Gyle 1, Mash Monkeys

The first of the 2 bottles of Gyle 1 from the Mash Monkeys (Honest Brew and Late Knights collab) that I've had the pleasure of drinking was a unsolicited birthday gift from the lovely chap (brewer?) behind the bar at the frankly amazing Beer Rebellion in Gypsy Hill.

Vicky and I had been to drink expensive imported DIPAs and impy stouts at the unpleasantly atmosphered (is that a word?) Craft Beer Co in Brixton (where certain staff unfortunately reinforced the snobbish/too cool for school, 'craft beer' geek stereotype. If you're reading this guys - please don't forget: you're a pub. Sort it out.) By massive contrast, Beer Rebellion (to be fair, being well outside of the Brixton Friday night idiocy zone) is congenial, warm and instantly welcoming.

We took home a bottle of this Gyle 1 which we shared over an episode of Masterchef, a Mikkeller wine glass of it lasting more or less the whole hour of the programme. A dark pour, minimal carbonation, a miscellaneous strata of pine and citrus followed by a satisfying bitter hop linger. Caramel sweetness underpinned it all - Werther's Originals? Setting this DIPA apart from others was it's particularly creamy mouthfeel.

Not sure if my description has done it justice, but for me, this is a very distinctive and pleasant DIPA. We look forward to the Mash Monkey's next collab!