You probably know that Stone Crow’s beers are brewed by my husband and one of my bestest buddies, and I did hesitate about reviewing their beers as I don’t want to be accused of being biased. Then I realised a few things: if I don’t review any beers that are brewed or distributed by friends, there won’t be much left to review. Also, anyone who knows me will tell you I’m a tough wife to live with and am brutally honest (albeit largely jovially) when it comes to telling friends anything at all. The clincher though, was when Shawn came home after putting the beers on tap at Banana Jam, grinning and telling me how pleased he was with the beers. Shawn is an excellent brewer and a seriously tough critic, especially when it come to his own ales. I could place all the beers he’s brewed that he was actually happy with on one Banana Jam tasting tray.

Luckily for you, for a VERY limited period, three of those beers actually are available on a Banana Jam tasting tray (see pic). If you don’t know, Shawn is attempting to brew every style in the BJCP guidelines. Currently on tap at the Jam you’ll find style 6B – blonde ale. This seemingly simple style is one of the toughest of all to brew, for its subtle aromas and flavours are utterly unforgiving. The Stone Crow version has a hint of haze (it’s unfiltered) but is largely clear and the perfect shade of straw. There’s very little aroma, but if you swirl a bit and inhale deeply, you’ll find the merest hint of malt. Taste-wise, it’s slightly sweet, well balanced and super easy-drinking.  If you’re a lager drinker who wonders what malt tastes like, this is the beer for you.

Up next is style 10B – American Amber Ale. There’s slight slight toffee on the aroma, but it’s mostly about tropical fruits – I got lots of mango and peach, though I didn’t pick up the citrus typical of the style. The flavours are much the same and the uninitiated in hops might be asking “why did you add mango to your beer?!” It’s very well balanced, if a touch light-bodied. A great summer ale with plenty of fruity hop flavours but without overwhelming hop bitterness – a good gateway beer for those just getting into hops.

The third beer isn’t exactly a classic example of any style – if memory serves, the “red porter” (a first in South Africa?) was a “we want to brew, what can we make with the ingredients we have” sort of beer. Appearance-wise I’d  say it’s more mahogany than red, but I know that boys can’t can’t generally distinguish the mauve from the puce… There’s a massive whiff of toffee on this beer – treacle toffee specifically – and some background notes of liquorice. It didn’t quite have the chocolaty character of a brown porter, but it’s medium-bodied, roasty and damn delicious.

I have to say, after tasting the beers, I was kind of annoyed I hadn’t organised a babysitter for the evening. I didn’t want to leave early to take the child home. I wanted to stay and drink these beers, all of which a particularly sessionable. And if Shawn keeps brewing beers like these, someone might be finding a new kegerator in their Christmas stocking…

The Stone Crow beers are currently on tap at Banana Jam. Only 40 litres of each was brewed, so get there quickly…