Wells Bombardier

A classic best bitter today



Appearance:

Dark chestnut with good of white head that stays

Aroma:

Like a Garibaldi biscuit, you have sultan/raisins and some biscuit malt with a hint of flowery hops

Taste:

The malt comes first but is soon over powered by the bitterness of the hops with an acidity as well. The finish start hoppy but fade to round malt flavour

Overall:

A good best bitter but not anything to go out of the way for, if it was on tap I would have it but if I had a choice it would not shout pick me.

7.5/10

Thornbridge Jaipur IPA

An IPA for todays offering



Appearance:

Pale straw yellow with good long lasting head

Aroma:

Smells like lychees with floral overtones.

Taste:

Hoppy first and a tangy fruit comes through and then some juicy malt to balance it all. The finish is very dry with bitter hops and a touch of citrus fruit.

Overall:

An English IPA with a touch of the American style in a good way a fine new interpretation of a classic style.

8.0/10

Ridley's Old Bob

A strong Suffolk Ale for today



Appearance:

Chestnut brown with a reasonable white head that stays

Aroma:

Raisins and dried currents with a biscuit like malt in the background a faint touch of hops

Taste:

The dried fruit comes to the fore at first with a touch of a tang taste and then the biscuity malt come through just when you think that this beer is too sweet. The long finish is almost all hops starting spicy and then becoming earthy like a rugby pitch after a game on a wet march day and this is balanced by the background biscuity malt. Oddly enough I found at the end I was left with a taste of cucumber in my mouth.

Overall:

A really good strong ale the bottle claims citrus notes, but I must have missed them although I suppose that what the tang was. A beer I would love to drink on draft in a nice country pub. One to look out for next time I am in Blighty

8.5/10

Abbaye des Rocs

A Belgium abbey beer with a nice 9% abv



Appearance:

Reddy cloudy brown with a cream head that lasts

Aroma:

Like over ripe grapes with a hint of spices and a touch of malts

Taste:

Ripe fruit and a touch of corriander with a malt background and some hops coming through later. The finish is very sweet, spicy and malt and final a hop taste is what is left.

Overall:

I was looking forward to this beer but I found it a little disappointing, the depth of flavour was good but some how this beer failed to hit the spot for me.

7.0/10

Fraoch Kelpie Ale

As Scotland are playing in the 6 nations I thought I would go for a Scotish ale however as Ireland are playing it has a touch of green from the seaweed.



Appearance:

Very dark brown with a lot of red in it and a long lasting just off white head, almost looks identical to yesterdays offering in the colour of the body. It is not pale like the book says

Aroma:

Iodine and almost a touch of blood and lot of juicy malt.

Taste:

Strangely enough a bit thin in taste, there is the iron from the seaweed mixed with some malt flavour and finally some hops in the finish which does linger with hoppy bitterness some roast malt and a touch of herbyness with a tartness that gives a tingling to the mouth rather than a flavour. The carbonation is very good being just the right level to have a bit of fizz in the mouth but not so much to mask the flavour of the beer

Overall:

I was expecting much more from this beer the depth of flavour is lacking seems more like a gimmick than a beer in it's own right.

6.0/10

Young's Double Chocolate Stout

A stout today as I watch the 6 nations made from actual chocolate.



 

Appearance:

Very dark  brown with a lot of red in it and a long lasting off white head

Aroma:

Surprisingly dark chocolate with fruit undertones and a touch of hops

Taste:

Like a chocolate cake at first with hints of roasted coffee and then tart hops coming through the finish is a first unremarkable I almost thought  there was not one but then hops come to the fore which fade leaving a coco powder taste.

Overall:

Nice for something different but not something I would buy regularly, mine came from outside and was a little to cold and I would argue a little to carbonated.

7.0/10

Christoffel Blond

Some sad news as this Dutch brewery has now closed



Appearance:

Slightly clou straw gold with large lasting head

Aroma:

Very hoppy with almost a pine resin smell and just a hint of malt.

Taste:

Intially the flavour is toasted malt and then the hops come in with the touch of pine. The finish is long bitter and drying with hints of malt, seaweed and also some acidic fruit

Overall:

Not easy drinking as it is very bitter but it is a pilsner with a twist and I am sad that this beer will be gone.

7.5/10

Diebels Alt

German Alt beer today



Appearance:

A clear dark chestnut coloured beer with good lasting head.

Aroma:

Mainly hops with a touch of orange and then finally some malt.

Taste:

Initially the taste is earthy taste with a handful of toasted nuts thrown and a nice carbonation level for this beer. The finish is dry and contains with the toasted nuts with maybe a touch of the orange I talked about earlier in the aroma

Overall:

It is a nice beer with enough ale characteristics to be different and enough lager characteristics to be easy to drink and not to heavy. Another beer I will look out for when looking for something a little different, a pleasant find

8.0/10

Bank's Original (mild)

Another beer from my youth, one I drank rather a lot of.

 



Appearance:

An  amber with a large redness in it with a good head that has legs, I swear the picture in the book is of Bank's bitter.

Aroma:

To me it has a smell like grapes with some hops and a caramel mixed in.

Taste:

Initially the taste is dominated by sweet malt flavour however there is burnt fruit/sugar undertones and hops to balance this with a nice carbonation . The finish of fading hop bitterness with a very weak soft red wine flavour mixed in.

Overall:

While not being too complex and as flavourful as other beers I could drink this any day, very quaffable ideal beer for when talking with friends

8.0/10

Marston's Pedigree

The Burton-on-Trent pale ale



Appearance:

A pale reddish bronze with long a good head

Aroma:

Malty at first with apple and sulphur in the undertones

Taste:

Juicy malt with a touch of apple and hops and slight hint of almonds. The finish is not long but it is long enough with pepperyness from the hops with a hint of earthiness subsiding to lovely juicy malt with that hint of apple

Overall:

I drank a lot of this in my youth, especially when working in a bar and clearing the lines ready for cleaning some weekends, but I forgot what a cracking beer it is. The hint of apples, the tangy hops the juicy malt. I shall have to drink this more often. Although I have not finished all the pale ales in the book I think it is fair to say this will be the best.

9.5/10

Timothy Taylor's Landlord

A Yorkshire best bitter bonus Sunday beer as I missed one earlier in the week and I managed to get a tree stump out of the ground in the garden



Appearance:

Golden reddish brown with a nice off white lasting head

Aroma:

Very floral hops at first and then malt comes through with maybe a touch of citrus fruit

Taste:

Starts with a lovely juicy malt touch of tangy fruit but not over whelming and then the lovely bitter hops come through. The finish is biscuity malt and slowly increasing bitterness from the hops which stay a long time and almost a touch of citrus fruit.

Overall:

Another excellent best bitter (althought it calls itself a pale ale) more rounded than the one earlier today and easier to drink. I slightly prefer this one, hence this stupid score.

8.6/10

Coniston Bluebird bitter

 

A Cumbrian Bitter

 

 



 

Appearance:

Golden brown with a nice off white lasting head

Aroma:

Very floral hops with a nice undercurrent of malt

Taste:

At first the taste is dominated by a lovely malt flavour  which fades to a background then there is some acidity and tartness (think granny smith apple level of tartness) followed by bitter hops. The finish is long becoming more bitter as it goes on but matched by the malty undertone is really moreish.

Overall:

A top British bitter with a bit more tartness than the norm. A lovely pint.

8.5/10

Cantillon Fou' Foune

A Belgium lambic flavoured with apricots with a rude name

Appearance:

Slightly cloudy pale gold with a touch of red fast disappearing head

Aroma:

Acidic slightly musty hay initial smell that fades and apricot takes over.

Taste:

Extremely dry and acidic to start with, as the acidity fades (a  little) a malt taste starts which is then over powered by the apricot flavour. The finish carries on in much a similar fashion with the acidity being slightly balanced by the dried apricot flavour at first and eventually the apricot flavour wins out.

Overall:

A beer which I appreciate the craftsmanship but just to dry for me to drink on it's own,

8.0/10

Schneider Meine Hopfenweisse Tap 5

A German doublebock Wheat beer

Appearance:

Very cloudy straw colour with nice long lasting head

Aroma:

Barbecued bananas (again) but mainly pineapple with a touch of malt

Taste:

It drys the mouth at first as it is very crisp like a dry white wine almost with initial flavour of  pine apple and maybe a hint of herbs (I am thinking coriander) and then the malt comes through and final floral hops. The finish is long and dominated by high alcohol giving a warming feel to the hoppy flavour.

Overall:

While not in the book this double bock weizen beer is a really pleasant surprise. Very refreshing and it has a very Spring feel to it I think it would go down a treat on a terrace on an sunny but cool April day. A beer well earnt is a beer that is well enjoyed.

8.5/10

Fuller's Vintage Ale 2012

An aged English Ale for today

Appearance:

A light golden chestnut with good long lasting head

Aroma:

Overripe fruit with a touch of hops and maybe a touch of almonds

Taste:

Initially I tasted the bitterness of hop which then faded to a creamy malt taste with warming alcohol, the finish was long and strong with malt than gradually get overtaken by floral and later more bitter hops taste, this finish comes on going

Overall:

I drank mine at circa 9 C and think letting it get to room temperature would be more benefical. I liken this to some of the Belgium and Dutch IPA interpretation mixed with an English bitter i.e. with more malt thrown in. It a nice winter warmer but doesn't really do it for me.

7.5/10

Perla Chmielowa Premium Pils

Polish pilsner with a unique taste

Appearance:

Clear gold with a disappearing head

Aroma:

Very malty smell with a touch of flowery hops

Taste:

The malt comes through first followed by the bitter hops which subside to be a bit more fragrant. The finish is a little short  is bitter but with enough malt to balance it out

Overall:

My Polish friends said this beer is distinctive and it is, I liken it to drinking a pils that is a little warm, even when drunk at cold temperatures. It a good beer of it's type and it very thirst quenching. I think it would go well with spicy food. I urge people to try it, it will be in your local polish shop and I fear it my go the way of pilsner urquell dumbed down for more wide spread appeal.

7.5/10

Girardin Gueuze Black Label 1882

Now for something complete different, spontaneous fermentation beer

Appearance:

Pale cloudy gold with long lasting head with large bubbles

Aroma:

As expected overwhelmingly sour acidic aroma with hint of malt and almost a sweetness that reminds me of wet hay.

Taste:

Extremely sour and sharp with it that dries you mouth but there is a pleasant a fizz from the carbonation the taste then mellows slight with the malt maybe trying to get noticed but is scared away by the sour lemony finish.

Overall:

Not really a fan of the gueuze and lambic for mean the krieks are better as they have more flavor. Still it a beer that I can enjoy once in a while, but that is circa every 6 months.

7/10

RCH Ale Mary

A spicy offering today

Appearance:

Cloudy light brown with a good long lasting head.

Aroma:

Wow ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg this has one of the most complex aroma for a beer

Taste:

Ginger and coriander with a touch of fruits like raisins and some maltyness to balance the spices. The finish is ginger with some creamy and finally some hoppy bitterness at the end

Overall:

A spicey beer which is lovely and complex a lovely winter warmer, ironically could be a bit stronger in alcohol to add that warming taste. An excellent beer but not one you would drink more than one or two. I like this one and agree with the book it would be great with a curry

9/10

Samuel Smith's Oatmeal stout

Another Samuel Smith's offering this time a stout.

Appearance:

Black with good tan head which lasts

Aroma:

Strong coffee smell with also dark chocolate undertones

Taste:

Coffee with burnt bread with a sharp acid note but also a surprising amount of sweetness and then some creamyness also well and a pleasent carbonation. The finish is nutty and bitter chocolate with a touch of coffee, the finish is a little short in my eye

Overall:

I have mentioned coffee several times in this review and I don't like the stuff so as you can imagine this beer is not for me, however I do recognise it is a good beer but I would only recommend it to people how don't dislike coffee as much as I do

6.5/10

Samuel Smith's Taddy Porter

Now a English beer a porter a style that has some what had a resurgence recently

Appearance:

A very dark reddy brown,purple with good tan head which lasts

Aroma:

Roasted coffee with unripe fruits and a touch of spicy hops

Taste:

Bitter at first with the roasted malts then coming through while in the back ground you have the hops. The finish is very similar to the main test with the roasted malt a bitter fruitiness and touch of hops.

Overall:

A beer you can chew feels very indulgent in a way and it a beer you want to drinks slowly. Definitely a beer for autumn and winter ideal after today’s wintry showers.

8/10

Liefmans Goudenband

A Flemish old brown all, not strictly in the book, the book has just Oud Bruin this was available and mentioned although at a lower abv.

 

Appearance:

A dark reddy brown with good head when poured but then exits

Aroma:

Acidic but with juicy berries and a very faint touch of hops

Taste:

Sour at first but after that a rich fruitness with a faint sweetness and the finish is mainly sour but with a touch of malt and hops .

Overall:

I did not think I would like the dutch oud bruin beer I have had previously is overally sweet like a milk stout, but this is very refreshing (like a dry scrumpy cider) and very nice indeed. It is moreish but not quaffable. A very nice alternative to drink sometimes. Also top marks for presentation for a 2.05 euro bottle.

8.5/10

La Trappe Blond

A Dutch Trappist blond beer

Appearance:

Pale straw with not much head but it does stick around.

Aroma:
Hint of citrus but mainly malty.

Taste:

The light citrustaste that fade to nice smooth malt. The finish is dry a predominatly malty with a more citrus and a touch of hops to make a it very pleasent.

Overall:

It's an above average beer but never excels, it better than other premimum beers, but I does not excite me. It does seem to be very thirst quenching and hence ideally summer beer IMO.

7.5/10

Chimay Blanche

Another Belgium Trappist blond beer

Appearance:

Pale ruset with a very large long lasting head

Aroma:

Citrus fruits at first followed a touch of peppery hops

Taste:

The citrus is a bit more understated than I expected, with a more hoppy flavour with hints of a malt the finsih is the best part for this beer, starts with the warming alcohol and then a very long dry finish of citrus and hops with the hops staying the longest

Overall:

A good beer the finish is the main event for this beer, at first it was a little disappointing but the finish pushes it up the scores, much like the Achel blond. |I see further research may be needed here!

8.5/10

Tongerlo Blond

Another Belgium abbey blond beer

Appearance:

Gold/amber with a large head

Aroma:

Hoppy at first with malt accents

Taste:

The malt comes first and the some hops/citrus accents and with a long hoppy finish, a trifle bland

Overall:

A bit disappointing compared to the book, again the abbey beers feel a bit bland I was also surprised to see maise in the ingredients. I think I would rather have a regular pils than this as the price difference would not be worth it.

6/10

Meantime India Pale Ale

The 'tradional' IPA, i.e. brewed in London.

Appearance:

Dark gold with a nice head

Aroma:

Spicy hops with malt overtones

Taste:

Real peppery first taste, with a touch of orange fading into a lovely malt tast. The finish is complex than most beer with more malt and very hoppy bitteness

Overall:

A really good beer, that I could happy drink all night even with its intense bitterness

8.5/10

Brains SA

As the 6 nations starts with Wales vs. Ireland so time for a welsh classic.

Appearance:

Dark amber with a really redness to it and  with a nice off white head.

Aroma:

Lovely malt smell, like grapenuts with a touch of spicy hops

Taste:

Malt with a touch of barley sugar and then the hops come in later the finish has malt hops and a touch of fruity sweetness.

Overall:

It is in my eyes a touch over carbonated a really good bitter.

8/10

Trappistes Rochefort 6

As promised another trappist, this time a dark one.

Appearance:

Chestnut with a large head that lasts. .

Aroma:

Malty smell with a a herb overtones

Taste:

Herby initial taste followed by malty taste with some more herbs and not much of a finish

Overall:

Not one for me again lacking in complicity to be worthwhile to drink imo.

6.5/10