Suffolk Blonde (Sainsbury's Taste The Difference)
St. Peter's Brewery Co Ltd

L- Pale amber, clear, pours with 3mm white head [clears to lacing later]
S- Hints of apple. The lable suggests 'bananas and cloves' and I can now sense the banana though not the cloves.
T- It tastes quite light for 4.7%. I certainly get the cross-over with German wheat beer. It has something of a spicy palate, and a moderately dry finish.
F- I'm beginning to notice the malty body now after my first mouthful; it's not as light as it first seemed, I think the spiciness is building a bit.
O- I used to live in Germany and got to taste a wide range of Bavarian wheat beers. This compares very favourably indeed - it would be fascinating to include this beer in a blind-tasting of a panel of Germans! I'd certainly buy this again, it's leagues more interesting and drinkable than big-brand generic lagers in the UK, AND it seems a pretty good value too at this price.
Bought from Sainsbury's, Ladbroke Grove, London. £1.60/500ml bottle. BB: 10/01/20

 

Brassy body, white head, a little lacing. Pleasantly balanced aroma that comes across as tea and biscuits. Toasty and floral. Honey, buckwheat, plums.

This is something special. Full, lush, biscuity malts. Leafy, spicy hops. Fruity-spicy esters. Lager-like crispness on the finish. A lovely beer that ticks a lot of boxes: interesting, balanced, deep, light, sessionable. A very beery beer – one that could suit many occasions.

Possible food pairings: roast chicken, Reuben sandwich, dim sum, satay, braised lamb.

Light amber. Head which dissipates quickly.
Caramel malt and hops. Maybe some light spice.
Grainy and astringent.
Decent carbonation and quite refreshing.
A rather harsh feel and not to my liking.

 

A 500ml bottle with a BB of July 2013. Acquired from Sainsbury a while back. Described on the label as a traditional ale containing a proportion of wheat, giving it a character similar to German wheat beers.

Poured into a tulip pint glass. A clear amber colour with faint sediment and low carbonation. Forms a large head of white foam that lasts for a minute or two before disappearing. Aroma of grainy malt with hints of stewed leaves, cardboard, mild wheat and fruity ale yeast. Dull.

Tastes of subtle caramel malt with a dry finish. Notes of grain, stewed leaves, cardboard, mild grass/hay, fruity ale yeast and faint wheat. Highly attenuated and rather harsh, with a leafy bitterness upon swallowing. Mouthfeel is smooth, tingly and dry, accompanied by light carbonation and an insubstantial body for the style. Pretty astringent, followed by an aftertaste of acrid stewed leaves, cardboard and fruity yeast esters.

Meh - not a particularly great brew. A pity, as I know St. Peter's are capable of making quality beer. Looks alright, but the aroma and flavour are bland, harsh and generally don't have much going on. Body is lacklustre. Can't say it really bears any resemblence to German wheat beer; certainly none that I've tried. Completely different flavour profile. Unimpressive - give it a miss.