It's tough to make a beer with 'abdominal' in the name sound appealing, but Lymestone manages it with a bio that boasts big US hop flavours.
It has a big hop bill including 3 US-origin hops to compliment the Maris Otter malt base, giving this homage to the USA a British base that drags it back across the pond.
Lymestone say this is a pale ale, it's listed on Untappd as an IPA yet it actually tastes a little more like a really strong bitter.
There's a big hit of fresh malt from the bottle cap pop, and as it pours into the glass those aromas allow some of the rougher, grassy scents to flourish. The pour is very dark, with a smoothness that belies the strength of the beer.
The flavour is malty initially, which provides a good launch pad for the big hoppy flavours to show off, bringing some piney, resinous notes along with a slightly-bittersweet flavour. It's got a thick texture in the mouth and the hops are present in every part of the flavour profile.
The aftertaste is surprisingly dry, with the bitterness of the hops working well to bring it to sharp, crisp finish.
There's a little fella peaking over the name of this beer on the label, which is a play on the name and the closeness to abominable snowman. It's grey too, which ties into the idea that it's an abominable stoneman.
The label itself is set in a mountaintop scene, the only place to find an abominable - or abdominal - snowman. This provides nice contrast with the green on the label and the brewery logo, ever-present, is whited out with green border, making it a bright label that focuses the eye on the man himself.
You'll have to buy it in a slab of 12, but it's worth it just to try to get to the bottom of all the flavours and sensations that are in this beer.
