Tartarus

Tartarus Beers Snawfus (440ml can, 4.9% ABV, vegan, gluten free)

– the underworld of Greek mythology, a place of divine punishment for the wicked, a realm of fire and lava and judgement. Or Yorkshire, as it turns out.

Tartarus Beers are a Leeds-based operation who have been going since 2020 (hell of a time to start a brewery). All of their beers are named after mythological creatures. This one, Snawfus, is named for the white, winged deer with magical powers that inhabits the Ozark mountains of the US. Hey, we were all getting a bit bored with the usual dragons and goblins, right?

Snawfus is a lovely gold colour in the glass, with a generous foam of tightly-packed bubbles.

Since it’s described as an American pale ale, I was expecting citrus and tropical flavours, but the hops are not actually from the US at all. Instead it uses the Australian Topaz and New Zealand Green Bullet, giving pepper and rounded pine flavours.

The mouthfeel is crisp and light, the finish peppery and slightly herbal, with a good dose of bitterness.

In contrast to the artwork on the can, there’s nothing wild or crazy about this beer. It’s just a really solid pale ale. It’s rare to find such harmony between sweet malt and lip-smacking hops. Very satisfying indeed.

Written by Richard Salsbury