Adam Croft

Imagine my surprise when I opened up a package sent in the morning post to find this striking blue bottle staring me in the face. I must admit that my first thought was What the hell are WKD doing sending me samples to review? After rubbing my weary eyes and taking another sip of coffee, I realised it was the newest addition to Adnams’ bottled beer range – Spindrift. This is a beer which has been available in keg form for three or four years, but the new 5.0% 330ml bottled beer has that little something extra.

The beer is described on the bottled as a ‘Bright blonde English beer brewed with East Anglian malted barley and wheat and hopped with English hedgerow and other aromatic hops’. The beer pours a clear, crisp, light amber colour with good condition and the head retention is very good indeed for such a light beer. The early nose gives a slightly metallic hint with an underlying hint of summer fruits, conveying a fresh and light aroma to the beer.

The mouthfeel is stupendous – the beer feels light, has great condition, and allows the hops to bounce off your tongue, retaining a grassy freshness which comes through even before the taste which brings a torrent of banana fruitiness – not sweetness – and a decent-sized apple hint. The hop selection (Boadicea and First Gold) is truly inspired and leaves Spindrift tasting like a true farmhouse ale – summery and refreshing.

If the weather gods allow us a few more weeks of glorious sunshine before this summer sees an end, Spindrift makes an excellent accompaniment to any summer’s evening.

Spindrift is available in cases of 12 x 330ml bottles at £18.99 through the Adnams online shop.