By Jeff Evans, chair of The International Beer Challenge

Mauldons White Adder, 5.3%
They’ve been toasting a milestone at Mauldons in Suffolk. Head brewer Steve Birch is celebrating 45 years with the business and reckons he has brewed no fewer than 25 million pints during that time. One of the beers in his earlier years was White Adder, a punchy IPA that was introduced way back in 1991 as a counterpoint to the company’s Black Adder stout that had just won CAMRA’s Champion Beer of Britain title. It’s now been reintroduced and about time, too. It’s good to see English IPAs fighting back against the all-pervasive US equivalents and this is a good example of the style. Initially sweet, with smooth, almost caramel-like malt to the fore, it then delivers a bitter kick from the hops while remaining generally on the sweeter side. Floral and melon notes define the Golding hop flavours, before a dry, crisp, increasingly bitter and hoppy finish, with grassy, tangy hop contributions.

Great Newsome Clattering, 4.4%
A couple of new beers have just surfaced at this East Yorkshire brewery – a session IPA called Bushel (4.1%), laced with three varieties of American hops, and a very enjoyable oatmeal stout called Clattering. Because of the oat content, my expectation was for something soft, smooth and creamy but, while there is indeed a silky cereal base, this drinks more like a dry stout in other respects, with an aroma of polished leather and dark chocolate, then plenty of bitterness up front on the palate with some sweeter malt underneath. It’s biscuity in places thanks to the roasted grains, which also contribute much of the bitterness, and then to set things off nicely there’s a juicy dark berry flavour mingling in behind. With blackcurrants and blackberries on the swallow, the finish is then firmly dry, smoky and biscuity as charred grains take over.

Small Beer Blanche, 2.5%
Small Beer specialises in lower-strength beers in a variety of styles, the latest being this adventurous take on Belgian witbier. This is a style that should, in theory, work well in a low-alcohol format. Of course, some of the aromatics are traditionally derived from the fermentation and the type of yeast employed. But other flavours, such as peppery citrus notes from coriander and orange peel, should be relatively easy to incorporate. So how has Small Beer done? Pretty well, I’d say. First up the bready, slightly chewy wheat base is nicely in place and then layered on top are all the spice and fruit flavours you’d expect, leaving
perfumed spice and a pithy citrus bitterness to linger on the palate. Being lower in strength, it tastes drier and less sweet than the full-fat version but, for anyone wanting something light, spritzy and not too alcoholic for the summer, it’s a good option.

Brooklyn Bodega Run, 3.4%
This clear-golden, session pale ale is brewed and packaged for Brooklyn by Carlsberg Britvic in the UK and slips down very easily indeed. It’s brimful of fruit and floral notes, from canned peaches in the aroma to more peach, orange zest and florals in the taste, but no single flavour is over-exaggerated, ensuring the beer remains bittersweet, balanced, crisp and highly quaffable. The finish is dry and increasingly bitter but, again, not too assertively, with orange zest still playing on the taste buds. It may only pack 3.4% abv but it’s rather satisfying, and a good option to keep in the fridge for summer. There’s also a second Brooklyn new release worth taking a look at: a hazy IPA called Pulp Art (4.6%), which is full of juicy tropical fruit but thankfully not as sickly as some hazy IPAs can be.