North East Beer Review

I bought this beer when having a couple halves from That Crafty Brew in Chester-Le-Street. I personally chose this as I loved Blaydon based Firebrick Brewery Gaffa which is an Orange Kolsch. So Vaux Brewery x Black Lodge Pressure Point was a no brainer especially as it was a Blood Orange Kolsch. So what did I think of this Wearside based version of the blood orange Kolsch. Find out as I cover the history of this brewery and beer, the pour, taste and aroma and finally my verdict.

Vaux Brewery x Black Lodge Brewing

Vaux Brewery is a name that has been around since 1806. The original Vaux was founded in 1806 by Cuthbert Vaux which grew into a regional brewery with beers such as Double Maxim and Sunderland’s Best Bitter. Vaux Brewery went onto be brewed for almost 2 centuries and was vital part of Sunderland’s culture even sponsoring the team. In 1999, the brewery was controversially closed even though it was still profitable and was later acquired by Whitbread, a multinational hotel and restaurant company. Although, the original brewery closed, itself recipes and iconic brews were carried on by former staff in the name of Maxim Brewery.

However, in 2019 the brand was revived by Sunderland locals Steven Smith and Michael Thompson, who set out to bring brewing back to Sunderland, restore pride back in the name Vaux, and create something modern as opposed to nostalgic. Instead of recreating old times, they decided to lean into Modern day UK craft brewing. Early on, they often collaborated with local breweries as they didn’t have a brewery immediately thus allowing them to focus on quality.

By late 2019, the new Vaux opened their own brewery site on Monk Street in Sunderland which officially brought brewing back to the city. This included a new taproom which created a new social hub and became a key part of the city’s recent regeneration. The old site became part of Sunderland’s Riverside regeneration and the new Vaux added to the cultural aspect of the city’s regeneration. They brew different styles such as IPA, Kolsch and Hazy Ales. I personally have tried a couple such as the Vaux Charles Street Brown and Fat Freddy’s Drop.

Black Lodge Brewing is a modern craft brewery based in Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle which is a major area of Liverpool’s independent food and drink scene. Black Lodge was founded in 2015, by Paul Seiffert and Rob Tuffnell with a focus on creativity, collaboration and modern craft brewing. Their beers are often small batch and often leans into the hop forward nature such as IPAs, Lagers and Sours. In terms of collaboration, they often collaborate and release limited edition beers from breweries around the UK craft beer scene. In 2019, Black Lodge expanded into a larger site on Kings Dock Street which contains a taproom and beer garden. As of today, they run events, tastings, and the annual Liverpool Craft Beer Expo. Overall, the brewery plays a big part in the modern UK craft beer scene.

In terms of Pressure Point, this collaborative brew is a Blood Orange Kolsch which is a light and clean German style ale which is top fermented like an Ale and cold-conditioned like a lager. Vaux and Black Lodge took this style and added a citrus zestiness which is aimed at easy drinking and full flavour. Overall, a beer that will combine UK craft innovation with heritage.

A crisp and lively pour

When poured, the brew presents a pale golden to straw colour with clear, clean and bright. Typical of a German-style Kolsch. A soft and bubbly white head presents itself which remains as a thin cap, thus leaving a delicate amount of lacing down the glass. In terms of Carbonation, Pressure Point is quite lively and leads a steady stream of bubbles which rises up the glass. Overall, this is a clean and inviting pour which appears easy drinking.

A clean and orange led taste and aroma

Aroma

When it comes to the aromatics, Pressure Point commences with an immediate burst citrus aromas solely that of orange such as blood orange, marmalade and orange zest. There is a soft herbal aroma which is enhanced by a soft malt backbone which gives it a bready cracker like smell. This is a fresh smelling and light aroma.

Taste

On the palate, Pressure Point has clean, crisp and blood orange taste. The orange citrus edge gives you a gentle sweetness and tangy flavour. Mid-palate, this is balanced by the malt backbone which gives this a light and bready base. Furthermore, there is a soft bitterness which invites you for more. Overall, this is a smooth and clean beer which finishes with a lingering citrus bitterness. Overall, a well-balanced and deep flavoured beer.

Time for my verdict

Overall, I feel Vaux x Black Lodge Pressure Point is a clean and easy drinking brew which I feel could be accessible to those who aren’t necessarily into craft beer and maybe are more passive lager drinkers. The blood orange nature was well balanced not allowing this to get too bitter but instead making Pressure Point quite refreshing. Overall, an enjoyable beer but did I like it better than Firebrick Brewery Gaffa? No, I didn’t I feel Firebrick added a lot more depth of flavour and exploited the hop and malt selection a lot better. However, I still rate this and I would definitely recommend it. Overall, I rate this 4 out of 5. Cheers

Where did I purchase this beer?

I bought this beer from That Crafty Brew located in Chester-Le-Street, County Durham. I recommend stopping by if you are in the area and are looking for good beer and a friendly environment.

Thanks for reading my review. If you enjoyed this review, you will love my review of Vaux Heads Will Roll.