Is Tramcar IPA A Decent Beer

Tramcar is a New England IPA from the Wild Horse Brewing Company in Llandudno, North Wales. A small brewery now in its ninth year and producing some fine craft ales consumed locally and beyond. So what is Tramcar IPA like?

Tramcar IPA is a tropical fruity experience with a no nonsense bitter finish. It pours a hazy mid orange with a firm white foamy top. On the nose it doesn’t scream loud, but there are citrus notes and hoppy aromas. The taste is hoppy and citrus with flavours of mango and grapefruit. A slight piney edge, then a good bitter finish. It’s a typical NEIPA with a hoppy bitterness. It gets a rate my beer score of 4.3 out of 5.0.

It won’t blow your socks off, but it’s a good solid New England stye IPA.

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Tramcar IPA Review

Tramcar IPA is one of four beers I recently tried in a craft beer pub the Bottle & Barrel in Aberystwyth, Wales. A great little laid back pub that serves a good selection of craft beers and ciders on tap as well as in cans and bottles.

This beer is the second one on the flight, the first one being a 5.5% ABV NEPA Heavens Below. The third being a Weissbier and the fourth a Milk Stout.

Tramcar IPA looks good in the glass with a nice hazy mid orange appearance and a thin but solid white foamy head. You never seem to get much more than a thin top on flight glasses.

This beer stands up tall and strong at 6.5% ABV, so it will be just the one then, especially as I have got more beers to try.

Time to dive in.

Drinking Tramcar IPA

The nose is not in your face, it’s pretty modest with light citrus and hoppy aromas teasing the senses.

Going in for a taste and things liven up with plenty of hoppy up front and flavours of citrus tropical fruits like grapefruit and mango. There could even be a hint of tangerine and there is a floral almost piney trace too.

A medium carbonation gives a little fizz, but a pretty smooth mouthfeel. It’s all good delivering plenty of tropical citrus bite, then the finale is a nice solid bitterness that doesn’t disappoint.

A good beer, typical New England style IPA with plenty of flavour and a satisfying bitter finish. For me it gets a rate my beer score of 4.3 out of 5.0.

M’Lady didn’t have much to add, saying “A typical NEIPA, decent enough beer, but nothing remarkable. Lou scores it a straight 4.0 out of 5.0.

That is short and sweet from Lou, I am surprised she didn’t mention more about the bitter finish.

Anyway, Tramcar IPA is a good beer, a solid NEIPA of good quality. Would I drink it again? Yes, without any hesitation, so I guess that says it all.

Wild Horse Brewing Co

Wild Horse Brewing Co is a small brewery located in Llandudno, North Wales. A seaside town on the North Coast very popular with holidaymakers.

A busy summer destination with its popular North Shore beach and its 19th century pier. It even has a tram which travels form the town to the Great Orme summit (now we know where the name Tramcar IPA cam from).

The brewery was founded in 2015 by Dave and Emma Faragher. So inspired by the craft beer breweries in the US and Canada, they started their own in Llandudno.

A small team of eleven produce a good range of quality craft beer. And now in their ninth year, they have seen some expansion along the way. In 2018 they expanded by installing some larger fermenter tanks to increase capacity.

A good solid Welsh craft brewery, I definitely want to get stuck into their other beers.

Wild Horse Beers

Wild Horse Brewery as I mentioned in a small brewery, and it’s range reflects that. There is not an never ending list of beers, many of the same style like some breweries.

Instead there is a good range that caters for the basic styles that most people like. These include lager, pale ale, IPA’s and stout, so something to suit everyone.

Anyway here are a few that I’ve added to my beer radar.

Buckskin

Buckskin is a pilsner style lager, which I think is one of their regular beers. Something they produce year round, possibly one of their core beers.

Described as having delicate floral notes with a crisp mouthfeel and a refreshing finish. Sounds like a decent lager to me, and at 4.5% ABV it sits well in the session bracket.

A no nonsense lager that will quench the thirst, I’m in.

Fatlamp

Fatlamp is a pale ale that is apparently named after an ancient style lamp use to light the old mines in North wales.

Brewed with Mosaic, Simcoe and Waimea hops it is a hazy pale ale with plenty of tropical fruits and citrus notes. A bitter finish will satisfy any craft beer lover.

At 5.4% ABV it is not a session beer, but definitely one I want to get my hands on.

Elements #11

Elements is a range of beer that changes, exploring different ingredients and techniques. I think there have been several numbered Tramcar versions. However Elements #11 is a ruby porter which is right up my street.

Described as a smooth dark beer using rich as well as light roasted malts. Creating biscuit, caramel and coffee notes it sounds a winner to me.

So I better get me skates on before its all gone. Weighing in at just 4.4% ABV I could be up for a second.

Final Thoughts

Wild Horse Brewing Co is a small outfit with a modest team and a modest range of beers. But that is what is so appealing about them, to me that is what craft beer is all about.

It is not about producing as much beer as possible, it is about the personal touch, nurturing the ingredients and seeing the process through to produce good quality beer.

I look forward to trying more of their beers, especially those I have featured.

Tramcar IPA is a solid beer, it doesn’t scream in your face, but it delivers a good beer experience.

If you have tried Tramcar IPA, then do share your thoughts below, let me know what you think of this craft beer. Or if indeed you have tried any of the Wild Horse beers then share your opinion below.