I picked this beer up as bargain beer having known nothing about the history of Treboom Brewery. I was thought for 99p, whats the worst that could happen. Well, during the course of this review I will discuss the slightly strange of history of this Yorkshire/Welsh based brewery. Furthermore, I will cover the history of the beer along with the pour, the taste and aroma and finally my verdict. Cheers
A somewhat turbulent history.
Treboom Brewery was founded in 2011 in Shipton-by-Beningbrough, North Yorkshire. It was a small scale operation in an old pig barn utilising a 10 barrel system. The brewery was founded by John Lewis and Jane Blackman who aimed to merge their respective former careers in science and arts to form creative and technically refined brews. During the 2010’s, Treboom garnered a pretty good reputation in North Yorkshire especially with their brew such as the Yorkshire Sparkle.
However, in 2022 the Yorkshire based brewey closed and was sold. The operation was relocated to Bagillt, Flintshire, North Wales. Brewing is reported to have recommenced there in late 2024, effectively relaunching Treboom as a Welsh-based brewery. Positioning itself as an approachable and flavourful brewery.
Welsh Sparkle Really Pale Ale is an evolution of the original Yorkshire Sparkle which at the time was one of Trebooms stand out beers. It was described as a “really pale ale” with grapefruit and tropical fruit notes, achieved through a blend of hops such as Junga, Willamette, and Styrian Goldings. Welsh Sparkle is a 4% Extra Pale Ale which is designed as a sessionable and refreshing pint.
A golden pour
Welsh Sparkle pours a pale yellow straw to golden colour which lives up to its name of really pale ale. It is clear in clarity and looks fresh and approachable. The carbonation is lively and a thin white head forms which dissipates relatively quickly, leaving little to no lacing. Overall, this beer does come across as a fresh and clean beer but I wish the head lasted longer.
A citrusy taste and aroma
Aroma
On the nose, Welsh Sparkle is light, citrusy and inviting. Initial flavours of grapefruit and lemon are followed by tropical notes of melon. Underneath, the malt base shines to give this beer a slight sweetness to balance the bitterness. Theres a faint floral note too. Overall, a clean, light and non aggressive aroma which you can tell is designed to be approachable to all.
Taste
The taste pretty much mirrors the aroma of this brew. Initially, Welsh Sparkle presents a grapefruit and lemon citrus edge which has also has a slight tropical hint such as pineapple or melon. The malt backbone offers a sweetness and bready note which somewhat balances the brew. The bitterness is moderate which adds to the structure more than actually dominating the taste. The finish is dry and slightly bitter. Overall, this is an easy drinking but slightly restrained drinker but that may be due to the style.
Time for my verdict
I feel this beer was an ok beer for the 99p I paid for it. As with all my reviews I understand flavour intensity can vary by style. So for Welsh Sparkle I feel this was easy drinking and quite refreshing but I felt like it was missing something else such as maybe a more pronounced tropical fruit flavour. This certainly isn’t a bad beer but it is not going to blow you away. Overall, I rate this beer a respectable 3.25 out of 5.
Where did I purchase this beer?
I bought this beer from Home Bargains, a bargain store in the UK for 99p.
Thanks for reading my review. If you enjoyed this review, you will love my review of another bargain beer called Adnams Lazy SIPA.
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