With last year’s barley wine still receiving accolades, including a gold at this year's Indies, Hotcake Sauce 2021 arrives once again sees Maylands' brewpub Seasonal delivering an English barley wine expression – note two words, not the US portmanteau – yet with an appropriately anglophile use of American hops. There’s also been time in barrel this time too, rendering a lighter body and viscosity than last year, but fear not: there’s now even more nuance to enjoy.
Hotcake Sauce is a complex affair featuring deep and light caramel, Fantales, raisin jam, vanilla, desiccated coconut, burnt molasses and more, before the follow up in the shape of warm, whisky burps. True to its name, the indulgence is often paired with the kitchen’s sticky date pudding for maximum satisfaction, and those that are quick can try a blend of vintages pouring on tap, something this writer can vouch for!
However, if this all seems a bit much, Seasonal are also currently pouring a comparatively moderate, and very clean Cold IPA (6.3 percent ABV) featuring Nelson Sauvin’s grassy / diesel character lifting through a fine, spritzy carbonation.
Guy Southern
Published December 29, 2021 2021-12-29 00:00:00