I am full steam ahead when it comes to new breweries at the moment, I just keep going to buy beer and finding ones I’ve never heard of, which is fantastic. Black Lodge Brewery was founded in 2015 and is based out of Liverpool Baltic Triangle; the digital and creative Quarter of the city center. ‘I Know Karate, Voodoo Too’ (which appears to be a line from Going Out West by Tom Waits) is one of the beers currently available in Sainsbury’s in collaboration with online retailer Beer Hawk. It’s a Raspberry Berliner Weisse at a relatively low ABV of 3.8%.

Visually it pours an interesting pink lemonade colour with an orange tinge to it. Creates a good head with lots of rising carbonation. Solid punch of raspberry jam on the nose. Diving into the flavour, you get an initial sharp, tartness that fades rather quickly. There is a little bit of raspberry taste but to be honest I think it goes missing overall and falls a little flat.

A quick note on the can art: It feels like a book cover in a weird way and I rather like it. Simple and nothing crazy but a little abstract at the same time.

At £3.20 a can, I’m a little disappointed in all honesty. A Berliner Weisse is meant to pack a decent sour punch and when you’ve fruited the beer with raspberry, those flavours need to be much more prominent. I don’t often compare beers but I can’t help but contrast this to Thornbridge Brewery’s ‘Florida Weisse’ which is the exact same style and available in supermarkets. That beer hits you hard with the sour but was also full of great fruit flavour to compliment it. This isn’t a bad beer by any means but I wouldn’t drop the money on another can again.

Score: 6/10

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Additional Information:

• Hops: Hallertau Blanc
• Malt: Marris Otter
• IBU: Not Available
• ABV: 3.8%
• Gluten Free: No
• Vegan: Yes!
• Purchase Location: Sainsbury’s
• Purchase Price: £3.20