Mmmmm, Oxfordshire beer, something special in the water down there, as along with Dorset, this county consistantly produces beer which tickle my fancy. The staff at Hook Norton are special too. The wonderful Claire Moules, when I asked her about getting a bottle, sent me one each of their beers. And they were spot on, they seem to specialise in high quality amber ales. This is the last one of the 6, I've been waiting ages to try it. The brewery says, "A beautifully balanced beer, fruity by nature with a well-rounded body and the suggestive echo of crystal malt. Brewed for the discerning drinker. Try it as an accompaniment to meat dishes. Cheers."

The Independent says, "The draft version of the classic pub beer is a longstanding favourite in the rural taverns of Oxfordshire, where the Hook Norton brewery has been based for 150 years, but it translates perfectly to the bottle too. Traditionalists love this well-rounded, fruity beer, with hints of apple and dried plums and a classic, hoppy finish. Raymond Blanc has even served Hooky at Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons."

I say; Oh boy, waiting for this one. Looks very classic. I'm surprised with how malty this is. Quite overpowering at first, it gives way to a bittersweet mildness that makes you drink more. A classic bitter, I would love to try this from a barrel, I bet the flavour would change daily. To be honest, a little bit too malty for me, but that is not a criticism, just saying how I prefer my beer!

Another one I took note of when originally looking at the Top 50 list. The brewery says, "Enjoy TEA, a full flavoured smooth ale. Brewed for a balanced flavour from the finest malted Barley and the best whole English Hops. For the taste of yesteryear still enjoyed today."

The Independent says, "The TEA in this beer's title stands for 'Traditional English Ale' - and it certainly steps up to the mark. The flagship product of the Hogs Back microbrewery in Tongham, Surrey, it has been showered with awards at CAMRA's Great British Beer Festival since it was launched in 2000. Our judges described it as golden, hoppy, bottle conditioned beer that's near as dammit to the perfect pint."

I say; Mmmm, looking forward to this beer (4.2%).  Pours well, smells the part too. A definite maltiness in the taste, but whereas that would be a problem for me normally (I want hops, baby) this beer caries it off well. And the hops, mmmmm! It's got a fantastic, tangy bitterness to it. I reckon you could drink this all day, and I might try sometime!

Mmmmm, Brakspear Beer. Wychwood are one of my favourite breweries, there must be something in the Oxfordshire water. I've been looking forward to this whopper (7.2%) alot. The brewery says, "Thanks to the two fermentations in the Brakspear 'Double Drop' system and another in bottle, this highly aromatic and satisfying strong beer delivers its rich flavour with subtlety and balance. Crystal, Black, and Maris Otter pale malts provide the backbone of this outstanding rich beer. Hops are added three times to provide a good balance between bitterness and fragrance. Then, bottle - conditioning allows the flavours of this beer to develop further complexity as it matures. "

The Independent says, "This is a triple fermented, triple hopped, bottle conditioned beer. What does that mean? Well, in layman's terms, you wouldn't want to drink too many in one sitting. It's a full bodied, autumnal beer, with a nutty finish and more than 7%ABV. A good night Vienna drink, or perfect accomaniment to cheese or gamey meets."

I say; Very tasty for such a strong beer, this is a deceiving little bugger, and could get you into alot of trouble. Lots of fragrance, I love hops and this delivers. Not a beer I would go for if I could have any beer in the world, but this one just oozes quality. A wine of a beer, if you follow, and it just re-iterates the high standard of beer made by the Wychwood / Brakspear brewery.

A beer I do not know, from a brewery I don't really know! The brewery says, "Originally brewed in 1999 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the founding of the brewery, this fresh and hoppy ale is brewed using only the most traditional methods and secrets of our Head brewer's art. The beer proved so popular we were petitioned to continue brewing to this day. Founded by Joseph Holt in 1849 the brewery has remained in the family for 5 generations."

The Independent says, "This dark - coloured ale was judged best in the world at the 2005 International Brewing Awards in Germany. Made from a complex selection of coloured malts, this fantastic, flavoursome pint has more"gpong on" in it than a well rounded bottle of vintage claret."

Well, two very different descriptions I think, I'm hoping that the brewery is right in saying it's fresh and hoppy. On examination, it's darker than I would normally be interested in. On drinking, there's alot in there, not much sweetness, lots of bitterness, in a quenching manner. When I forget it's a darker ale, I quite enjoy this. Won't make my top ten, but a very interesting experience.

Another big bottled continental beer pulled from the hat. Duvel is well known, however even though I've known the name for years, I don't think I've actually ever tried it. Perhaps due to its strength, 8.5%, I've forgotten! The Brewery says, "Duvel has a fruity dry aroma, owed to the finest hops, that reminds experts like Michael Jackson of Poire William concerning its bouquet and pallet. Its dry but still alcohol-sweet flavour makes the beer an excellent thirst-quencher, with a pronounced hop aroma. Thanks to the balance between a fine aroma and subtle bitterness, this beer occupies a unique position in the rich Belgian Beer tradition. Duvel is the perfect companion for appetisers, digestives and every other occasion".

The Independent says, "This Duvel looks like an ordinary lager. But in fact it's a Rolls Royce premium ale; fermented and then bottle conditioned by one of Belgium's most prestigious brwers. The locals cal it Devil and rightly so: this 8.5% ale tastes as sweet and innocent as a 4.5% session beer."

I say; right, here goes. There's alot of everything with this beer. Alot of smell, alot of flavour, and despite what The Independent says, alot of alcohol. I'm finding it difficult to describe this beer, there's alot going on, and it's a bit strong. Pretty fizzy too, loads of carbination. I think I like it, and in a blind tasting I would maybe relax a bit more and enjoy, but I think the 8.5% is weighing too heavy on my mind!"