aromas are more potent – fruitier and juicier – than in the past, with that juiciness carrying through to the palate too. The toffee-treacle biscuit malts are there in support, while a combination of a resinous bitterness and a toasty edge to said malts ensure there's a dry and suitably IPA-esque finish. When done this well, it's easy to understand why us Crafties enjoy such beers so much.
James Smith
WIN SOME CAMPFIRE! If you're reading this in time, we're giving away three cases of Campfire Red IPA to members of our beer club, The Crafty Cabal. Head here for more info!
Published May 15, 2024 2024-05-15 00:00:00
