If you grew up in the 80s or 90s (as I did), you’ll know the experience of owning a handful of VHS tapes that you watched over and again. And for me, one of those videos was Disney’s Robin Hood. I must have watched that movie about fifty times. You just don’t get that level of re-watching with these newfangled streaming services.
Anyway, imagine my delight when I learned about the character of Reynard the fox from Madocke Brewing, and found out that this cunning vulpine hero was a strong inspiration for Disney’s Robin Hood? It made this beer all the sweeter to me.
It’s hard not to imagine the orange fox with its white muzzle when I look at the golden-orange ale with its gorgeous white pillowy head. The malt and yeast play well together: there’s a little caramel chewiness alongside dried apricot, a background of spiced banana cookies fresh from the oven, and a touch of citrus balancing the peppery finish.
And in keeping with the sneakiness of Reynard, this sneaky brew keeps its booze well-hidden. It’s a naughty beer… but for a good cause.
Mick Wüst
PS For anyone interested, Mumford & Sons does a nice cover of Not In Nottingham.
