5 POINTS are, you guessed it, a relatively new brewery from London. No surprises there, then. What might be of interest, however, is that their sister-brewery, Four Thorns, is based in York.
Four Thorns are, as you might know, a one-barrel brewery based at the Deramore Arms, in Heslington, supplying their own premises for the most part, while 5 Points have a full ten-barrel kit with which to brew for the London and national markets, and are soon to double their production capacity, such is the demand for their brews.
Hook Island Red has long been my favourite from this outfit, pouring muddy amber with copper edges, a thick beige head sits atop the glass.
A big, bold aroma of grass and lemon sherbet oozes from the glass, edged with copper coins, pine needles and orange zest.
Medium bodied and gently carbonated, orange toffee and chocolate fudge provide a satisfying weight in the mouth. The malt is rich and biscuity, supporting a firm hop bitterness that builds towards the finish.
Orange juice, sharp and pithy, is poured across a buttery Macadamia sweetness, finishing with a bracing new-world hop bitterness. Full flavoured, fresh, and fantastic.
• Recommeded by Michael Bates, Trembling Madness, York
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