Beavertown Brewery was founded in London in 2011 and quickly became one of the most exciting and visually distinctive craft breweries in the UK. Their skull-and-rocket branding is immediately recognisable, and the beers themselves have generally matched the packaging for ambition and quality. Neck Oil is their Session IPA — a style that attempts to deliver the hop character of a proper IPA at a lower alcohol level, which is harder than it sounds.
Tasting Notes
Neck Oil pours a clear pale golden colour with a white head. The nose is immediately hop-forward and appealing — citrus, grapefruit, tropical fruit, and a clean fresh quality that signals something well-made. On the palate it’s crisp and bitter with that citrus and tropical hop character carrying through, a light malt body that doesn’t get in the way, and a clean, refreshing bitter finish. At 4.3% ABV it genuinely delivers IPA-level hop character in a session format.
Verdict
Serve cold and drink fresh — hop character fades and Neck Oil at its best is a vivid, citrusy experience. This is one of the best session IPAs available in the UK: it does what it promises and doesn’t compromise on flavour to get there. If you want to drink several pints and still taste your beer, this is the answer. Widely available and consistently excellent.
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