THERE'S nothing like a bit of jingoism and faux patriotism to distract the masses from the cold hard realities of life - indeed, wasn't that whole basis of Brexit?
Whether it is splashing spurious promises on the side of a bus, or dangling the prospect of the return to imperial measurements (news flash: they never went away), the truth is often the first casualty when it comes to culture wars.
Now, before you think we're going all Question Time here, never fear. It just so happened that I got my hands on a couple of the tallest of tall boys in the week that the Tory government, desperate to deflect the by now hourly negative coverage of their Dear Leader, hung out the imperial carrot again.
There'll be no more asking the barman for 568ml of beer – you can now request a good old British pint of beer without fear of interference from a Brussels bureaucrat. Of course, you also could shout for pint during the UK's period of EU membership, but sure when did the truth ever have a say in the matter.
Besides, the folks in Brussels were probably too busy trying to decide between a tripel or a lambic – 50cl of course.
Anyway, my beers in question came from Bristol-based Arbor Ales. They have a range of beers available in pint cans, a couple of which I picked up from DC Wines on Belfast's Boucher Road.
Within that range, they have a few single hop offerings, and the first of which I tried was My Little Sabrony – a pale ale which celebrates the Sabro hop.
This 5 per cent pale ale pours a light golden straw colour in the glass, with a fair bit of haze and a sudsy white head.
There's a fair bit of tropical and citrus aromas and they are prominent in the taste. but the Sabro hop also lends a slight flavour of coconut and a clean hint of mint.
The second pint can from Arbour was another single-hopper, this time a gluten-free Mosaic pale. It poured a lot more crystal clear than the first one, a light amber colour with white head.
It has fresh floral tones with tropical flavours and piney, resiny finish.
