American Pale Ale – Sonnet 43 Brew House – 5.4%

By puboholic on Aug 20, 2014 in Beers | 0 comments

American Pale Ale - Sonnet 43 Brew House - 5.4% I didn't for a minute think that trying a new beer would lead me to poetry, but on finding Sonnet 43's American Pale Ale on in the York Tap I had to dig deeper into the history of the name. Elizabeth Barrett Browning, the author of Sonnet 43, (or How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.) was born and raised in Coxhoe, County Durham just up the road from the brewery. In later life to help ease her back pain Elizabeth regularly drank Laudanum, a reddish-brown opiate with a bitter taste, eventually becoming addicted. 150 years later I find myself slipping towards a similar fate, but with the reddish-brown American Pale Ale from the brewery that has taken her sonnet's name. The beer itself is wonderful. So many times I pick up an "American Pal Ale" and find that the brewer has overloaded it with Cascade hops and everything else is lost. Sonnet 43's is a complex mix of Cascade, Simcoe, Centennial and Mount Hood with plenty of malt to sweeten it up. It's a balanced brew allowing the easy drinking ale to disguise the fact it packs a punch at 5.4%. If you want to try and find some, and I recommend you do, there is a handy map of pubs that occasionally stock Sonnet 34's beers. While you enjoy the pint, why not while the time away with a spot of poetry. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight For the ends of being and ideal grace. I love thee to the level of every day’s Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light. I love thee freely, as men strive for right. I love thee purely, as they turn from praise. I love thee with the passion put to use In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith. I love thee with a love I seemed to lose With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath, Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after...