Gren Bière

Came across a bottle of this the other day in the Winchester in Merthyr Tydfil.

Gren Bière, 4.5% ABV/330ml bottle

Brewed by the current Champion Beer of Wales brewers, Rhymney Brewery of Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil, Gren Bière is named after the famous South Wales Echo cartoonist Gren Jones who died in 2007. The bottle label features a typical valley scene and, of course, Nev the Sheep in his sunglasses.

Gren Bière is pale straw-coloured beer with citrus hints of pineapple and other fruits in the nose, caused by the New Zealand Pacifica and Green Bullet hops used to brew this beer. There are some biscuity sweet flavours from the pale malt in the taste, followed by a slighty dry, crisp and astringent aftertaste. A very refreshing beer that would go well with a wide-range of foods.

Whilst on the subject of New Zealand hops - I tried the Brains Legends beer for the first time last night, brewed with Motueka and Pacifica hops and I really enjoyed it in the Cottage in Cardiff. Brains have been brewing some interesting beers recently, from the Strong Ale to the excellent British Summer, dry hopped with Styrian Goldings. Good to see the biggest real ale brewery in Wales experimenting a bit and brewery interesting beers.