Salted Caramel Shake Milkshake IPA
3 Ravens Brewing

Yep, told ya there would be some weird brews coming our way – next up is 3 Ravens Salted Caramel Shake Milkshake IPA, following on from (and having a similar ingredient list to) Moussey Juicy Chocolate Milkshake NEBIPA, which I did quite enjoy [for how out there I thought it would be it was actually pretty tame and tasty]. In any case, I’m enjoying this Juicy Odyssey that 3 Ravens have been taking us on – they used to be such a domesticated murder of ravens – before they embarked on this Juicy madness their oeuvre consisted of beige names such as: White, Black, Dark, Golden Ale, Bronze… yawn, I much prefer what 3 Ravens have become today. Let the madness continue! *cracks can*

Poured from a 375ml can into a nonic pint.

A: Almost clear copper-caramel body with a 1 centimetre Ecru-coloured head that fizzles down softly leaving nary a spot of lace – bit different from Moussey Juicy, strange how a base beer doesn’t always guarantee good head. Liking that colour though. 7/10.

S: Diacetyl City, population: this beer. Holy mole is there a lot of butterscotch rocking in this brew, its got a real butter-menthol thing going on. Apart from that, hints of vanilla, caramel, salt, light herbal hops in the background. Hopefully that butterscotch doesn’t destroy the palate like this former homebrewer knows it can [Diacetyl can be a total beer destroyer – ask me how]. 6/10.

T: Surprisingly good! Ticks all the boxes at least, caramel: check, salt: check, milkshake-like body: check. Lucky that butterscotch is a background note to the caramel, and there is some mighty fine caramel going on in Salted Caramel Shake too. Along with this are notes of herbal-almost-medicinal hops, vanilla and a touch of brown sugar… and yes this is a sweet beer, that herbal hop does balance it out though. Much better than I was expecting. Quite a moreish flavour here. 9/10.

M: Identical to Moussey Juicy AFAIC – creamy mouthfeel, medium bodied, dense carbonation – still feel that given the ingredients this body is thin. 8/10.

D: Much like Moussey Juicy this brew is a pleasant surprise. You would think the flavours that they were aiming for wouldn't work in a beer, but they do, and despite having a level of Diacetyl that wouldn't normally be acceptable for any beer outside an English Bitter this is a tasty caramel affair that I would definitely try again (although that’s one specific mood that I’ll need to be in). 8/10.

Food match: Caramel slice is nice... with… err, ice. Shuddup!