Single Hop Sovereign Blonde Ale, from Marston’s, is reviewed by Douglas McCaffrey.
“Lightly chilled it would be perfect for the muggy, close weather the UK is experiencing. I’d get a few in and watch the Olympics if I were you*.”
*Due to the Great British Beer Festival, publication of this article was delayed. The Editor apologises and asks you please to pretend the Olympics are still going on in order to make this article totally relevant.
Single Hop Sovereign Blonde Ale
Marston’s
ABV 4%
I hate the packing on this beer. The bottle is fine, a stout brown glass that adequately contains its contents and stops them from spilling on my shoes. It’s the label that irks me some. I get it Single Hop marketing bod. Purple is a regal colour and the hops are Sovereign hops. I get it. The fonts are in gold. Solid choice, regents are uniformly rich. The crown is a bit much though. The Queen was June’s thing, Single Hop. It’s all about the Olympics now. Get with the times man! Whack a Union flag on that bad boy and watch Olympricks buy it by the crate. (Olymprick. Noun: Someone overly committed to buying Olympic themed tat.)
I hastily poured my Sovereign into a pint glass. I was greeted with a foaming, rich amber drink with a nice off-white head. This head slowly gave way to slight dusting of white bubbles. It’s a classic British pint combo. A little carbonation hits the trifecta.
The nose is a smattering of different influences. There’s a biscuity note that complements the toffee hints. It’s a fresh and appetising aroma, teed off with a subtle marmalade spice.
A draught will reward you with a fresh, bitter tang. The hops are the star of this beer. A solid, robust taste of familiar, comforting bitter that manages to be flavoursome without overpowering. It’s chuckable stuff. I could happily drink pints of the stuff before getting bored and, at 4% ABV, without falling over. It’s a burst of floral flavours that is at once confident and elegant.
I like this beer. The packing is a bit uninspired but the proof is in the drinking. The Sovereign hop makes for a wonderful, clean tasting beer. Lightly chilled it would be perfect for the muggy, close weather the UK is experiencing. I’d get a few in and watch the Olympics if I were you. The beer will refresh you and the sport will mean you’ll have a frame of reference for the work conversations the next day.
