This has an interesting write up, don't think I'll be into this one. The brewery says, "Grouse Beater celebrates the close proximitry of Masham to some of the most beautiful moorland in England; the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors, home to Grouse, a game bird unique to the British Isles. A carpet of purple heather and an abundance of Blueberries herald the start of the Grouse season on the 'Glorious 12th' of August. Initial sweetness balanced with a moderate hop bitterness. Dry hopped with Fuggle to give a delicate aroma complimented by a subtle hint of moorland berry, a favourite with Grouse! Brewed in Masham using the finest quality natural ingredients and over 180 years of brewing wisdom."

The Independent says, "This is the Marmite of beers: some of our panel absolutely loved it;others compared it to a gobfull of warm mouthwash. Inspired by the heathery uplands, where Theakston is based, it has been infused with moorland berries. Fans can't get enough of the bilberry finish, and after a hard day on the hill, say it's as refreshing as a cold pint of Ribena. Try for yourself!"

I say; Sweet, sweet, sweet. How could someone compare this to warm mouthwash. To me, very citrusy, very orangey. Not too sure if I could drink much of this, but the first one is going down a treat. So very fruity, a fine summer ale. Funnily enough, my wife thinks it smells like chemical toliet fluid! Could be a soft drink, it's so sweet. Good ale!

Good heavens, black lager. This will be interesting. The brewery says, "Bohemian Black Lager is traditionally brewed usingfour exceptional malts, finest SAAZ hops and pure spring water. It has been lagered for 70 days in the cellars of our 500 year old castle brewery. Dark brown to black, dense creamy head, oily richness. Flavours reminiscent of bittersweet chockolade. Some sappy bitterness. Long, cedary, dry, smoky finish."

The Independent says, "This peaty black lager is the flagship beer of the Herold brewery in Breznice, Czech Republic. Chances are that you won't have drunk anything quite like it, but don't let that put you off.  Malty, with hints of expresso, chocolate, a touch of hops and a smoky finish. It's long been one of the cognoscenti's favourite Czech beers."

I say; Definitely smoky, lots of different things going on, although that smokiness is not particularly to my liking. To be honest, this has surprised me, I wouldn't have associated this beer with the Czech Republic. Can't taste the hops that much, just smoke and malt. Not a beer I'd come back to.

Everything about this beer (5.5%) looks the part. The bottle is distinctive and the whole range looks drinkable. This is the first time I've tried this beer, and I've been looking forward to it. The brewery says, "Originally produced to quench the thirst of British troops in the 1800's. Traditionally highly hopped and robust to survive the voyage to the Indian sub-continent. The result is a full bodied Pale Ale with a zesty hop character."

The Independent says, "You rarely get a bad pint from the St. Peter's Brewery Company, a small producer from Suffolk that is beloved of real ale fans thanks to its fantastic Jerusalem Tavern pub in Clerkenwell. This splendid IPA has a citrusy nose, with notes of vanillia and butterscotch on the tongue that, according to our panel, conjure up dreamy memories of summer harvests."

I say; Beautiful colour. Initially the full strength was a bit off putting, and the bitterness was over powering. Better now though, very hoppy and and floral. Easy on the nose too. Would like to try the rest of the range!

No feelings towards this beer (4.8%) at all, so a blank canvas. The Brewery says, "Freedom Ale is made with Fairtrade Demerara sugar from a smallholder's co-operative in Malawi, Southeast Africa. This is combined with traditional floor-malted barley and Kentish hops to produce a mellow ale with a long hoppy finish."

The Independent says, "Once you've looked past the politically corect label, it's hard to fault this award winning fairtrade ale. A proper, mellow pint, which you could drink all day, it has an exceptionally long smooth aftertaste. Produced by the well-regarded Westerham Brewery in Kent, to mark the anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade early this year, it's made with sugar from a farmers' co-operative in Malawi; sure to give a warm glow to ethical drinkers."

I say; Beautiful colour, golden amber, gets you licking you lips before you drink it. Tasty beer, chewy. To be honest, when drinking it, I can taste Pilau Rice (not a bad thing!). Whether there's cardamom pods in there, I don't know. The more in I get, the more the flavour lingers. This really is full on, and there's almost a tartness to it. I'll be getting to know this little beauty better in the future!

Not a beer (4.2%) I've been looking forward to if I am honest, I've never really got on with the stuff. However the M & S Irish Stout was surprisingly tasty, so you never know. The Brewery says, "Guinness Original is still brewed from an authentic recipe first perfected by Artuer Guinness almost 200 years ago. It is traditionally matured using the finest quality malt, barley and hops to create a light, sharp and crisp flavour which is different from smooth and creamy Guinness draught and the stronger Guinness Foreign Extra stout."

The Independent says,"The black stuf, as it is known in Dublin, is enjoyed the world over and (rightly) regarded as the most valuable brand in beer. As with anything mass produced, real ale lovers will steer well clear. But during the blind tastings, our panel judged it to full of character and worthy of a place in the top 50. The bottle version is less creamy than its ubiquitous pub equivalent, and just a fraction stonger, too."

I say; Again, better than I thought it would be. Surprisingly refreshing, nowhere near as bitter and burnt as I remember. Smooth without being soapy, it's more lively on the tongue than its colour would suggest. Not a beer I would move heaven and earth to get to, but fair play for being better than I remember.