Look, I'm not a hardcore traditionalist but I'll admit that if I spotted an imperial pastry sour deliberately crammed with pineapple, banana and lemon in a bottleshop fridge it's unlikely I'd be reaching for it in a hurry. That said, the name very much appeals to someone who still makes the Tooth Hurty, time for the dentist, joke most weeks. According to the label, the concept was to brew as beer that would be a nightmare for a dentist, hence the overload of ingredients. Yet, while dense and as banana-y as any beer you’ll come across – in a far more fruity manner than in a hefe – it’s not overtly sweet or pastryesque, displaying Bowden’s measured touch to deliver a creamy breakfast juice that those who enjoy such things will happily lap up.
However, no sooner had I typed "measured touch" in my tasting notes than the commentator's curse struck. Sleepy Time is a chocolate porter to which the brewers have added lavender, chamomile and passion flowers alongside East Kent Goldings hops – each chosen for their sleep-inducing properties. Measure be damned – this is like being rugby tackled into the bushes while wandering though a herb garden. There’s a freshly-harvested hydro vibe to proceedings too with the chocolate and porter elements getting a look in once you pull yourself up from the floor and brush the flowers from your clothing.
James Smith
NB If you're reading this in time, you can join them for their Yeet-heavy second birthday bash on July 8.
Published July 4, 2023 2023-07-04 00:00:00
