I am a big fan of Irn Bru and an even bigger fan of Fierce Iron Brew Beer Cooler which remarkably looks, feels and tastes like Irn Bru. I always grab a can when I venture to Wetherspoons as it’s the only place I have seen it in the North East. When I was up in Scotland, I knew it was had to keep an eye out for the Big Iron Brew which is a stronger 6.8% version of the OG beer cooler. Grabbing it from the Fierce Bar in Edinburgh, this really intrigued me more than trying the original Iron Brew. So what did I think? During the course of this review I will cover the history of this brewery and beer, the pour, the taste and aroma and finally my verdict. Cheers.
Born in Aberdeen, Scotland
A brewery born in Aberdeen, Fierce Beer began as a home brewing project where the founders were inspired by hoppy and flavourful US West Coast beers. Their first commercial brew took place in 2016 and they operated a small scale brewing operation in Great Western Road ,Aberdeen. Due to a reputation of ‘flavour packed beers’, an investment was made to a new facility at Kirkhill Industrial Estate in Dyce, Aberdeen.
Fierce Beer built its reputation up on the back of fruity, hoppy, dark specialty beers which differ from more standard types. Due to this they currently operate a taproom in their Dyce Brewery and two bar/taprooms in Aberdeen and Edinburgh. In recognition of their growing reputation, Fierce won Scottish Brewery of the year in 2021.
Fierce Big Iron Brew is the stronger version of Fierce Beer’s Iron Brew Beer Cooler. This is a boozy take on the popular Scottish soft drink which is distinctively orange in colour. The beer cooler was designed to bridge the gap between soft drinks and craft beer. Due to success of Iron Brew, Fierce created the stronger 6.8% Big Iron Brew, ironically in a smaller can. Fierce describes it as a pale, crisp beer “loaded with the distinctive flavour of Scotland’s favourite soft drink,” giving it a playful identity that stands out in the Scottish craft beer market.
It is just like Irn Bru
Fierce Big Iron Brew pours a clear and bright orange colour which is very identical to the original Irn Bru complexion. A thin white bubbly head forms which doesn’t stick around very long, this left a small lacing ring. The carbonation is moderate to lively, very similar to a soft drink with a visible stream of bubbles. Overall, the appearance of Big Iron Brew is something different from your average beer but it certainly adds a playful edge.
A nostalgic flavour profile
Aroma
The aroma of Big Iron Brew is sweet and bubblegum like. Its opens with a slight orange zest bubblegum sweetness, vanilla and citrus. There is a light malty aroma but this overpowered the nostalgia flavours. This gives more soft drink aromas than beer.
Taste
When it comes to taste, Big Iron Brew pretty much mirrors the aroma. It opens with flavours of sweet citrus, caramelised sugar, vanilla and a big bubblegum sweetness. The main difference between Big Iron Brew and regular Iron Brew is that this version has a more pronounced malt backbone which offers a biscuity base which perhaps rounds off the beer a bit better. Hence offering a less sweet experience compared to the OG Iron Brew. The flavour is still very Iron Brew like and offers a sweet and refreshing edge. Overall, Big Iron Brew is slightly ‘more beer like’ and has more body than the OG. I think I prefer this version as it is less sweet and overpowering. However, it still has the potential to be even more dangerous considering how drinkable this is.
Time for my verdict
Overall, I really like these Beer Coolers that Fierce brew. I feel they are a fun and creative way of looking at beer. I honestly feel that the likes of the Big Iron Brew is almost a great to introduce beer to those who don’t like beer. This is incredibly refreshing and drinkable with the 6.8% making it dangerous and thank goodness for the 330ml cans otherwise I would have had a sore head in the morning. A top notch and nostalgic brew that I rate 4.75 out of 5 for being different and creative. Cheers.
Where did I purchase this beer?
I purchased this beer from the warm and welcoming Fierce Bar in Edinburgh.
Thanks for reading my review. If you enjoyed my review you will love my review of Fierce IPA.
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