Boardwalk Brewery – Cotton Candy Belgian Red

Aroma: all the aromatics you would expect from a solid wheat ale.

Tasting notes: the classic banana and clove flavours from the wheat element of the beer hit you first, followed by the sweetness of the ‘cotton candy’ which is balanced nicely and not overpowering.

Summary: I was pleasantly surprised by this one – I’m not normally one to go for a beer with cotton candy in the name. However, the balance of the sweetness and the aromatics worked well in this. Perhaps a little thin on the body, but this beer delivered well and was a nice change from my usual go-to of an IPA or pilsner-type. One my pet peeves as a beer drinker is having a flavour in the name of the beer that isn’t front and centre as soon as you drink it, but I will say that with this one I think that worked in its favour for my palate as a more cotton candy-forward beer probably would have put me off.

Would you buy it again?: Yes I would, a bit strong for drinking regularly but a nice accent to end an evening on for sure.