Shepherd Neame Late Red

Another free beer from my mum I believe

Appearance:

Auburn and copper  with lasting head

Aroma:

Hops come across first with some fruit and berries

Taste:

Fruity carbonation with a hoppy bitterness coming later, touch of spiciness. The finish is crisp and not long.

Overall:

Claims to be an autumn beer not one in my eyes, I want dark malts and some sweatness.

5.0/10

Archers Quartz Blonde

Another free beer can't remember who from..............

Appearance:

Light gold with not much head

Aroma:

Citrus with hop overtones and slight grass like smell.

Taste:

Light carbonation comes first the light maltiness underpinned with some hops but less than expected. Finish is very short, slightly drying and bitter.

Overall:

Very one dimensional, not one to remember.

5.5 /10

Slater's Top Totty

Another free beer from my mate Rob.

Appearance:

Light bright gold with a head that just stays a little.

Aroma:

Hops with a hint of citrus and large of amount of grassy/hay note.

Taste:

Tangy citrus that fades to bitter hops. The finish is bitter and dry

Overall:

Nice enough but not the right year to be drinking this type of beer so suffers for the season, nice but not special.

7.0 /10

Hobsons Kiss me now, a wintery stout

A seasonal beer from my local brewery

Appearance:

Dark almost black with lasting cream head

Aroma:

Dark grain with chocolate and a hint of coffee malt and just a bit of hops.

Taste:

Bitter burnt grain which fades to plain chocolate at than start which is smoothed out by a by floral hops with a tartness pleasant carbonation the finish is long balanced between the bitter burnt grain and floral hops.

Overall:

Nice winter beer I would like a bit more omph in terms of alcohol to make it a real winter warmer. But a nice beer which will make it home with me.

7.5 /10

Ridgeway Brewing Santa's Butt

Another free beer from my friends the Wards, trying to get me a stupid name beer for Christmas. I gave them a beer called Painful Death

Appearance:

Dark ruby with no head with constant bubble almost looks like a cola

Aroma:

Dark fruit with roasted grain which fade to just a grain smell

Taste:

Starts watery but the a coffee taste with roasted grain and a hint of tart blackcurrants comes across followed by a pleasant warming chunk of alcohol even though it is only 6%. The finish is bitter roasted grain and not so long.

Overall:

Nice enough but no real depth of flavour I would drink it again but would not go out of my way to find it.

6.5 /10

Marston Double Drop

Another free beer from my mate Rob

Appearance:

Slight pale cloudy gold with slight head

Aroma:

Odd waxy smell with hint of malt and hops

Taste:

Tart apples that fades to bitter hops. The finish is very short slightly antiseptic

Overall:

Not a beer I would drink again pedigree is better

6.0 /10

Mayfields Brewery Ducking Stool

Today's beer is a Herefordshire ale and another one from my mate Rob

Appearance:

Cloudy gold with nice white lasting head

Aroma:

Light citrus with a touch of hops

Taste:

Citrus notes that fade living a general tartness balanced by malt. The finish is dominated by tart maltness living the mouth dry.

Overall:

Ok but not special I would prefer the citrus to last not a winter beer would be nice in the summer and would probably get better marks!

6.5 /10

St Peter's Organic Ale

A  another beer, an Organic ale

Appearance:

Pale bronze with no really head

Aroma:

Peppery hops with the some malt in the background

Taste:

Starts of  slightly bitter and slightly peppery and then the malt kicks in to balance everything, followed by a tartness. The finish is not so long and is bitterness of the hops being in the background and fades to a tartness.

Overall:

Again with the other St Peter's lacks a little in depth of flavour for me, but perfectly quaffable, would have like a longer finish and a bit more body of flavour.

6.5 /10

Wadworth Swordfish

Not in the book but available for free, my favourite type of beer, from my best mate Rob. Beer with rum named after a plane that helped sink the Bismarck

Appearance:

 

Mid chestnut with slightly of white head

Aroma:

Biscuit malt with floral hops coming through late and a touch of sweatness

Taste:

Slightly over carbonated malt with a small hint of rum then floral hops which fades to bitter hops. The finish is slightly bitter with a bit of malt which soon fades.

 

 

Overall:

Can't really taste much rum in it I would not know that it had any. in the hint probably of rum in the taste is probably from reading the label

7.0/10

Ridgeway Bad King John

Not in the book but available for free, my favourite type of beer

Appearance:

 

Very dark reddy brown with no head to speak of

Aroma:

Vinous fruit tempered by roasted malt and fig sweetness at the very end.

Taste:

Dark Vinous fruits with vinous fruits at first followed by a bit more fig fruit a burnt grain taste comes across followed by a surprisingly warming alcohol (it is 6%) rounded out by very bitter hops. The finish is very bitter with a hint of fig like fruitiness.

 

 

Overall:

strangely lots going on in the taste but still a little watery no real depth of flavour, a nearly beer

6.5/10

TooL Fuck Art this is Advertising

Not in the book but hey I have not done a blog update for some months

Appearance:

 

Cloudy chestnut with a small off white head that kinda stays in the glass

Aroma:

Roasted malt with chocolate and a fig sweetness with a background of flowery hopiness

Taste:

Vinous fruits with a large mount of sweetness and carbonation, hint of flowery hops in the background and more sweatness. The finish is sweetness with some chocolate, coca powder but sweatness with a hint of coffee. 

 

 

Overall:

 

Big mouth strikes again, this beer is so sweet, sweater than and oud bruin or a melk stout. I have another bottle but I will give it away!! 

5.0/10

Ayinger Celebrator

Finally a new beer a German double bock. Beers are getting harder to track down now.

Appearance:

 

Rich ruby red with a midsize off white head that stays in the glass

Aroma:

Roasted malt with coffee and a fig sweetness with a hint of hopiness

Taste:

 

Vinous fruits with a touch of malt and big spicy hops. The finish is long with the coffee and figs of the aroma and the vinous fruits being balanced by a good chunk of dry bitter hops

 

Overall:

 

A well balanced beer more bitter than my usual dutch style bocks very easy drinking and perfect carbonation. A nice autumn beer but not something I would hunt out

7.5/10

Rogue Double Chocolate Stout

Today's offering is a substation as I could not get any of the stouts listed in the book so this one will have to do

 

 

 

 

 

Appearance:

Black with the darkest head I have seen which is long and stays

Aroma:

Chocolate chocolate with a small hint malt

Taste:

Bitter hit of high quality chocolate, followed by a little aciditiy of the carbonation and then a touch of roast malt comes through and then a hint of warmth from the alcohol. The finish is long dry and bitter chocolate.


Overall:

This beer does what it says on the tin and despite my thinking it would be sweet it is not, may be a touch of carbonated but a quality product. This said I would buy it again, it is very expensive and still leaves me wanting a beer..........

7.5/10

Carnegie Stark Porter

Today's offering is a Swedish Porter and is the 5.5% offering

 

 

 

 

 

Appearance:

Dark dark chestnut brown almost black with small off-white head that really lasts

Aroma:

Roasted grain mixed with milky coffee and a hint of spicy hops.

Taste:

The dark roast grain comes across first followed by a cake like sweetness balanced by spicy hops. The finish is slightly smokey liquorice and slight vinous fruitness


Overall:

Odd this beer misses a middle in the taste nice start, nice finish but thin in the middle.

6.0/10

Bierra Morettti La Rossa

Today's offering one brought back for me from a friends holidays and better still a beer I had never heard of before

 

 

 

 

 

Appearance:

Dark red chestnut  with very slightly white head that really lasts

Aroma:

Sweet Roasted malt at first that is replaced by a very mild coffee

Taste:

The dark roast grain comes across first and as it fades sweetness follows, and finally some chemical bitterness at the very end of the finish


Overall:

Not one for me, not enough going on, surprisingly low alcohol kick given the 7.2% but I think this is due to the over carbonisation

5.0/10

Konig Ludwig Dunkel

Today's offering is a big two fingers to Munich Oktoberfest (Munich breweries did ban this brewer from the party as he is a little unorthodox; dry hopping and turns 80% of the malt sugar into alcohol). It almost impossible to find the dunkel in the Netherlands I had to cross the boarder for this one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appearance:

Mid chestnut  with very slightly off white head that really lasts

Aroma:

Roasted malt at first that is replaced by a very mild coffee a touch of figs and a spicy hop note.

Taste:

Dark roasted grain at first which get increasingly fig and vinously fruity as time goes on. The finish is long a slightly coffee like bitterness and slightly sour balanced by the vinous fruits


Overall:

Ok this beer is hard to get out side Germany as it is so good, I really like this beer it has sweetness, sourness and bitterness a classic beer that I wish was more available.

9.0/10

Kostitzer Schwarzbier

Today's offering is a Germany black larger

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appearance:

Very very dark chestnut almost black with slightly off white head that lasts

Aroma:

Smells grassy at first followed by some bitter plain chocolate which has a touch of roasted malt in the background and at the end the book says figs and I see what they mean but I would add earthy figs.

Taste:

A first a burnt grain but is chased out by malt loaf flavour which gets creamier as the taste goes on. The finish is bitter roasted grain with plain chocolate and a touch of spicy hops. Oddly enough the flavours are slightly muted I think it could do with being stronger by 1-2% abv.


Overall:

Close but lacks a really depth to the flavours to make it really nice beer for me, carbonation is excellent however.

7.0/10

La Choulette Ambree

Today's offering is a biere de garde

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appearance:

Dark Russet with a off white head that did not last

Aroma:

Low amount of aroma with soapy coriander with a hint of sweet malt and earthy hops in the background.

Taste:

A first a burnt grain starts but soon is overpowered by sweet spicy vinous fruits which is just kept in check by the bitter hops as to be not overpowering. The finish is complex starting with a spicyness which is slightly dry but the vinous fruit comes back with malt in the background.

Overall:

Prove that there are good beers in France. It does remind me of a Belgium dubbel but slightly less thick and more refined. Not a beer you can drink a lot of but still a nice beer.

8.5/10

Berliner Kindl Weiss

Today's offering is a little odd a low strength wheat beer from Berlin which apparently is normal served with different colour syrup shot as it is very acidic.

 

 

 

 

 

Appearance:

Turbid pale gold with a disappearing head that leaves a faint reminder

Aroma:

Slightly acidic yeast is the dominant smell with a hint of damp hay.

Taste:

Sour citrus taste comes through which just fades to be a bit vingery and then the breadiness of the yeast takes over. The finish is short and very dry.

Overall:

Surprisingly refreshing like lemon barley water it is sour but has a hint of fruitiness and it is not a flavour that last like the lambic. Pleasantly surprised I was expecting to not enjoy this one at all but I do like it, like nothing else I have tasted in the beers before, strange but good

8.5/10

Spaten Munchner Hell

Today's offering is a Munch pale lager from Spaten, again one I picked up from dash to the boarder earlier in the week.

 

 

 

 

 

Appearance:

Very pale gold with large lasting creamy white head

Aroma:

Very light toasted malt and hint of hop with a touch of citrus

Taste:

Light malt with a touch of hops surprisingly sweet at first but slightly drying in the end. The finish is malt and just a touch of citrus fruit.

Overall:

A bland slightly sweet lager but not exactly special if this was on tap at my local I would drink it however I would not search for it. Reminds me of Amstel but just a bit better+.

6.5/10

Zywiec Porter

Found this in ABC beers in Den Haag, after checking several polish shops to no avail even though I live close to the largest brewery in Europe, Heineken which brew it was hard to find

 

 

 

 

 

Appearance:

Dark, dark chestnut with a hint of red lasting tan head of small bubbles.

Aroma:

Liquorice and black treacle with alcohol at the end with a touch of burnt malt.

Taste:

Rich black treacle fills the mouth ay first with dark chocolate coming through later followed closely by coffee. The finish is warming alcohol with coffee and burnt grain with a touch of hops.

Overall:

This one is a really winter/autumn warmer very heavy beer to be enjoyed slowly in a nice chair by the fire it is a real cozy/gezillig beer. Best enjoyed a touch below room temperature

8.5/10

Baltika Classic No. 3

Found this in the local Russian shop in Leiden, finally after visiting a few times

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appearance:

Very pale gold with white bright lasting head

Aroma:

The malt is in the background with vanilla and lemon and the book says cornflour and I see what it means.

Taste:
A very light malt with light floral hops coming later. The finish is drying with the bitter hops held in check with tangy citrus fruit and a hint of the malt

Overall:

A really nice summer beer, light and refreshing not a beer that I would hunt it out but nice enough shame it autumn otherwise I might have enjoyed it more.

7.5/10

Spaten Oktoberfestbier

A run to boarder meant picking up some German beers there first is Spaten Oktoberfestbier, seems as feared in the book the Marzen is no longer available.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appearance:

Light gold with nice large lasting off white head

Aroma:

Toasted malt with grassy overtones

Taste:
The toasted malt comes across first which becomes more plump, bread malt which is underpinned by a light hop bitterness, the finish carries on much the same with a slight metallicness at the end. Nice subtle carbonation.

Overall:

Perfectly drinkable and different but I would not go out of my way to find it, to bad I have a whole crate!!

7.0/10

Zum Uerige Alt

Final found another beer one of my local beer shops gets 8 bottles circa once a year. This is a German, specifically Dusseldorf, alt beer

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appearance:

Dark chestnut with a touch of redness with nice large lasting off white head

Aroma:

Toasted malt with spicy overtones and a faint orange fruitiness

Taste:

The toasted malt comes across first but soon a earthy hoppiness fulls the mouth underpinned by the orange fruitiness. The finish is long with malt that fade to a hoppy bitterness mixed with a tartness

Overall:

I really like alt beers and this is a really good one, a good example of the style. It is a style that should be more available.

8.5/10

Dark Star Imperial Stout

Today's offering is a beer given by my friends Pip and Bartosz, it is an sussex imperial stout. which I forgot to photograph before drinking.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appearance:

Dark black with tan head that doesn't last

Aroma:

The aroma has dark vinous malt with chocolate and liquorice overtones and a slight woodiness

Taste:

The taste starts with coca powder and a hint of sourness the darker roasted grains come in the flavours aren't particular strong even a bit wishy washy.. The finish is bitter and roasted if not burnt malt and a large warmth from the alcohol.

Overall:

I expected it to be heavier in taste that it was I think it will age well but I think there are better imperial stouts out there.

7.0/10

La Trappe tripel

Today's offering is my last for a while as I have run out of beers from the book, so the blog will be even more sporadic from now on, I finish for now on a Dutch trappist, in the lowest since of the word.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appearance:

Pale, cloudy, orangy light brown with lasting white head

Aroma:

Floral peppery hops with a touch of soapy coriander and ricy malt.

Taste:

The taste starts with a light vinous fruitiness with nice spicy hops coming later under pinned by a firm maltiness. The finish is not strong being dominated by peppery hops and a lovely warming alcohol.

Overall:

Ok nice enough but not special enough it will be a nice introductions for trappist beer.


7.5/10

Westmalle Tripel

Today's offering is a trappist beer from Belgium probably the most famous trappist.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appearance:

Pale, cloudy, orangy light brown with lasting white head

Aroma:

Floral peppery hops with a touch of earthiness.

Taste:

The taste starts tangy, with fruit orange overtones and then a peppery spicy hops come through. The finish is long not strong but understated with the peppery hops and masses of herby overtones and a warming alcohol.

Overall:

Just because it is most common doesn't mean it is not good a really nice tripel which is ready available and a pleasure to drink.


8.5/10

Tongerlo Dubbel Bruin

This is a Belgium abbey beer for yesterday's beer

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appearance:

Dark Brown with large off white head that lasts and lasts

Aroma:

Spicy hops with raisins and sultana overtones

Taste:

The taste starts a slight coffee like flavour which fades as the creamy malt comes in with a peppery hops. The finish is long with a vinous sweetness with liquorice overtones, warm alcohol and final a drying hoppy bitterness.

Overall:

A good sweet dubbel not for this summer weather light enough for everyday drinking and a lovely complex taste with a vinous sweetness which is not overpowering.


8.0/10

Innis & Gunn Oak aged beer

Back after my modem crashed today offering is a Scottish beer and like my last beer aged in wood specifically oak.

 

 

 

Appearance:

Amber with fast disappearing white head

Aroma:

The aroma to me is orange and vanilla Carmel with slight smoke oakyness

Taste:

The taste starts with light orange and then a sledgehammer of  tannic oaky bitterness which fades as more earthy hops comes through. The finish is light tannic bitterness with a citrus sweetness balancing it.

Overall:

Not a fan the tannic nature is over the top maybe a shorter aging would give a beer I like. it odd as the same tannic nature works well in malt whiskeys



6.5/10

Rodenbach Grand Cru

Today offering is another Belgium beer but this time something more unusual a Vlamm's red brown beer.

 

 

 

 

Appearance:

Very dark ruby red with small off white head

Aroma:

The first smell is sweet and then the sourness of red wine vinger comes across.

Taste:

The taste starts with a cherry like sweetness and then bang a tangy acidic hit mixed with the carbonation with some woodiness to it that at first is going to be to acidic but then is mellows as the sweetness comes back. The finish is very being drying and like sour cherries with a small hint of vanilla pod

Overall:

Nice for a change but not a beer that is moreish, more like once every 6 months it would be nice to drink. There is not much like it around maybe the krieks but it lacks the wet hay and is more balanced in flavour.


8.0/10

Rochefort 10

Today offering is another Belgium beer but this time a classic trappist

 

 

 

Appearance:

Very dark chestnut with off white head that leaves a ring around the glass.

Aroma:

Over ripe vinous fruit dominate the aroma with a slight nuttiness with a touch of earthiness.

Taste:

The taste starts like raisins with a stalk still in and then a flavour like a port wine with a crispy acidity comes through. The finish is dominated by warming alcohol ripe fruit with a touch of very rounded peppery hops.

Overall:

The best Rochefort, others I think are a waste of money but this is spot on complex, warming alcohol rounded flavour. Intresting trappist in spell check suggests rapist, maybe they know more about the catholic church than me................
 
8.5/10

Saison Dupont

Today offering is a Belgium beer but from Wallonia

 

 

 

Appearance:

Slightly cloudy pale yellow with large white head that really stays

Aroma:

Peppery hops balanced with malt and a touch of a lambic smell that wet hay

Taste:

Peppery hops at first with a undertone of malt and a orange/grapefruit tartness very much akin to duvel. The finish is very long and well balanced with warm round peppery hops firmly underpinned by toasted malt and the fruit notes hiding somewhat but still there.

Overall:

A nice beer and different but same family as the previous saison tried earlier in the year (see Jan 27th) much more easy drinking but not the worse for that.
 
7.5/10

Anker Gouden Carolus Classic

Today offering is a Belgium strong bruin beer

 

 

 

Appearance:

Very dark ruby chestnut with off white lasting head.

Aroma:

Chocolate comes across first with a touch of burnt malt and spicy hops and vinous fruit as well.

Taste:

Burnt vinous fruit at first and then as the book says chew malt with a hint of chocolate and spicy hops. The finish is very long touch of liquorice and slight sournesss interweaved with sweet malt and vinous fruit and pleasant warmth.

Overall:

Not a summer beer by any sense but it is like a warm coat or a cozy chair by the fire. Drink on cold wet winter days draw the curtains to and feel gezillig.
 
8.5/10

Du Bocq Blanche de Namur

Today offering is a Belgium wheat beer

 

 

 

Appearance:

Like a cloudier lemon barley water pale cloudy yellow with large white head.

Aroma:

Coriander and tart marmalade with a slight amount of spicy from the hops.

Taste:

Very malty initial with orange taste building followed by a slight spicy note. The finish is creamy malt with spice and tartness and long and nice after a long summers day.

Overall:

A great summer beer lovely citrus and creamy malt better than the better know hoegaarden.
 
8.0/10

Augustinerbrau Lagerbier Hell

Today offering is Munich clear lager

 

 

 

Appearance:

Very pale gold with large lasting head

Aroma:

Toasted malt backed by a mild hoppyness with a touch of citrus fruit

Taste:

Malt malt and more malt very sweet but so light balanced by a the hops. The finish is long malt slightly sweet with a touch of lemon meringue pie and a nice morish dryness at the end.

Overall:

Nothing special but I have the feeling if I lived in Munich this would be a regular beer on my taste buds. A step above mainstream lager but not so above that you would go out of your way to find it.
 
7.0/10

Greene King Strong Suffolk Ale

Today offering is vintage ale blend from Suffolk

 

 

 

Appearance:

Ruby red with off white head that lasts

Aroma:

Oak and spicy with a ferric bitterness and a fortified wine smell like Madeira

Taste:

ferric bitterness at first then a vinous fruit nature comes through and a slight sourness. The finish is malty at first and then a earthy hoppiness balances a vinous sweetness the slight sourness also persists.

Overall:

I have had this before, last year and it was more sour and also more complex in taste last time. It is not a bad just last year was better.
 
7.0/10

Rooster's Yankee

Today offering is a Yorkshire pale ale according to the brewer and a best bitter according to the book, I trust the brewer.

 

 

 

Appearance:

Very light lager gold with a small lasting white head

Aroma:

Lychee a touch of light malt and a hint of more hoppy bitterness.

Taste:

Flavour is like a more citrus lychee at first then a light maltness comes followed by a drying bitterness. The finish continues bitter and dry underpinned by grapefruit fruitness

Overall:

A very nice summer beer (reminds me of Little Creatures) very refreshing a I could enjoy a few on the terrace any day.
 
9.0/10

Titanic Stout

Today offering is from the potteries in the UK and is a stout

 

 

 

Appearance:

Dark reddy black with large off white head

Aroma:

Coco powder is the dominant aroma with a touch of roasted grain and a hint of coffee and hops in the background.

Taste:

Starts dark roasted grain, with coco powder and liquorice and as you expect the real bitterness of the hops to come in a more a bitter but floral hops comes through. The finish is roast smoky grain with a touch of woodiness and a fruitiness and just a lovely dryness to make it moreish

Overall:

A lovely complex stout one I highly recommend it. I will bring a lot back next trip to the UK. One of the best stouts I have had.
 
9.5/10

Bathams Best Bitter

Today's is another substitution as I can't get their Mild in bottles however this in my opinion is the best bitter available and it is another black country beer

 

 

 

Appearance:

Almost lager colour being very light gold with a good white lasting head

Aroma:

A smell of vinous fruit backed with light roast malt and hops

Taste:

Starts sweet but briefly as the bitter hops come through but a lovely citrus flavour lurks in the background which means the bitterness is not over powering. The finish is dry and bitter with nice malt overtones mixed with hops and it is very moreish.

Overall:

I love this beer it flavours are schizophrenic being light and intense and very easy drinking bitter that I wish I could get more often. If your in the black country or west midlands find this and enjoy.
 
9.5/10

Holden's Black Country Mild

Today's is a Holden's which fits into what I said yesterday not knowing I had this one.....

 

 

 

Appearance:

Dark chestnut with lasting off white tan head

Aroma:

Dark treacle underpinned by malt

Taste:

Dark treacle coats the most with roasted almost coffee malt coming through followed by just enough bitter hops to keep it all balanced. The finish is not so strong but surprisingly lasts with roasted dark malt with a hint of treacle.

Overall:

I do like a mild me and this is a nice example, however that said I think I will still drink more Banks as it more available although this maybe slightly nicer.

8.0/10

Holden's Golden Special Bitter

Today's as a few day absence as I was drinking warm Bush Ambree from cans in a music festival in France todays offering is a Black Country bitter not recommended in the book but it is a substitute as the one in the book is draft only.

 

 

 

Appearance:

Quite fittingly old gold (think wolves football strip) good white lasting head.

Aroma:

Aroma is juicy malt with a hint of  bitter hops

Taste:

Malts starts and a surprising sweetness and then a firm bitterness comes through. The finish is bitter sweet with lovely juicy malt overtones

Overall:

A surprising sweet bitter if that is not an oxymoron makes me want to try more Holden's beers.

7.5/10

St Austell Clouded Yellow

Today's offering is a German style wheat beer made in Cornwall and named after a butterfly

 

 

 

Appearance:

Pale cloudy gold with large lasting head

Aroma:

Aroma is banana underpinned by caramel and vanilla with a faint soapy coriander smell

Taste:

Very sweet and full of vanilla at first and then some malt comes through and a lemon like sharpness. The finish strong dry and bitter but with a hint of banana's vanilla a touch of spice and a really earthy hoppiness.

Overall:

Not sure on this one, in some ways it is like a watery German wheat beer and in some ways it is much more complex than a German wheat beer. I think I will have to try some more to really work out if I like it. It is original if slightly over carbonated in my eyes. It is a summer beer for sure

7.0/10

Burton Bridge Empire Pale Ale

Today's offering is an IPA quite a strong one

 

 

 

Appearance:

Pale and cloudy large head with slight off white colour

Aroma:

Aroma is like a Belgium wheat beer with an orange note (probably as my decanting skills were poor)

Taste:

Ripe fruit with a acidic tang with a maltness which is crunchy is the only word I can think of, coming latter followed by the spicy hops with a touch of floral hops for good measure. The finish is dominated by the tangy granny smith acidity which is slightly vinegary for me, backed up by bitter hops and a warmth (7.5% abv) but has a footnote of malt to remain a balance.

Overall:

I like the story of this beer more than the beer itself, I find the vinegary and the bitter hops doesn't work for me, an interesting historical IPA just not my cup of tea.

7.0/10

Batemans XXXB

Today's offering is for my yellow belly mother, she is from Lincolnshire, not far away from the Batemans brewery.

 

 

 

Appearance:

Chestnut with small head that hangs around

Aroma:

Vinous fruits come across first with biscuity malt and a touch of hops and acidity.

Taste:

Ripe vinous fruit at firsts, the malt then comes through followed by a soft pepperiness and slight bitterness. The finish is long alternates between bitter, vinous fruits, malt and earthy hops.

Overall:

A really unusual bitter that shows the variety you can get in British beers it has mean taste characteristics of a trappist double but without the warmth of the alcohol and has that earthiness  which is very nice in my opinion.

8.5/10

Oakham JHB (Jeffery Hudson Bitter)

Now I am over my cold I can again review beer, today offering is called a bitter by the brewery and  a golden ale  by the book and is named after a midget.

 

 

 

Appearance:

Very golden almost looks like a lager nice lasting head

Aroma:

Citrus with some creamy malt all underpinned by floral but slightly earth hops.

Taste:

The taste starts citrus and creamy malt but the bitter fades in and grows, but never overpowers the citrus and malt. The finish is dry and earth bitter hops underpinned by the creamy malt
.
Overall:

A nice bitter for the summer, nice freshness from the citrus and a nice earthiness. The bottled version is 4.2% is stronger than the draft which according to book is 3.8%.

7.5/10

Brand UP

Unfortunately due to a illness I have not been able to keep the blog day however I hope to rectify this now starting with probably the best main stream dutch lager. However I fear my nose is not sufficiently in working order hence the choice of beers.

 

 

 

Appearance:

Pale gold with lasting large head

Aroma:

Mainly malt with a touch of floral hop

Taste:

the initial taste is the juicy malt and then a light citrus sweatness which is balanced by the hoppy bitterness. The finish is bitter hops with a maltyness in the background and a vague floral citrus nature
.
Overall:

A good lager with a lovely lemon note better than standard dutch offerings but harder to find and pricier too but probably just worth it.

7.5/10

Eggenberg Samichlaus

Today's offering is a Christmas present to me from me love me. The beer is bottled only on the 6th December as Samichlaus is Swiss German for Santa Claus. It once was the strongest beer brewed @ 14% without freeze distillation.

 

 

 

Appearance:

Russet coloured with no head to speak off

Aroma:

Spicy hops, vinous fruit slightly acidic and a hint of malt.

Taste:

Man of man this hits you like a sledge hammer it more like port than beer, sweet fruit and nuts and toffee. The finish is long strong vinous fruit spicy hops and a just a hint of malt and almost like a Metaxa with a nice warming.

Overall:

I am not sure this can be called a beer but it is certainly different and I would like this after a nice meal it is just to intense for a normal beer, hence the 8.0 out 10.0. Try it but do it slowly.

8.0/10