Fuller Flavour

 

Back in the craftless day when I was a hairy lager lout happily humming along to the dial-up tune, when pursuing the beer buzz, I blindingly assumed that beer was, well, beer, cold fizzy stuff that only deserved respect the next morning. Back then, quality NZ beer was an oxymoron.  The only choices were barely bittered lagers and ales with flavour as rare as a quiet builder. Meanwhile, the Poms were quietly sipping away on ‘tongue tingling hop’ or ‘malt in the mouth’ inspired beers, with flavour that would make their cheeks flush and talk with a stiff upper lip.

Nek minnit, Muldoon got dethroned, tariffs came off imports and Fuller’s became one of the first English beers to tempt the lager league. I cut my teeth on Fuller’s ESB all those beers ago, which awoke some dormant monsters inside my mouth called taste-buds.

Here’s four sippulant Fuller’s to try:

Fuller’s ESB 5.9%.  Many craft brewers have been inspired by Fuller’s extra special bitter and as such has become a recognised beer style. This liquid legend is the pinnacle of the fuller’s range, winning many awards. Its “marmalade on buttered toast flavour” is Fuller’s signature taste and flows through all the Fuller’s range with varying authority.

Fuller’s London Pride 4.7% is UK’s most popular beer hence malty award winning. Here the marmalade on toast is more orangey, and bitter hops in harmony with malts. Its complexity allows it to be an all season session beer that has refreshing warmth.

Fuller’s Golden Pride 8.5%, an uber strong ale with a fruit mince aroma. Tastes of bitter peppery marmalades and belly-warming toffee ports. It’s a liquid Christmas cake for any occasion.

Fuller’s 1845 6.3%, another strong ale first brewed in 1995 for Fuller’s 150^th anniversary. It’s rich, malty, and spicy with hints of nutmegs and a dry fruity finish that is exceptionally satisfying. It tastes boozier than 6% so it’s safe to have a naughty nother.

If Fuller’s have been brewing fuller flavoured beers for 350 years, maybe NZs’ beer barons could step it up?

Denis ‘outa hair’ Cooper