Penzance Brewing Company

The Penzance Brewing Co was established in 2008 by Peter Elvin who is landlord of the Star Inn at Crowlas, just outside Penzance and the pub was named Cornwall Pub of the Year by CAMRA in 2013. Some 15 different brews are made, many as speciality beers, with the regular house ales being Crowlas Bitter (3.8% ABV) and Potion No 9 (4% ABV) the latter named ale betraying its founders age and musical preferences somewhat.

Crowlas Bitter

A classic session bitter. A well-balanced beer, copper/red-brown in colour, made with Fuggles, Perle and Sovereign hops, with a late hopping of more Sovereign. 4% ABV

Potion No. 9

A light, golden, hoppy session bitter, the permanent stable-mate on the Star bar to Crowlas Bitter. The ninth brew from the pub’s brewery, hence the name. Fuggles and Pilgrim go into the boil with pale ale malt, with Perle and Amarillo hop added later. 4% ABV

Crows-an-Wra

A crisp and hoppy golden ale, yet with plenty of good juicy malt balance too. The finish is dry and satisfying. 4.3% ABV

Scilly Stout

Scilly Stout isn’t on in the Star all the time, and when it is you have to be quick. This is a warming, velvety, almost jet black, but with a faint autumnal red tinge, heavyweight of a stout with a list of ingredients longer than Lady Gaga’s backstage dressing room demands. 7% ABV

Best Bitter

Northdown and Fuggles hops in this smooth drinking, well-balanced brew, with good bitterness on the finish. There’s some chocolatiness from the brown malt. 4.4% ABV

Brison’s Bitter

Call it ‘brizzens’ (rhymes with prisons) say those from the far west of the county. A tasty, brown best bitter with black and crystal malts and Northdown, Fuggles and Goldings hops. Some nice fruit flavours come through and there’s a hint of honeycomb on the front along with berry notes. 4.5% ABV

Thirty Summit

New for 2014, a golden ale designed to fill the gap between Potion No 9 and the stronger brews such as Trink and Mello. Amarillo and Summit hops are used both early and late on in the brew. 4.5% ABV

Lodestar

A very continental style golden ale, with lager malt give a lip-smacking juicy backbone to the beer. Sovereign and Perle hops go into the boil, with a further late addition of Perle. 4.2% ABV

IPA

To me, this is benchmark IPA. It has that golden amber colour with a white head and full body. Good hop aroma is balanced with juicy malt. Orange citrus on the palate, slightly marmaaledy, and a long, satisfying hop finish. Far too easy drinking! 6% ABV

Lamorna Gold

A well balanced, strong golden beer. There’s lemon in the palate that gets more bitter on the finish. There’s a hint of sherbet sweetness and an excellent backbone of juicy malt. 6% ABV

Trink

A strong golden bitter showcasing the Citra hop, although it’s not single hop. Crisp and refreshing, there’s lots of typical tropical fruit flavour and aroma from the Citra, but the beer has plenty of body with good juicy malt character. 5.2% ABV

L8TR

A strong golden winter beer, smooth, clean tasting and very drinkable for its ABV. Marmalade citrus on the nose and palate. Lager and pale malts are balanced with Perle and Cascade hops, then later in the brew there is more Cascade, as well as some Chinook and Amarillo to give fresh hop flavour and some fruitiness. 8% ABV

Pedalier Piste

A golden strong bitter with good malt, quite sweet on the palate with an edge of tropical fruit from the hops. 6.2% ABV

Piskies Cove

Golden, with a nice hint of candy sweetness. Fresh hop on the front, but not too bitter, and a lingering finish. Much too easy drinking for its strength. 5% ABV

American Pale Ale

A very smooth, almost creamy, golden beer with a white head. Resinous hops are to the fore with, with juicy/caramel malt offering balance in the excellent body. 5.7% ABV