The first blog : The first blog

Beer No.51 - Fuller's 1845 Celebration Ale

2008-09-02T21:33:22Z

The final bottle. Wow. What a great selection of beer it has been. And the final one from a brewer I tend to like. The brewery says, "From the original brewing books this complex, powerful beer was first brewed in 1995 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Fuller, Smith & Turner. It has since proven a modern classic winning numerous awards including two gold medals at the CAMRA Great British Beer Festival. Bottle conditioning, where a small amount of yeast is allowed to ferment gently in the bottle, gives 1845 the fresh, natural flavour of real ale. A blend of amber malt and Goldings hops results in a delicious, fruit cake aroma, full bodied malt character and a dry hoppy finish making 1845 a fantastic accompaniment to rich dishes such as game."

The Independent says, "They say you can't get a decent pint in London. Well, here's a good, straightforward, strong bitter from the banks of the River Thames in Chiswick. The Prince of Wales, no less, turned out at Fuller's in 1995 to cast the first shovel of hops into the first brew of this beer, which celebrated their 150th anniversary. Our judges enjoyed its walnuty aroma, and working man's club honesty."

I say; Well, it's definitely a rich beer, lots of flavour going on in there. Very malty, and alot of strength comes through too. It does remind me, to be honest, of an old mans beer, someting my Dad would have drunk, rather than me. Probably not one I'd come back to, it's not a style I tend to go for.

Beer No.50 - Isle Of Skye Black Cullin

2008-09-01T20:54:59Z

The 50 is up! Only one more to go! What a journey it's been. Not excited about tonights beer, to be honest, if you've read the blog you'll know that black beer doesn't do it for me (although to be fair, I have been pleasantly surprised by them). The brewery says, "Black Cullin is a distinctive dark ale brewed with roast barley and rolled roast Scottish oatmeal, giving an almost stout like bitterness, smoothed by the addition of pure Scottish heather honey. Like the mountains it takes its name from, Black Cullin is both majestic and unique."

The Independent says, "A cherry coloured beer from a small microbrewery in the Outer Hebrides that's just right for a cold day on the hill. Ful bodied with undertones of treacle and molasses, it is named after the famous mountain range on Skye, and won a Champion Beer of Scotland award in 2005."

I say; Don't know about cherry coloured, it looks black to me! This beer is surprisingly subtle, delicate smokiness, soft bitterness and a sweetness from the honey. I am genuinely surprised by this. Also, half way through I nibbled a piece of cheese, and it goes very well with that, too!

Beer No.49 - Badger Golden Glory

2008-08-31T20:10:54Z

Mmmm, Badger. I think Oxfordshire rules when it comes to beer brewing, but Dorset ain't bad at all. The Brewery says, "An award winning premium ale, well balanced with distinctive bitterness and a delicate floral peach and melon aroma. Legend states that the gift of peach blossom brings good fortune to the recipient. It seems to hold true today, as the subtle addition of extract of peach blossom to enhance the floral blend of aromatic and bitter hops has created an outright award winning ale that is refreshing, and charasmatic and absolutely glorious."

The Independent says, "The Dorset family brewer Hall and Woodhouse is a favourite of the South West's real ale community, where they own a chain of well regarded pubs. This lively picnic beer, from its Badger range, contains more fruit flavours than your average summer pudding. Our judges identified peach, melon and apple, and aromas of lavender, violet and honeysuckle."

I say; This beer is very, very fruity, and peach certainly dominates. It makes a refreshing change, and I have drunk this many times in the past. Not too sure if I could drink more than 1 in a session, the taste could make it a little too galling. However, yet another example, to me, of how a brewery can make 'out there' beers and get away with it, simply because they really are high quality.

Beer No.48 - Abbot Ale

2008-08-30T21:02:55Z

Another beer I know from long ago. The brewery says, "Abbot Ale is brewed longer to a unique recipe, which makes it the full flavoured, smooth and ripe beer it is today. This irresistible beer has masses of fruit character, a malty richness and a superb hop balance making it an exceptional drink. It is brewed with pale crystal and amber malts which give it its attractive colour and rich malty taste. Abbot Ale is exceptional on its own or as a perfect partner to full flavoured food such as mature cheese and rich pasta dishes. Brewed longer for a distinctive full flavour."

The Independent says, " Despite its ongoing corporate efforts to take over the world; Greene King can still knock out a decent pint. Abbot Ale is one of its most popular beers. Brewed with light crystal and amber malts it is a wonderful gleaming walnut colour. It enchants the nose with spices and a fruity gusto."

I say; Well, to my memory similar to Old Speckled Hen, in as much as I have drunk it a long time ago, and it used to make me drunk! Now, it's still a very tasty pint. To me it's a pint that shows how good malt tastes, wheras I think some beer can have too much malt. Spicy on the tongue, a good winter warmer!

Beer No.47 - Old Speckled Hen

2008-08-29T22:15:20Z

A very well known beer, one which has given me many hangovers years ago. The brewery says,"First brewed to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the MG car factory and affectionately named after an old MG car used as a factory runaround. A finely balanced ale. With a smooth, rich malty taste. Perfect for every occassion. Great with friends and food. Why not try with your sunday roast or cured meats and cheese."

The Independent says, "This lovely winter beer, with overtones of tea and autumnal leaves, is so popular it boasts its own fan club. Historically brewed in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, it is now sadly owned by the Greene King conglomerate, which has successfully turned it into one of the best selling beers at Britains checkouts. While real aficionados say it isn't as good as it used to be, Old Speckled Hen's still one of the most reliable beers on the supermarket shelves."

I say; As I mentioned before, I've got a (good) history with this beer. However, my memory must be palying tricks on me. I remember the beer being a winter beer, as The Independent says. When I'm drinking this (on a warm night!) it is really refreshing, more like a summer ale. It smells malty, and initially that's the taste. This gives way to a classic hoppy bitterness. Lots of people moan about the Greene King connection, but if the beer tastes good, why not drink it. I'm really enjoying this!

Beer No.46 - Deuchars IPA

2008-08-27T21:04:04Z

This is a great beer. A great beer, although I�mainly know it as a draft beer. The brewery says,"A distinctive golden beer that's long on refreshment. It's dry and delicious, a brilliant blend of malt and hop with a hint of citrus, that leaves your taste buds calling for more. It's so good that you'll wonder why you ever drank anything else! Deuchars IPA cask beer was voted the Supreme Champion Beer of Britain 2002."

The Independent says, "Scotland did win the world cup at least: this Caledonian gem was champion cask ale at the 2006 Brewing Industry International Awards. The bottled sister version was declared CAMRA's champion beer of Britain three years earlier. Light, golden and incredibly fresh, its vanilla and citrus foretaste quickly recede� to a classic bitter finish. Our judging panel declared it a perfect session beer."

I say; Mmmm, what a beer, what a beer. The Independent are right when they say the taste changes quickly. The initial citrus does give way to a subtle maltiness, which then moves on to a long tasty finish. These guys really are onto a winner, this will be in the top ten!

Beer No.45 - Harveys Of Sussex Armada Ale

2008-08-26T21:34:45Z

Yet another beer I've been desperate to try. The brewery says, 'A dry, heavily hopped strong Pale Ale with an extremely light colour. Originally commissioned by the National Maritime Museum for the quarter centenary celebrations of the defeat of the Spanish Armada by Sir Francis Drake, we were requested to continue production by numerous devotees."

The Independent says,"The only problem with this fantastic pale ale is that it doesn't come in bigger bottles. Harveys, the excellent Sussex family brewer, created the beer in 1988, after being commissioned by the National Maritime Museum to make a beer to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the defeat of the Spanish Armada by Sir Francis Drake. It came up with a pubby, hoppy little number that has remained a local favourite ever since."

I say; Mmmm, Pale Ale, my favourite of all the beer styles. There are some great ones around. To be honest, I'm a little disappointed in this. It's very nice, but just falls short of being wonderful. There's not quite enough flavour there, the hoppy tones give way to a slight blandness. It would be a fairly good session beer, but there are better Pale Ales out there. And thus shows the pitfalls of getting too excited before trying a beer!

Beer No.44 - Harveys of Sussex Tom Paine Ale

2008-08-25T20:59:42Z

One of two Harveys beers in the list, this small brewery has big aims! The brewery says, "Brewed to commemorate the bicentenary of the publication of 'The Rights of Man' by the radical Thomas Paine, a resident of Lewes at the time. It is thought that Paine helped draft the American Declaration of Independence. A dry hopped, strong pale ale."

The Independent says, "Think mincemeat, Branston Pickle, and long winter afternoons in front of a log fire. This dry hopped, strong pale ale was created to celebrate the 4th of July; and named after the author of the Rights of Man. An excellent, quintessentially English winter ale, with a fantastic balance of fruit, floral hops, and a breaded malty undertone."

I say; Well, after reading The Independents review, I wasn't that keen on trying this, but then reading the brewery, to me, it sounds completely different. So what's it like? Lighter in colour than I expected, the malt stands out, giving way to a hoppy fruitiness. Quite bitter, the strength comes through too. Can be a bit tangy after a while. Mid table I reckon!

Beer No. 43 - Black Sheep Ale

2008-08-24T20:57:52Z

Everybody knows this one! The brewery says, "The culmination of 5 generations of brewing expertise. Brewed at the Black Sheep Brewery in Masham, North Yorkshire - and nowhere else."

The Independent says, "A proper Yorkshire beer, from a well regarded brewery that was established in Masham by Paul Theakston in the early 1990's, after his family business, the much loved Theakston, was acrimoniously bought out by the international giant Scottish & Newcastle. It's flagship beer, Black Sheep, is a traditional brewed ale with a long dry taste."

I say; It's Black Sheep Ale, and whilst I prefer their Pale Ale, I have drunk this loads in the past and will drink it loads in the future. It's sold in lots of places, and is a sight for sore eyes in lots of them. Malty hoppiness takes over, and you could pretty much drink it all night. Not spectacular, but very dependable, and will always be drunk by me!

Beer No. 42 - Shepherd Neame Bishops Finger

2008-08-23T21:41:07Z

A very highly rated beer by friends of mine, one which I don't personally know. Although the Shepherd Neame Whitstable Bay is one of my favourites! The brewery says, "Bishops Finger is named after an ancient Kentish signpost found on the Pilgrims Way pointing to Canterbury and the shrine of Thomas a Becket. It was first brewed in 1958 to celebrate the end of austerity after the war. It was Shepherd Neame's first strong ale after over 20 years of malt rationing. Today it is produced to its own charter: it must be only brewed on Fridays, by the Head Brewer, using Kentish barley malt, locally grown hops, and the natural chalk filtered waterdrawn from our artesian well. This unique beer was the first in the UK to be accorded a Protective Geographical Indication (PGI) by the EU. Andrew Jefford, describes it as, 'Rich fruit notes of gently roasted malts...with a dry lingering seville orange finish.'

The Independent says, "Britain's oldest brewer makes this splendid Kentish Strong Ale (a form of beer protected by an EU regional directive) from its historic home in Faversham. A light, fruity beer, with the tiniest hint of aniseed, bananas and pears, it makes a great accompaniment to food, and is sold in several hundred pubs in the south east, and over 30 countries worldwide."

I say; I don't know why, but I've always turned my nose up at this beer, preferring the Whitstable Bay Organic Ale. I would even rate Spitfire over this. Again, I can't say why. However, on actually drinking this, it's lovely, so tasty. My first taste went on forever, I didn't want it to end! Complex spiciness goes hand in hand with rich bitterness and yet there is not too much maltiness. I will definitely drink this in the future!

Beer No.41 - Old Hooky

2008-08-22T22:21:06Z

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!

Beer No.40 - Hogs Back TEA

2008-08-18T21:13:12Z

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!

Beer No. 39 - Brakspear Triple

2008-08-16T19:30:54Z

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.

Beer No. 38 - Joseph Holt 1849

2008-08-15T22:56:23Z

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.

Beer No. 37 - Duvel Top Fermented Golden Ale

2008-08-11T21:07:20Z

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!"