Dune bugs live in the desert, in sandy and dusty climates where liquids of any sort can be hard to come by. This dune bug though, is an explosion of refreshment.
Lemon and samphire are flavours that complement each other. Salty and sour have been paired together throughout history and there’s no reason they shouldn’t work in a beer too - and Brass Castle have nailed it.
I will admit, however, that I had to get Elliot to fill me in on what samphire actually is, because being a northerner it’s not something i’ve encountered before.
Loads of lemony aroma coming from the can, a flavour that is reflected in the quite pale pour.
The initial flavour is the lemony bitterness, which is quickly replaced with a citrusy kick that is very welcomed, a subtle sweetness of the fruit combining well with the sour front flavour.
The saltiness of the samphire comes to the fore into the aftertaste, leaving a slightly salty flavour on the tongue as the sweetness fades away which works really well in balancing the beer - like a tequila shot without the tequila.
The can features a dune buggy, rather than a dune bug, presumably because insects aren’t that appealing visually.
I love the silver dune buggy racing along the desert sand, billowing out silvery wisps behind it all around the side of the can.
The beer name stands out in silver on white, with the style and brewery clear underneath it. Unusually, it’s a labelling that’s sideways when the can is stood uprigt, but it’s one that’s really effective.
You can buy this refreshing hit of sour and salt at quite a few places online including Yorkshire Craft Beers (£3.45), Thirst Class Ale (£3.70) and of course, the Brass Castle beer shop itself (£3.60).
