Sainsburys Taste the Difference IPA - Marstons (5.9% ABV)

Picked this up at random from the aforementioned supermarket, and I have to say I was a little intimidated by the complex tasting notes on the label:

Taste: Hops and Malt

Woah there cowboy! Slow down a bit... Hops AND malt?! Christ alive, I better sit down for this one. Sarcasm aside, this is actually brewed by Marstons so it will at least be half decent.

Pours a clear, golden tawny colour with a big foamy off-white head. Great retention and some lacing on the glass throughout.

Nose isn't the strongest in the world, but there is at least a healthy amount of hoppage in there; floral hops with a citrus twist. Sweet malts are evident, but only fleetingly.

Nice bread malts with caramel sweetness and a nutty character at the front end. Spicy and peppery hops in the mid-palate, before finishing with an admirable amount of hop bitterness, grass and pine. Long bitter linger with a touch of sweet malt piggy-backing. Crisp and clean with a good balance of hops and malt.

Medium bodied with a creamy mouthfeel, this goes down a treat. For a supermarket brew, this is a top IPA and I was impressed with the level of hop flavour and quality construction. Worth a try.