Brewdog Bar Leeds - A beer and cheese delight

To say I am very disappointed in the Brew Dog Leeds is an understatement, how dare they have been open 10 months and not have personally invited me down.

You see their Punk IPA is my most favorite tipple around, their hardcore IPA my just about second fave.  I have been drinking Punk particularly for around a year or so and to find not only is their bar here, in Leeds but that its available on draft. A real OMG moment.

Tonight we have been down for a beer and cheese event, pairing a selection from their repetoire with various cheeses, just like the wine and cheese pairings only with some top top beers.

For those unaware, Brew Dog Leeds is in Cloth Hall, behind the Corn Exchange and is one of a handful of places in Leeds with fine craft beers to tempt. Brew Dog however brews its own as well as bringing some of the worlds finest to this fine corner of Yorkshire.

We opened with a Dead Pony Club, a hoppy beer with citrus notes that is made for session drinking, one I had already experimented with and paired with a cream feta which really smoothed the top end hoppy notes it was a winner.

Next up 5am Saint, a red ale, again those orange notes but more malty than hoppy. Those familiar with Speckled Hen will see similarities. A crumbly wensleydale complemented well but its well quaffable on its tod.

As we moved into darker ale territory, Smoked Porter was brought before, us, stoutish in appearance, but more smooth and with rich chocolate and smoke tones. Nice as a one off drink but not for me a sustained session drink. The Manchego cheese though really hit with the chocolate and gave a velvety mix with the smoke evoking memories of some of my favourite west coast whiskeys.

Last up Blitz Apricot the most unusual of the pack with very distinct yes you guessed apricot note, almost a fruit beer and got a marmite review, the mild blue cheese offset the sweetness a touch but the fizz left me ambivalent...

That said, it was a great experience, a friendly, chatty and knowledgeable host too means we highly recommend at least a visit to this small and friendly bar, better still get on a journey with the tasting session.

We finished the night with what I had previously only dream of, a pint of Punk, tasting every bit as good as it did in the countless bottles and cans we have had. Maybe just maybe the slight extra zing of freshness detected or maybe that feta was lingering.

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