Review - Below Brew Co
Originally called Lowtide the Below Brew Co. have been experimenting and creating fun and interesting beers since 2019. The company is based in Bath but can be found all around the UK. They stand out with amazing graphic designs on their cans and names to go along with it. Below Brew has a core range with the sorts of beers you’d expect but brings out limited runs of something a little different often turning to their customers for inspiration and running design contests for the cans. The most recent being their “Tweet & Sour” a Smoothie Sour!
My first experience with Below was as Lowtide when I tried their NEIPA “The Cosmic Turtle” which I gave a 6 and still feel this is a reasonable score having tried it again recently along with three others in anticipation of this review. The others I tried were “Wild Juice Chase”, “Forgot to Take My Pills” and “Heaven and Helles”. I would love to try their stout too to get a broader understanding of their range but sadly I couldn’t find it.
When it comes to making a range of drinks there will always be a philosophy behind it and that will come from whoever is making the beer. People won’t sell something they hate and I imagine that holds for the people making the beers at Below. A running theme through all these beers was a lack of acidity. Everyone fell a little flat and had they not been backed up by a great flavour I may have forgotten to take another sip. Wild Juice Chase is my favourite (8.9) with the flavour of a peach Frube or Muller Corner that blows you away on the nose and holds up on the palate but is let down with lacking acidity and wins me over by not being too overly fruity.
Heaven and Helles come in second (8) with a fantastic mix of cereal and floral notes and surprised me as a gluten-free option should be at the top of the list for anyone looking. Forgot to take my Pils (7.8) another great option with musty grape and melon but a little watery which has the knock-on effect of a short finish and makes it feel slightly forgettable. Cosmic Turtle (6) brings up the rear but mostly due to it not being my style and a real lack of anything that stands out to make me want to drink it again.
Below Brew Co. are doing great work but and believe that if they work out how to increase the acidity and overall punch it can take the category by storm. The flavours are there, I am just left wanting more and not in a good way.
Disclaimer: All opinions expressed are my own and are in no way intended to harm or cause harm to the business. My taste is personal to me and I hope you also take the time to try all these beers and form your own ideas. This is here solely to help guide you and give you an idea of what you may experience when drinking these products
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