North East Beer Review

Whilst in my local Wetherspoons for a few catch up drinks with my younger brother, I decided to a new can a go. The can in question was the Mad Squirrel Sumo American Pale Ale. In the summer heat this was good, but where does it pale compared to similar styles I have drank before, well I will let you know. So 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.

From cask to craft

Mad Squirrel Brewery is a craft brewery based in Hertfordshire, England. Born in Chiltern Hills, the brewery actually began life as Red Squirrel Brewery in the mid 2000’s before changing to Mad Squirrel in 2017. The brewery was founded by Greg Blesson and Jason Duncan-Anderson, initially focusing on British cask ales. These were award winning, with Beer of the Years awards with their London Porter in 2011 and 2012 which helped them gain recognition across the country.

As craft beer exploded in popularity in the 2010’s, the brewery shifted towards pale ales, lagers and hop forward brews. This is when the rebrand occurred and Mad Squirrel officially evolved. Today, Mad Squirrel is known for producing unfiltered and unpasteurised brews with bold and unique flavours. The brewery operates several taprooms across Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire and has become one of the most recognisable independent breweries in southern England.

Mad Squirrel Sumo is one the brewery’s flagship beer and is arguably the most popular one. This is a 4.7% American IPA which aims to put across strong hop character and drinkability. Sumo is actually named after its hop varieties with ‘SU’ coming from Summit hops and ‘MO’ coming from Mosaic. Sumo helped define the jump from traditional ales to modern craft brewing by creating a naturally hazy and balanced juicy ale. Its approachable strength and flavour-forward character have made it popular with both craft beer enthusiasts and casual drinkers alike. It can be found in many craft beer bars, pubs and supermarkets.

A hazy pour which shines in the sun

Sumo pours a slightly hazy golden colour which has that signature unfiltered nature you expect from Mad Squirrel. A foamy head caps this brew which left a small amount of lacing down the glass. The carbonation is lively and you can see a steady stream of bubbles climbing the glass. Overall, light and refreshing pour, showcasing Mad Squirrel ability to brew unfiltered IPAs.

A zesty and hop forward flavour profile

Aroma

Mad Squirrel Sumo has an aroma that bursts from the glass with bright, fresh and hop forward flavours. Immediately strong tropical fruit flavours emerge with flavours of mango and pineapple. This is alongside citrus zests such as lemon and grapefruit. As the beer unlocks, flavours of stonefruit and a slight floral edge emerge which sits beneath a sweet malt backbone. Overall, on the nose this is juicy, clean and inviting.

Taste

Sumo delivers a crisp and refreshing flavour with citrus and tropical fruits. The first sip brings a tropical flavour with the likes of mango and pineapple present. This is closely followed a citrus bitterness from the Summit hop which is grapefruit and orange zests. A piney flavour follows and beneath this is the malt base which has hints of caramel and a light biscuit. This prevents the beer from being overly bitter. The finish is clean and dry with a lingering grapefruit-like bitterness. Overall, this a craft brew that tries to showcase boldness and the hop forward nature whilst not sacrificing the drinkability.

Time for my verdict

Overall, Sumo sets out what it means to do instantly, it provides you with a bold and hop forward which is low enough in ABV to be sessionable. Although does have a lot of flavour and I didn’t find it particularly special. For me it seemed like a pretty normal American IPA which don’t get me wrong it was delicious and would probably drink again. I honestly feel this IPA would be a safe bet for those who aren’t really craft beer enthusiasts. To conclude I rate this a decent still 3.75 out of 5.

Where did I purchase this beer?

I bought this beer from my local Wetherspoons.

Thanks for reading my review. If you enjoyed this review you will love my review of another brew purchased from Wetherspoons called Fierce IPA.