Breweries and Pubs
Toon Ale vs Boro Live local Beer Derby
by DanCave on Jul.27, 2009, under Beer Reviews, Breweries and Pubs, Misc Beer
Here I have two beers from two famous football towns of rivals Newcastle United and Middlesbrough FC. So why not pitch them against each other in a pitched battle of the beers. Here is Toon Ale vs Boro Live.
Local beer derby: 'Boro' vs 'the Toon'
How do they size up?
both bottles dressed in the traditional black and white newcastle colours and the red lions of boro. The newcastle bottle is slightly taller with a easier to hold bottle neck.
Score: Boro Live 1 - 2 Toon ale
How livley are they:
Neither of these beers are particularly livley at the kick off, so there is no overflowing action on the bottles opening. The boro is more effervesent which suits it as I later find out. perhaps its in bottle conidtioning which makes the Boro Live beer more lively though Secondary fermentation.
Score: Boro live 3 - 3 Toon Ale
What does it smell like:
Boro smells nice. It’s sweet and malty. Toon Ale smells not as fresh but more full bodied, slightly mustier.
Score: Boro Live 5 - 4 Toone Ale
What is it like to drink?
Boro Live is slightly creamy quite yeasty, very little in the way of hoppy flavor.Flavor never develops, no different before or after taste.
When drinking Toon Ale I thought “Now thats a different flavor than I expected”, and in a good way. It has a little toffee, a littlle bicuit, but not too much. Toon ale has plenty of body and flavor. It shows how little flavor boro live has, but also comes over a bit too sweet. It could be a bit more burnt for my taste.
Score: Boro Live 7 - 7 Newcastle
As you would expect for two local beers unseen anywhere else in bars or in supermarkets neither of these beers blow you away. They are OK beers they are very drinkable in a way which alot of ordinary ales are, just dont expect something fantastic.
The final Score:
Boro 7 - 7 Newcastle
There is much in it with this local north east derby. The action wasn’t really premier ship quality but its definatly a match worth attending no the less. I slightly prefer The Toon Ale but thats just my opinion, some people might be sold on Boro Live becuase its Organic. I just assume Smoggies will drink Live and Geordies will prefer Toon Ale.
