Fugg Life

Manantler Craft Brewing Co. makes an extra special bitter using Maris Otter malt and Fuggle hops that gives it a classic English feel. Fugg Life is a 4.6% ale from Bowmanville, Ontario. Sold in 500mL bottles with Manantler’s generic labels, the beer itself is a handsome, clear copper ale that pours with a modest layer of off-white suds.

Zevon doesn't usually express interest in brews, but she liked the vibe of this one.

Fugg Life has a sweet, malty aroma with rich brown sugar and sticky toffee notes. The flavour mimics the aroma, but amplified: it’s malt-driven, with caramel/toffee, and brown sugar, as well as a some orange pekoe tea notes. Based on this description, one might expect that Fugg Life is too sweet, but the beer is actually quite balanced—the Fuggle hops don’t generate overpowering bitterness, but they definitely offset the malty sweetness of the front end expertly.

Fugg Life is a beautiful beer with a dumb name. A great example of the ESB style from an under-the-radar Ontario brewery (Manantler deserves way more attention, at least based on my limited experience with their offerings), Fugg Life is a very satisfying brew. Low-ish alcohol, but full-flavoured, this beer is well-constructed and I highly recommend it.

Rating: 9.0 out of 10.