Another beverage from Wylam Brewery, this time with their pale ale called Y2K. Got this reduced at Enjoy in Morpeth as it was going out of date. I have tried a few from Wylam and every single one has been decent so far. During the course of this review, I will cover the history of this beer and brewery, the pour, the taste and aroma and finally my verdict. Cheers
A brewery steeped in Geordie heritage.
Wylam Brewery was founded in 2000 by John Boyle and Robin Leighton in a disused dairy factory near Heddon-on-the-wall. Wylam quickly gained recognition for its high quality ales which lead to an expansion in 2006. Consequently, in 2016 the brewery relocated to the Palace of Arts in Exhibition Park, Newcastle. This is a grade 2 listed building originally constructed for the 1929 North East Coast Exhibition. This contains a 30 barrel brewhouse, taproom and events space.
Wylam Brewery Y2K is a new england style IPA which is hopped with the likes of Citra, Mosaic and Galaxy. The marketing is linked to the year Wylam Brewery was founded with art work on the can being from the millennium shift. With artwork adorning the likes Bobby Robson managing the mags and the millennium bridge, this certainly lives up to its name. Giving the beer a retro theme with a modern twist.
A hazy pour
The pour presents a dense hazy golden colour which is reminiscent of the beers hop forward nature. Looking like a typical NEIPA, this beer has a foamy and creamy white head which left lasting lacing down the side of the glass. The carbonation is gentle with a juicy appearance. You couldn’t really ask for more of a New England IPA.
A juicy taste and aroma
Aroma
Wylam Brewery Y2K bursts out the glass with tropical fruit aromas. The aromas such as mango, pineapple and passion fruit. Behind this, is a layer of citrus zest with hints of orange and lime peel. Theres a soft undertone of apricot which rounds everything off. Overall, an immensely juicy ale.
Taste
On the palate, Y2K opens with bright, juicy citrus followed by a full hit of tropical fruit sweetness. Mango and pineapple dominate up-front, before shifting into papaya and soft peach in the mid-palate. The Mosaic character comes through again with a subtle dank edge that keeps the beer from feeling overly sweet.
A gentle, rounded bitterness creeps in toward the finish, not sharp, just enough to provide balance. The result is a smooth, fruit-forward IPA with a clean, slightly resinous aftertaste that lingers without overwhelming. Overall, a very well balanced beer.
Time for my verdict
Overall, this is a beer that I purchased due to the beer going out of date. However, I would love to have tried this fresh. This was a lovely balanced IPA which was full and loaded with juicy flavours. It was a really good New England style IPA. Overall, I rate this a solid 4 out of 5.
Where did I purchase this beer?
I bought this beer from Enjoy located in the Sanderson Arcade in Morpeth. Top quality shop for local ales from all over the North East.
Thanks for reading my review. I really appreciate it. If you enjoyed this review, you will love my review of Wylam Brewery x Wor Flags NCL flags.
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