Sharp’s Brewery is based in Rock, Cornwall, and has become one of the most successful regional craft breweries in England — best known for Doom Bar, which is now one of the bestselling cask ales in the UK. Wolf Rock is their red IPA, taking its name from the notorious lighthouse reef off Land’s End at the tip of Cornwall. It’s a beer with the rocky, dramatic coastline of the far west built into its character: bold, red, and not shy about it.
Tasting Notes
Wolf Rock pours a striking deep copper-red with a tan head. The nose is immediately interesting — resinous hops, grapefruit and pine, with an underlying caramel malt sweetness from the red ale base. On the palate the hops take the lead: assertive bitterness, citrus and pine character, balanced by the caramel malt that stops it becoming one-dimensional. The finish is long, dry, and hop-bitter with some residual caramel sweetness. A genuinely good red IPA.
Verdict
Serve cold in a pint glass. Wolf Rock is an excellent red IPA from a brewery that knows how to handle hops. It would appeal to fans of IPAs who want something with a bit more malt character, and to red ale drinkers who want more hop punch. Pairs brilliantly with strong cheese, grilled meat, or a Cornish pasty if you’re feeling thematic. Sharp’s finest, in my opinion.
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