The first instalment of my top beers of 2025 runs from number 11 through to number 20. Since we’ve been retired, we’ve been travelling a lot more and this list reflects that, the standard in the UK is as good as ever but you’ll find some rather special beers from much further afield in the list this year!
11. Baby Sharks - Verdant: Classic Verdant murk and part of the “Sharks” family, this one is at the low end of the ABV range and probably the best session hazy in the country now.
12. Flor de Truco - Cerveceria LOA: Consumed in Santiago Chile, a local Chilean beer that turned up in cans at a restaurant, a full on hazy NEIPA and absolutely on the money for flavour profile, so good we had to have two cans each!
13. Kasta APA - Kasta Microbrews: A classic American Pale Ale, brewed locally to be hoppy and full of tropical fruits flavour, also had a slug of malt and decent bitterness, perfect for the 30+ degrees at the location (Crete, Greece!) a real tonic after the usual "industrial lagers" that pervade most tourist spots there.
14. Expressions Strata - Siren: I always thought that Strata hops were overrated that is until I tried this little number, the full panoply of flavours, tropical, citrus, dank and peppery, an interesting series and a great beer.
15. Persistence of Time - Siren: Drank this at the Siren 12th birthday party event, it featured Nelson hops (my favs.) and cannabis Terpenes (hey man!), dank AF and fruity, nice.
16. Le Lez - Verdant: Made in conjunction with French brewers Prizm (Montpellier), a blend of NZ and US hops limey and deeply dank, such a saturated flavour, oooh la la!
17. Fruit Car Sight Exhibition - Verdant: A classic that’s appeared a couple of time on my lists, but it's so good. I was lucky enough to snag a couple of cans and had them at home. 100% Citra hops with huge aromas and flavours of Mango, Apricot and citrus, Verdant really are at the top of their game.
18. Neal gets Soundwave - Siren-Verdant: A collaboration between two of my favourite brewers, this brew attempts to merge the flavour profiles of two flagship brews, Neal gets Things Done and Soundwave, the result was pretty good.
19. Grand Caravan - Trillium: Even though I went to America a couple of times this year this was my only Trillium beer (I know, must try harder!) but it was a banger, classic Trillium, balance and flavour punch, I can only dream about them setting up shop over this side of the pond one day.
20. Psych - Verdant: (pictured above) I put this on the list not because it was a favourite beer from a taste point of view but because I reckon it was the best Low/No alcohol beer of the year (by a long chalk!) So good that I snagged 24 cans of it for “dry January” and designated driver situations next year!
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