Brulo - 7 Hop 7 Grain DDH IPA

Packed into the small 330 ml can are Nelson Sauvin, Sabro, Simcoe, Azzaca, Citra, Columbus and Mosaic hops together with pilsner, wheat, oat, rye, flaked rice, millet and flaked corn grains. Not GF then, but this 0.0 % ABV beer is vegan. Brulo is based in Edinburgh but this IPA is brewed by De Proef Brouwerij in Belgium, which is well known for brewing beers for other companies (such as Mikkeller). With all those hops the nose is typically citrussy, with a definite lemon sharpness. On the palate there is a nice balance of flavours particularly tart grapefruit and sweeter tropical fruits. The mouthfeel is light whilst the finish is rather dry. It is said that sometimes less is more, but clearly not in this case. No single ingredient dominates; I wonder if the name was thought of first and then ingredients decided upon to make up the numbers?! Whatever it was, 7 + 7 adds up to a beer that's easy to drink. 

4 / 5

Coast - DDH IPA

This is a 0.0 % ABV Double Dry-Hopped India Pale Ale from the Edinburgh brewery set up in 2019 and which specialises in zero alcohol vegan beers. It has just 99 calories in the 330 ml can. Hops are the name of the game in a DDH IPA and this one is fully loaded with Simcoe, Citra and Mosaic - all typical of hop-forward brews. A pale yellow body supports a lively moderate white head and the aroma is very much tropical fruit, particularly mango. The flavour is strongly citrussy, especially grapefruit and orange. The body is rather disappointing being on the thin side and the mouthfeel is quite gassy. The finish is hoppy and sharp. A beer with a prominent flavour, as expected, but let down by the body and the carbonation level.

2 / 5