Beer review — Sharp’s and Southern Tier 422

Sharp’s Special 500ml $8.02
Sharp’s, founded in 1994, brews at Rock, Cornwall, and specialises in cask-conditioned ales. This is a bottled version of its strongest brew – a deep-amber ale with opulent sweet, malty palate, complex (but subtle) roasted-grain notes and perfectly judged hops adding more flavour complexity and bitterness.

Southern Tier 422 Pale Wheat Ale 330ml $6.75
From Lakewood, New York, comes this distinctive, full-bodied, bottle-conditioned wheat ale. The aroma and palate both reveal more hops character than we normally see in wheat beers. But it’s a subtle, pleasant and balanced difference that works well with the full, sweet maltiness of the palate.

Copyright © Chris Shanahan 2010