tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89779336896406234882024-03-14T04:36:31.893+00:00BeeradviceBeer Advice... Pushing the boundaries of taste.Garethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17859486540598651799noreply@blogger.comBlogger175125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8977933689640623488.post-80241280494739852182013-02-25T14:06:00.001+00:002013-02-25T14:06:40.084+00:00Blog RetirementI'm retiring this blog. It's really a matter of a bit of a lack of creative inspiration. I feel like I've been plodding along for a while; the only posts I find the time to put up are a few beer reviews and they're not really what I wanted to write - if only because they are rarely as interesting as broader musings about beer and pubs and all that stuff that I read about on other blogs!<br />
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Having said that I do fully intend to carry on writing blog posts, they are just going to be slightly less beer-centred, although I do hope they will be at least as successful (if that's the right word) as this beer blog has been.<br />
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Thanks to those of you that take the time to read my meanderings, and I hope you'll do the same over at my combined blog at its new home under <a href="http://drinksadvice.blogspot.co.uk/">Drinks Advice</a>. A warning though - there might be a fair bit of whisky involved, for the simple reason that I'm spending more and more of my time embroiled in the world of whisky, and enjoying myself immensely.<br />
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Cheers. I'll leave the last words to my daughter; she learns fast...<br />
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PS. If anyone fancies adding my new blog to their blog-roll that would be appreciated. Hopefully I've updated everyone on to the new roll, if I've missed you give me a shout and I'll sort it.</div>
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Garethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17859486540598651799noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8977933689640623488.post-57898237726039661332013-02-07T19:50:00.000+00:002013-02-07T19:50:01.686+00:00Revolutions 'Clash' London PorterIf ever there was a beer whose packaging was really going to leap out and sell the beer to me I think this one from <a href="http://www.revolutionsbrewing.co.uk/#" target="_blank">Revolutions Brewing Company</a> would be it. Not that I think it's particularly state of the art, because I wouldn't know, or even claim to know, state of the art design if I fell over it in the street, but it just looks great.<div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI449jDZERSf8iRo2uRObX06P_lCMO6CeAkfWwvfpvlluM15ZyvKskD-nL_KUSVyWheAXR_5jZCtSZieK38ZPizOOwQtyRnRhdDLqLUsKjO9b3p9hbiqpzGlH9d9Clo49J9X6LSMnJbJ1Y/s1600/Revolutions+Clash+London+Porter+Bottle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI449jDZERSf8iRo2uRObX06P_lCMO6CeAkfWwvfpvlluM15ZyvKskD-nL_KUSVyWheAXR_5jZCtSZieK38ZPizOOwQtyRnRhdDLqLUsKjO9b3p9hbiqpzGlH9d9Clo49J9X6LSMnJbJ1Y/s200/Revolutions+Clash+London+Porter+Bottle.JPG" width="150" /></a>Of course it could all be a ruse, a cunning trap to lure innocent people like me who think 'The Clash: must be good!' into buying a sub-standard beer. I can never keep the cynical me far from the forefront. Well, actually, maybe I can. One way to do it would be to drink beer; this one in particular, because once you get to the point where you've poured it out and the cool packaging is forgotten, it really is marvellous. Powdery cocoa-heavy chocolate, smoke and a lovely soft bitterness.</div>
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London calling? Well, it might well be, but if it is calling, Yorkshire is not only calling, it's shouting. And with beers like this, it has a lot to shout about, probably with some singing and dancing along to old vinyl, naturally.</div>
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4.5% abv. £2.84 (50cl) from <a href="http://www.beerritz.co.uk/" target="_blank">Beer Ritz</a>.<br /><br /></div>
Garethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17859486540598651799noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8977933689640623488.post-46767049135851459972013-02-04T14:43:00.000+00:002013-02-04T14:43:47.826+00:00Otley '06' PorterI had a bit of a rummage round in the cellar the other day, checking on what beers I had that needed drinking before I let myself loose on a new beer order. This is one from <a href="http://www.otleybrewing.co.uk/" target="_blank">Otley</a> that I picked up back in the 'summer' and I thought I'd better drink it since it went out of date at the end of January. I wasn't that worried about it being off - I've always liked <a href="http://www.hardknott.com/" target="_blank">HardKnot</a>t's attitude on that front: 'Best before - see neck... but probably even better after.' I have no experience of ageing beers, but some certainly seem far more robust than others!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHzFiqti-_RkcHodDThiib603fTJy3IUatGgKz3gu4euOJ6s0pYgawy45yJV5_xxlHG7xcAb1n3ErD4uJN8Jp6Oxh6LwZ29rG0PRqB8tUBJ0BwTu8UK3G8oTu2FCq4ebCfrIDlzUJsWjLG/s1600/Otley+06+Porter+Bottle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHzFiqti-_RkcHodDThiib603fTJy3IUatGgKz3gu4euOJ6s0pYgawy45yJV5_xxlHG7xcAb1n3ErD4uJN8Jp6Oxh6LwZ29rG0PRqB8tUBJ0BwTu8UK3G8oTu2FCq4ebCfrIDlzUJsWjLG/s200/Otley+06+Porter+Bottle.JPG" width="150" /></a>It pours a deep, dark, almost black, ruby red. The head didn't stay around for long but there were lovely mocha coffee aromas. On the palate it's rich and chocolatey, with dark damson fruit, black cherry and vanilla giving way to a smoky finish. If this beer was better last week, before the 'best before' date, then it must have been truly spectacular!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFOrdsXTAfFpWGAnkr8dOWqmlJ7VmsDy8FHjl_K0UVCr95tGf971YBGVrUn50C0vV2EHd8I2EG96DB_U-uRKlPqM9SGxc1vbC8uxVLQ43cJ55FwJHA_m0hvC8Z5LEEv4ocxg_7hjvlySz/s1600/Pen-Lon+Heather+&+Honey+Bottle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFOrdsXTAfFpWGAnkr8dOWqmlJ7VmsDy8FHjl_K0UVCr95tGf971YBGVrUn50C0vV2EHd8I2EG96DB_U-uRKlPqM9SGxc1vbC8uxVLQ43cJ55FwJHA_m0hvC8Z5LEEv4ocxg_7hjvlySz/s200/Pen-Lon+Heather+&+Honey+Bottle.JPG" width="150" /></a>Not quite so successful was the <a href="http://www.penlon.biz/" target="_blank">Penlon</a> Heather & Honey beer, another I got while I was down in Wales last year. I had the bright idea of comparing it to Williams' Fraoch, but never got round to it. I'm not sure if it was because it was just past the best before date (it didn't taste off) or if it's because I struggled with the very floral tastes. There's certainly plenty of honey in the finish and it's probably worth trying if you're a fan of honeyed beers.<br />
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Otley 06 Porter. 6.6% abv. £2.94 (50cl) from the <a href="http://www.realbeerbox.com/" target="_blank">Real Beer Box</a> - although I bought it somewhere in Narberth for a penny more! The Penlon Heather & Honey is 4.2% abv, and a 50cl bottle again, but I can't remember what I paid for it.Garethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17859486540598651799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8977933689640623488.post-29425226878240779742013-01-30T19:12:00.000+00:002013-01-30T19:12:04.662+00:00Brewfist 'Spaceman' IPAI love Italy, I've been there a few times and even got married on a wine estate out there, and it's great to hear that the beer scene is branching out beyond Miller's ubiquitous <i><a href="http://www.peroniitaly.com/gb/" target="_blank">Peroni</a></i> and Heineken's <i><a href="http://www.birramoretti.com/" target="_blank">Birra Moretti</a></i>. Will Glass' excellent blog <a href="http://italybrews.com/" target="_blank">Italy Brews</a> is a great source of information on the Italian beer and it's a shame his time in Italy came to an end - I for one am hoping someone picks up the baton and carries the site on.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiouR_pinw3ROPIW7EBCEVWIGALrJDk87qBUav4aIKEwY7tEeHpQN0WgOTR9iY-tIWD5v5BxJ2qX3F6w-ZFuHPucFdvfuzjWHQMsQre5Poy8SyWJmQ2lP7NO1n-TRThseQEtoZjRtC4OSCK/s1600/Brewfist+Spaceman+IPA+Label.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiouR_pinw3ROPIW7EBCEVWIGALrJDk87qBUav4aIKEwY7tEeHpQN0WgOTR9iY-tIWD5v5BxJ2qX3F6w-ZFuHPucFdvfuzjWHQMsQre5Poy8SyWJmQ2lP7NO1n-TRThseQEtoZjRtC4OSCK/s200/Brewfist+Spaceman+IPA+Label.JPG" width="150" /></a>This is the first beer I've had from <a href="http://www.brewfist.com/" target="_blank">Brewfist</a>, and the first I remember having from Italy that's a bit more interesting than your standard Euro-lager, and while it would be nice to be out there sampling it there's never a bad time to be drinking IPA so here goes.<br />
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It pours a gorgeous orange colour and that reflects the marmalade aromas and the blood orange on the palate. It's not overly carbonated, making it very smooth and easy-drinking, and not too heavy on the sweet tropical fruit which I thought gave it better balance than some American-style IPA I've had. It's got a pleasant, grapefruit pithy finish.<br />
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Brewfist definitely get a big yes vote. Next time I order some beer I'll be adding more to the basket!<br />
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Worthy of my nephew's favourite joke: What do you get if you see a spaceman? You park man! (Sorry, he's only eight.)<br />
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7% abv. £3.24 (33cl) from <a href="http://www.beerritz.co.uk/" target="_blank">Beer Ritz</a>.Garethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17859486540598651799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8977933689640623488.post-39413347460303645522013-01-23T15:57:00.000+00:002013-01-23T15:57:40.704+00:00Brasserie Lefebvre 'Barbãr' BokThis one was a bit if a blast from the past. Nearly ten years ago my wife and I were drinking this beer on our first date, although it was the regular blond rather than this darker (formerly just a winter) version. It's one of the beers from the <a href="http://www.brasserielefebvre.be/en/page/3/home" target="_blank">Brasserie Lefebvre</a> stable, we used to sell their Floreffe back in my pub days too.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6EL2ZD6auu6EkAFnUjaEyQIrHPD_lGiKy-s60FdzWPT2AaV7m57Da6RfmaP-43vqLxzMPVENpYfqLZoBi7c6Z3j-g4lgWYhovtCyBGHMCUt6PcnpxM1-phDWEbuAHo-4SbZSpW2hlAxTw/s1600/Barbar+Bok+Bottle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6EL2ZD6auu6EkAFnUjaEyQIrHPD_lGiKy-s60FdzWPT2AaV7m57Da6RfmaP-43vqLxzMPVENpYfqLZoBi7c6Z3j-g4lgWYhovtCyBGHMCUt6PcnpxM1-phDWEbuAHo-4SbZSpW2hlAxTw/s200/Barbar+Bok+Bottle.JPG" width="150" /></a>It pours a deep brown colour, and I got less honey on the nose than I remember getting from its paler cousin. There's a load of dark and dried fruit in there; along with rich spices - it has a certain mulled quality on the nose. On the palate I got more of those wintery flavours; mixed peel and demerara sugar and characteristic yeasty Belgian dustiness. Overall the 2.5% honey is a contributory part rather than being at the forefront, it adds to the whole warming winter brew feel, and while I can see it wouldn't be to everyone's taste, we enjoyed sharing a bottle.<br />
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8.5% abv. £2.98 (33cl) from <a href="http://www.beerritz.co.uk/" target="_blank">Beer Ritz</a>.Garethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17859486540598651799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8977933689640623488.post-65695329479829593842012-12-29T13:06:00.000+00:002012-12-29T13:06:59.105+00:00Doctor's Orders<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxwzqJGVialtjtu_xN97yaTx5gJ5OMf6VqNpiHI9Xkk1Dv2CTcYOgE5CbwTX5jjEnqatkDNfGM8tiJFeuPsI0JA0RBKgJMrtfIAQ4g8r57IEldm347Y5l0_7IkLyX8m9iGDipLNzwm2qga/s1600/Doctor's+Orders+Exterior.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxwzqJGVialtjtu_xN97yaTx5gJ5OMf6VqNpiHI9Xkk1Dv2CTcYOgE5CbwTX5jjEnqatkDNfGM8tiJFeuPsI0JA0RBKgJMrtfIAQ4g8r57IEldm347Y5l0_7IkLyX8m9iGDipLNzwm2qga/s200/Doctor's+Orders+Exterior.JPG" width="200" /></a>Having escaped work a bit early yesterday I finally got a chance to pop into my new local, it having opened on Sunday. <a href="https://twitter.com/DOmicropub" target="_blank">Doctor's Orders</a> is Nottingham's first <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/features/a-local-pub-for-local-people-micropubs-are-catching-on-2217205.html" target="_blank">Micro-Pub</a>, and the name came about because it used to be Carrington Pharmacy (which has now moved a few doors closer to town). This also explains the 'prescriptions' window through which you can have a look at the beer stillage. Room being at a premium there's no bar, it's just a matter of grabbing yourself a table and ordering your beer, and don't be expecting much other than beer or cider or you'll be disappointed. It's cask only, and all that straight from the barrels you can see on the (rather posh spring-tilted*) racks. No hand-pulls, no frills - anywhere!<br />
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I had a half of Lincoln Green '<a href="http://lincolngreenbrewing.co.uk/#/our-beers/4556820168" target="_blank">Marion</a>' Pale Ale, which was in damn good condition. The beer range looked decent, if not hugely adventurous - it'll be interesting to see how they develop the range they do. It was also nice to be able to have a look at the 'soon to appear' beers - there's a chalkboard as well as printed beer menus.<br />
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All in all, and despite it being a fleeting visit, I was really impressed. It's certainly a good place to have within five minutes walk of my house, especially since the fact they don't do food means that me and the dog will be welcomed providing we behave ourselves. As far as I remember they're open 12-2 and 5.30-12 daily. It's a bit of a trek out of the city if you are visiting Nottingham, it being a good mile away from any of the 'must visit' city pubs, but it's a great addition to the (very) local beer scene.<br />
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* I was a bit jealous; none of the weekly chock-combat against 18 gallon casks we used to have in the pub I ran.<br />
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<br />Garethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17859486540598651799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8977933689640623488.post-72092027669896350202012-12-24T08:49:00.000+00:002012-12-24T17:33:17.155+00:00Kernel India Brown AleJust to wish all my readers a Merry Christmas. I hope you're both well...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLkHLBqciywQ_jGah-1Vu3v-yzMcCw6foCA8y2FW7NxlR_LPJIaxyktpDY4UU82WKNvefzNkfle00du0ZSMo6f2BNK7yVR6VEim2KXbqJ8L90tu6Y6mfoUfiLJjeYc6JDWDUAyw-qPR91T/s1600/DSC_0021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLkHLBqciywQ_jGah-1Vu3v-yzMcCw6foCA8y2FW7NxlR_LPJIaxyktpDY4UU82WKNvefzNkfle00du0ZSMo6f2BNK7yVR6VEim2KXbqJ8L90tu6Y6mfoUfiLJjeYc6JDWDUAyw-qPR91T/s320/DSC_0021.JPG" width="179" /></a>This was supposed to be a post for #seasonstweetings twitter tasting, as set up (over a week ago now) by the irrepressible <a href="https://twitter.com/Filrd" target="_blank">Phil</a> over at <a href="http://beersay.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Beersay</a>. My crazy busy December meant I failed completely to get any seasonal beers in, but when you have to make do with <a href="http://www.thekernelbrewery.com/" target="_blank">The Kernel</a> it's hardly a sacrifice! In fact, had I not already done my <a href="http://beeradvice.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/the-golden-pint-awards-2012.html">Golden Pints</a> for this year, it may well have been a contender for a mention somewhere.</div>
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It all starts with a gorgeous creamy chocolate aroma with the faintest touch of hazelnuts and pine/citrus (orange) hops. It's a soft, thick luxurious duvet of a beer, scarily drinkable and rarely has 33cl seemed such a small portion! There's milk chocolate in there but the nuttiness balances out the sweetness, and that's what this beer represents to me - complexity and balance.</div>
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Marvelous. Happy Christmas everybody!<br />
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Garethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17859486540598651799noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8977933689640623488.post-40021003683198829362012-12-12T12:01:00.000+00:002012-12-12T12:01:27.197+00:00Horses and HopsI had a couple of decent beers the other evening. One I picked up recently from the newly opened <a href="http://beeradvice.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/the-flipping-good-beer-shop.html">Flipping Good Beer Shop</a>, and another I'd had stashed in the cellar for a few months and came across it while I was having a bit of a sort out (if you horde beer/wine/whisky like I do you know exactly what I mean.)<div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2DWao8_XhlZIiRFd8sKPs47WLbMEyeITOGqi1u7L64ERbUyPNcgGIlE0788f3Rwe3G_evxZAL5RsysYjuLbuAydbfExxT53I2z4_iJGk8SkIkx6KMxXIs_4HOdKoz4pqgKVBlzWM4qDrM/s1600/Sadlers+Hop+Bomb+Label.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2DWao8_XhlZIiRFd8sKPs47WLbMEyeITOGqi1u7L64ERbUyPNcgGIlE0788f3Rwe3G_evxZAL5RsysYjuLbuAydbfExxT53I2z4_iJGk8SkIkx6KMxXIs_4HOdKoz4pqgKVBlzWM4qDrM/s200/Sadlers+Hop+Bomb+Label.JPG" width="150" /></a>First up was the <a href="http://www.sadlersales.co.uk/" target="_blank">Sadler's</a> Hop Bomb. I probably served it a bit cold, because there wasn't much on the nose at first, maybe a touch of elderflower but if I'm really honest, it didn't hang around long enough to warm up and allow me to savour the aromas - it's far too quaffable for that! It's 5% abv; strong I suppose, if you like your beer at a more 'sessionable' strength, but quite low for a modern IPA and I thought it was all the better for that; it's less about the sweet tropical fruit than vibrant fresh apricot and white grape flavours, all leading to a gentle sherbet finish rather than harsh bitterness.</div>
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5% abv. £2.65 (33cl) from <a href="http://www.flippinggoodbeershop.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Flipping Good Beer Shop</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVzsQ12hkxpmpJ7pBMgm7-dJX_FwA2nKq-GV4KtfNVHJpwFdzeFIT5y423letYkWLM4wWLzNHmaOElaoXzmBT_FBRbi2n8BUjMdiUs3jfrAN9kt_N0NO52-cpgEA6Pxj131QCv7KnwGhnD/s1600/Welbeck+Abbey+Dark+Horse+Label.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVzsQ12hkxpmpJ7pBMgm7-dJX_FwA2nKq-GV4KtfNVHJpwFdzeFIT5y423letYkWLM4wWLzNHmaOElaoXzmBT_FBRbi2n8BUjMdiUs3jfrAN9kt_N0NO52-cpgEA6Pxj131QCv7KnwGhnD/s200/Welbeck+Abbey+Dark+Horse+Label.JPG" width="150" /></a>The other was the <a href="http://www.welbeckabbeybrewery.co.uk/" target="_blank">Welbeck Abbey Brewery</a> Dark Horse, not one that is part of their core range - I think I'm right in saying it's a seasonal/experimental brew from earlier in the year.</div>
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There's lots of well-done toast on the nose along with a touch of red and dark fruit. On the palate it is plummy and rich, but keeps its balance rather than descending into a heaviness that its 4.8% abv couldn't support. There's marmite flavours and a lovely sweet hint that comes through on the finish. It would be a hard one to put into a style category - is it a dark ale, a hoppy mild or a lighter Black IPA? When it tastes this good, I for one don't really care!</div>
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4.8% abv. £2.60 (50cl) from <a href="http://www.hopsinabottle.co.uk/" target="_blank">Hops in a Bottle</a>.</div>
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Garethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17859486540598651799noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8977933689640623488.post-12226467233631299862012-12-10T17:56:00.000+00:002012-12-10T17:56:14.818+00:00The 'Golden Pint' Awards 2012 It's that 'reflective' time of year again. Organised by <a href="http://www.pencilandspoon.com/2012/12/golden-pints-2012.html" target="_blank">Mark Dredge</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/BeerReviewsAndy" target="_blank">Andy</a> over at <a href="http://www.beerreviews.co.uk/" target="_blank">Beer Reviews</a>, have a look at Mark's site if you want to know what it's all about but it should all be pretty self-explanatory!<br />
<ol><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3uIJ28kU6QZj6PHZTWtZeUiytpTTm2NUEfav97QWu3zU7YgW0G-j6_jXDT94aavmW9noNd3M1WEvsvzMXemCLtic5jsFJiknOqNZxhiyfgnfw98Ym3sbzjF6VoWcj6nju55TMQlJRnscy/s1600/Golden+Pints.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3uIJ28kU6QZj6PHZTWtZeUiytpTTm2NUEfav97QWu3zU7YgW0G-j6_jXDT94aavmW9noNd3M1WEvsvzMXemCLtic5jsFJiknOqNZxhiyfgnfw98Ym3sbzjF6VoWcj6nju55TMQlJRnscy/s200/Golden+Pints.jpg" width="150" /></a>
<li>Best UK Draught Beer: <a href="http://www.thornbridgebrewery.co.uk/" target="_blank">Thornbridge</a> '<a href="http://beeradvice.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/thornbridge-brewery-tour.html">Kipling</a>.'</li>
<li>Best UK Bottled or Canned Beer: <a href="http://www.hardknott.com/" target="_blank">Hardknott</a> '<a href="http://beeradvice.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/down-dipa.html">Queboid</a>.' A close call with several others, but I picked this and the Brasserie d'Achouffe for number four because they switched me on to a style I've not really been a massive fan of before.</li>
<li>Best Overseas Draught Beer: Duchesse de Bourgogne. Although I only had a bit of a taste, its balsamic loveliness really sticks in the mind.</li>
<li>Best Overseas Bottled or Canned Beer: Brasserie d’Achouffe '<a href="http://beeradvice.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/houblon-chouffe.html">Houblon Chouffe</a>' </li>
<li>Best Overall Beer: I think it has to be the Brasserie d’Achouffe '<a href="http://beeradvice.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/houblon-chouffe.html">Houblon Chouffe</a>' - I absolutely loved it!</li>
<li>Best Pumpclip or Label: I might be biased because the beer's so good (it was a contender for number 2) but I love the elegance of <a href="https://harviestoun.com/age_verification" target="_blank">Harviestoun</a>'s '<a href="http://beeradvice.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/harviestoun-ola-dubh-12.html">Ola Dubh</a>' Highland Park aged range.</li>
<li>Best UK Brewery: <a href="http://www.williamsbrosbrew.com/" target="_blank">Williams Brothers</a>, because I can't remember having a beer from them that I haven't enjoyed - they're experimental but don't compromise consistency.</li>
<li>Best Overseas Brewery: Although here aren't many I've had more than one beer from <a href="http://www.nilsoscar.se/index.php/en" target="_blank">Nils Oscar's</a> beers seem to be consistently good.</li>
<li>Pub/Bar of the Year: The Kean's Head in Nottingham. Yes, I'm biased because it's the pub company I used to work for and it's run by a friend of mine, but even on Friday and Saturday nights in town it's a nice little oasis of calm amid the madness.</li>
<li>Beer Festival of the Year: The Sheffield Tap. Well, it's the closest I got to a beer festival (for shame) but life's hectic. Although I didn't get there, and so I'm judging by <a href="http://beersay.wordpress.com/2012/10/07/indyman-the-beer-festival/" rel="" target="_blank">amazing sounding write-ups</a>, the <a href="http://www.indymanbeercon.co.uk/" target="_blank">Indy-Man Beer-Convention</a> is the one I'd most like to get to in 2013, finances permitting.</li>
<li>Supermarket of the Year: I might plead the fifth on this one. Nobody really deserves any recommendation. Nottingham's Waitrose rarely has anything they advertise as a chain, and their 'deals' are perplexing at best. I've left beers at the counter too often when it turns out 'it's not those, it's the ones next to them that are on offer.' Sainsbury's Great British Beer Hunt was a lame effort this year, mostly average beers which they hardly bothered to promote. The only positive thing about supermarkets for me is the bakery they've opened at the Lidl near me. Go independent!</li>
<li>Independent Retailer of the Year: <a href="http://beeradvice.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/hops-in-bottle.html" target="_blank">Hops in a Bottle</a> in Mansfield; friendly, and clearly run by beer fans for beer fans.</li>
<li>On-line Retailer of the Year: Beer Ritz. A considered selection rather than trying to stock everything for everything's sake. Easily navigable website and speedy service. </li>
<li>Best Beer Book or Magazine: Michael Jackson's Beer Companion. Why would you need anything else?</li>
<li>Best Beer Blog or Website: <a href="http://boakandbailey.com/" target="_blank">Boak and Bailey</a>. Informative and entertaining!</li>
<li>Best Beer Twitterer: <a href="https://twitter.com/simonhjohnson" rel="nofollow">Simon H Johnson</a>. Same as last year, same reasons as last year, and this year I got to meet the man beneath the merkin!</li>
<li>Best On-line Brewery presence: Durham Brewery, in the form of <a href="http://beeradvice.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/brewdog-nottingham-launch.html" target="_blank">Elly Bell</a>, although <a href="http://www.broughtonales.co.uk/" target="_blank">Broughton</a> deserve a mention for <a href="http://beeradvice.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/broughton-ales-dark-dunter.html">sending me beer</a> when I win their Tuesday Trivia Twitter quiz - I'm entirely open to bribery!</li>
<li>Food and Beer Pairing of the Year: Williams' 'Cock O' the Walk' as part of a <a href="http://beeradvice.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/burns-supper.html">Burns' Supper</a>, even if the whisky sauce was the star!</li>
<li>In 2013 I'd most like to: Get to a <a href="http://www.camrgb.org/camrgb-events/" target="_blank">CAMRGB Twissup</a> and meet some of the guys I chat to on Twitter!</li>
<li>Open Category: <a href="http://www.brewdog.com/" target="_blank">BrewDog</a>. Some <a href="http://beeradvice.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/brewdog-libertine-black-ipa.html">superb beers</a>, although there is the occasional <a href="http://beeradvice.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/brewdog-never-mind-anabolics.html">slip-up</a>! and they opened a bar in <a href="http://beeradvice.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/brewdog-nottingham-launch.html">Nottingham</a>. Kudos.</li>
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Cheers, all the best beverages for 2013.<br />
<br />Garethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17859486540598651799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8977933689640623488.post-13381911310036727762012-12-08T11:58:00.000+00:002012-12-08T11:58:24.032+00:00The Flipping Good Beer ShopI'm a bit behind with this one, but given Nottingham's fairly laid back approach to the whole craft beer thing, it's probably quite appropriate...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8N4TTKauwR_dolNf-qvH2_MVoAUJMbUPStvyPRrFxSlFN_rLs2WDwp8e0eRBHUuIKXVVpNkIiyrdeVsHGKmPJaPdkrmzLatjjTVhRljQOQ_WEugt4IHMm3qUPaowC6BHmOdAs6R37Fj-t/s1600/DSC_0020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8N4TTKauwR_dolNf-qvH2_MVoAUJMbUPStvyPRrFxSlFN_rLs2WDwp8e0eRBHUuIKXVVpNkIiyrdeVsHGKmPJaPdkrmzLatjjTVhRljQOQ_WEugt4IHMm3qUPaowC6BHmOdAs6R37Fj-t/s200/DSC_0020.JPG" width="200" /></a>We've got a new specialist beer shop. It's out in Gedling and it's a retail arm of the <a href="http://www.flipsidebrewery.co.uk/" target="_blank">Flipside Brewery</a>. Gedling might be a bit out of the way but what is most definitely a big bonus is that there is a (free) car park directly opposite. Given we sometimes go out that way as a family to walk the dog down by the river I'm sure I'll be much more easily persuaded to do so on my days off now I know that on the way home I can pick up a few cheeky bevvies from a rather interesting selection. I might even get a chance to browse a bit more at my leisure if I'm not fighting to control my daughter who seemed at least as interested as I was in the beer selection, even if she's a little less capable of looking with her eyes rather than both hands!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh71BKEWH_tikzm2uZjI12Vd8wGvrclK-rQVBUkknNH9N_u9FZkngGkqcX5wbgu5j7Y5U_9cyUwkEucWW8vMj9cOPyyrgdx-agG4PCbdIEdPxEi2B2J8ypMgZcJT_Hw0r2jiXcSqnREZ1Cw/s1600/Flippin+Good+Selection.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh71BKEWH_tikzm2uZjI12Vd8wGvrclK-rQVBUkknNH9N_u9FZkngGkqcX5wbgu5j7Y5U_9cyUwkEucWW8vMj9cOPyyrgdx-agG4PCbdIEdPxEi2B2J8ypMgZcJT_Hw0r2jiXcSqnREZ1Cw/s200/Flippin+Good+Selection.JPG" width="200" /></a>Pictured is my first (I'm sure of many) haul. I'll probably post some tasting notes to let people know what I think when I get a chance. My wife picked, and drank, the Flipside 'Dusty Penny' and enjoyed it - the other ones I've yet to crack open.<br />
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Their shop-specific website is in a bit of a work-in-progress state at the time of writing, but you can check it out <a href="http://www.flippinggoodbeershop.co.uk/" target="_blank">here</a>. Good luck to the folks at The Flipping Good Beer Shop, I hope it works out well for you!Garethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17859486540598651799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8977933689640623488.post-89569053146052963332012-11-28T12:03:00.001+00:002012-11-28T12:03:45.125+00:00BrewDog 'Libertine' Black IPAThe blog is taking a bit of a back seat at the moment. Anyone who has worked in pubs, or retail generally, in the run-up to Christmas, will have a reasonable idea of why. It can be a lot of fun, and this week I've got my fifth extracurricular tasting in less than a month too. It is also most definitely tiring, especially as the 'research'* has continued apace, honing my knowledge so that when I do get to put fingers to keyboard my palate is at match fitness.<br />
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Libertine Black IPA is one that's popped up on this blog <a href="http://beeradvice.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/meantime-london-pale-ale.html">before</a>; I had it on tap not long after it came out, and was keen to re-visit it in bottle. I'm sure enough has been written about whether Black IPA is a 'legitimate' beer style, so I won't unearth that particular debate, apart from to say that I think most beer drinkers know what they expect from it now it's been part of our vocabulary for a while.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjivJVAQrouFZEXPKfo_GCsxMC0sydaXt6hrn_XoRvopFsWInNnQG04Zh1dYoD7Yl6cetl7_pdzb6ni3yjnrD3ElNaA4GA1lfjJxMdUttD5Kn3-l_P9TPrlufd_LEKn9jHls9XZ5r-iVRl2/s1600/BrewDog+Libertine+Label.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjivJVAQrouFZEXPKfo_GCsxMC0sydaXt6hrn_XoRvopFsWInNnQG04Zh1dYoD7Yl6cetl7_pdzb6ni3yjnrD3ElNaA4GA1lfjJxMdUttD5Kn3-l_P9TPrlufd_LEKn9jHls9XZ5r-iVRl2/s200/BrewDog+Libertine+Label.JPG" width="150" /></a>On to the beer. On the nose there's the same dusty rough edge that I associate with Punk and Jaipur, but less of the tropical fruit, it being countered with cocoa and chocolate. There's also lots of black cherry which continues on to the palate. The hops make it really moreish, surprisingly quaffable for something weighing in at 7% - I'm guessing the malt used to turn it from being a regular IPA also take away some of the mouth-puckering bitterness you sometimes find. All the dark fruit is wrapped up in bitter chocolate cake flavours, almost liqueur-chocolate-ish, but without the sweetness. I'm really glad this has become part of <a href="http://www.brewdog.com/" target="_blank">BrewDog</a>'s core range, I thought it was great!<br />
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Tonight, the research continues in the form of a Japanese whisky tasting, courtesy of <a href="http://www.suntory.com/" target="_blank">Suntory</a>, the guys behind <a href="http://www.petedrinks.com/2012/11/whisky-wednesday-yamazaki-whisky-library/" target="_blank">this amazing collection</a> as illustrated by Pete over on his blog.<br />
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7.2% abv. £3.46 (33cl) from <a href="http://www.beerritz.co.uk/" target="_blank">Beer Ritz</a>.<br />
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* I'm sure I enjoyed the <a href="http://www.buxtonbrewery.co.uk/our-beers/black-rocks-5-5-abv/" target="_blank">Black Rocks</a>, but it was my birthday, and while I'm quite proud to say I didn't over-analyse it at the time, that pride is somewhat tempered by the knowledge that I probably couldn't have done even if I wanted to...<br />
<br />Garethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17859486540598651799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8977933689640623488.post-55476556532711024562012-11-20T20:57:00.000+00:002012-11-20T20:57:07.268+00:00Oakham Citra<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJPzkrzzR9uo9coEep-j9u8xJst1R-bpKQpL3kRQ5nQe20sK7nw15-uXO0AX6xfg2W5JyyKPURhl3rRsfvkQUb8bV5ZPq6duO-NiUytG08zGxZJ3t_sIWUQuRFBCJVExjKCvf09HMekDFJ/s1600/Oakham+Citra+Label.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJPzkrzzR9uo9coEep-j9u8xJst1R-bpKQpL3kRQ5nQe20sK7nw15-uXO0AX6xfg2W5JyyKPURhl3rRsfvkQUb8bV5ZPq6duO-NiUytG08zGxZJ3t_sIWUQuRFBCJVExjKCvf09HMekDFJ/s200/Oakham+Citra+Label.JPG" width="150" /></a>I put this one off for ages, and now I'm struggling to work out quite why, because I'm pretty sure it's something I'd pick up again. I think it was partly because <a href="http://www.oakhamales.com/" target="_blank">Oakham</a> JHB used to be around a lot in the pubs I frequented (not least because I lived in one) and, while it was brilliant at the time, I became tired of it, even if that was more of a fault of its pale (sorry) imitators than JHB itself.<br />
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There's bags of grapefruit-led citrus fruit on the nose, tempered with enough tropical fruit to keep the attacking edge off but not so much as to stop it being refreshing. The palate's all about the juicy fruit from the hops; the grapefruit is back with a touch of soapiness, although far from being so much as to be off-putting, and again there's support from tropical fruit, all without it careering off into over-sweet passion fruit territory. It's all really clean and fresh, no wallowing about in cloying sweetness for this beer, it just merrily leads you into grabbing the next one.<br />
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4.2% abv. £2.07 (50cl) from <a href="http://www.waitrose.com/" target="_blank">Waitrose</a>.Garethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17859486540598651799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8977933689640623488.post-8678343807868327122012-11-15T21:03:00.000+00:002012-11-15T21:03:11.561+00:00Thornbridge 'Saint Petersburg' Imperial Stout<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-SKxg7WALtoU1721phqXv5R2nUQ1I4qQwVqhUKXbp9atA3ojNGFjQAohtvqsshmiKIE6BFW7-dh_-uWExjUZ-yLMRUdnRiv-Vwu-A9KbEBTkmv69XldK2oMOVF7TR3N9AvfscDwX8Qj-t/s1600/Thornbridge+St+Petersburg+Label.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-SKxg7WALtoU1721phqXv5R2nUQ1I4qQwVqhUKXbp9atA3ojNGFjQAohtvqsshmiKIE6BFW7-dh_-uWExjUZ-yLMRUdnRiv-Vwu-A9KbEBTkmv69XldK2oMOVF7TR3N9AvfscDwX8Qj-t/s200/Thornbridge+St+Petersburg+Label.JPG" width="150" /></a>I couldn't let this one go past without singing its praises. What a winter beer, and not the tacky tinsel variety, there are no badly scrawled doodles of Father Christmas in a compromising situation with a reindeer, it's just the sort of beer that makes you feel cocooned away, protected from all that cold November darkness. Magnificent. Probably to the point where it'd make you feel great in the height of summer too.<br />
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On the nose there's lots of chocolate maltiness, with a hint of dried and dark fruits lurking behind; raisins ans plums. It's almost like a savoury version of a fruit and nut bar. Full body hardly does it justice, it's almost chewy. There's more dark chocolate on the palate and on the finish it's all rounded off beautifully with cleansing bitter coffee.<br />
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Cosier than a 15 tog duvet. Embrace the dark...<br />
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7.4% abv. £3.10 (50cl) from <a href="http://www.hopsinabottle.co.uk/" target="_blank">Hops in a Bottle</a>.<br />
<br />Garethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17859486540598651799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8977933689640623488.post-23279649326760710072012-11-05T11:45:00.000+00:002012-11-05T11:45:41.037+00:00Isle of Skye 'Old Worthy' Scottish Pale AleNick at Old Worthy brewery sent me a bottle of this, as he did lots of people who write beer blogs, so there are plenty of <a href="http://totalales.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/old-worthy-brewing-scottish-pale-ale.html" target="_blank">excellent reviews</a> out there. I felt like doing something a little different, and so with a nod to Nick's <a href="http://www.beerreviews.co.uk/beer/meet-the-brewer-nick-ravenhall-old-worthy-brewing-co/" target="_blank">distilling history</a> I thought that combining the new brew with an established local giant might be a bit of fun, if not particularly original (since I did a similar thing the <a href="http://beeradvice.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/arran-and-arran.html">other week</a>, and even if the malt is actually from Jim Beam's Ardmore distillery rather than Talisker). If you're interested in some of my thoughts on Talisker have a look at my <a href="http://wineadviceuk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/talisker-10.html">other blog</a>; it's an old favourite and even before I'd popped open the Old Worthy I was most grateful that I had come up with an excuse to renew old acquaintances.<br />
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Before I get into the nitty-gritty bit of the tasting note, and at the risk of rushing to a conclusion, a quick heads-up; if you've never tried Old Worthy then you should if you get the chance. It is a beer with a genuine point of difference, the use of peated malt, that goes far beyond employing a marketing department to tell you that that's the case. OK, that's not to say you'll like it but you never know until you try it! I was interested in finding out how the peat worked with the more conventional 'beer' flavours because I tend to find peatier whiskies overpower or clash with many beers when I drink them together. On the nose I didn't pick much of the peat up, but I don't think that's particularly a bad thing, it quickly took away any doubts I had as to whether the beer flavours and aromas could some through rather than it ending up tasting like a watered-down Islay. All of the peat came through on the palate, but without the maritime or iodine notes that you get with some peated malts, which can be off-putting in conjunction with a beer. This meant it contrasted brilliantly with the sweeter malt of the Talisker; the whisky dances with rather than accosts the beer, there are elements they share and things they disagree on, but it's a great partnership. This is a really well thought-out beer, at no point was I thinking 'it's just using peated malt as a novelty' they've made sure, probably through judicious use of honey and wheat, that it retains its balance.<br />
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Nick wants this beer to adorn the jerseys of the Scotland rugby team. I'll look forward to seeing it on there, albeit in those brief seconds before those jerseys are engulfed by the red tide at the Millennium. Good luck with the beer and thanks for sending me a sample.<br />
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Slàinte.Garethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17859486540598651799noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8977933689640623488.post-19804003940424158292012-10-29T11:25:00.000+00:002012-10-29T11:25:44.561+00:00Thornbridge 'Wild Swan'So there's me getting myself <a href="http://beeradvice.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/adnams-southwold-winter-ipa.html">ready for winter</a>; I have seductive visions of viscous imperial stouts and single malts that have the bonfire reek my clothes used to pick up from helping my grandad with fires in his back garden when I was little. Then what happens? Well, the small Waitrose in Nottingham starts to stock, and discount, <a href="http://www.thornbridgebrewery.co.uk/index.php" target="_blank">Thornbridge</a> Jaipur and White Swan - the latter being one I don't remember having tried previously. This served as a timely reminder that there are no rules; good beer can be enjoyed at any time of year, and, well, it had to be done really - so here's to the summer?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYv_gnUP-ghol1RApELU7j8iDaT2gBl-JLDa2m0PK69VRdH2P4B3PlwfRFK4J2zAem2HFJQdBbOxTXEAKuFQpU36GAms5F_2nYU7aSd8YdFO1Q4ok0L9TA5loN8jJrVnW5uJGdXQA78XYo/s1600/Thornbridge+Wild+Swan+Label.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYv_gnUP-ghol1RApELU7j8iDaT2gBl-JLDa2m0PK69VRdH2P4B3PlwfRFK4J2zAem2HFJQdBbOxTXEAKuFQpU36GAms5F_2nYU7aSd8YdFO1Q4ok0L9TA5loN8jJrVnW5uJGdXQA78XYo/s200/Thornbridge+Wild+Swan+Label.JPG" width="150" /></a>It pours very pale. It's described on the bottle as a 'white-gold pale ale' which I'm not about to argue with. The head was fluffy, light and long-lasting. On the nose it's all grassy hops. There's none of the tropical fruit you get in Jaipur or <a href="http://www.brewdog.com/product/punk-ipa" target="_blank">Punk</a>. Using a wine analogy it's a lot more like a <i>Sancerre</i> to Jaipur's Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc; it has a mineral, flinty edge while retaining the clean citrus fruit from the hops. Once past the initial hop-hit the malt comes through with crystal clarity, it took me right back to getting my nose into a handful at the <a href="http://beeradvice.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/thornbridge-brewery-tour.html">brewery in the summer</a>.<br />
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This was a beer I expected I'd be indifferent about but it really does pack an immense amount of flavour into a low-ish alcohol beer. It's well worth picking up if you want something you can enjoy without getting your head into a fog that's perhaps more appropriate for a weekend!<br />
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3.5% abv. £2.09 for 50cl in <a href="http://www.waitrose.com/" target="_blank">Waitrose</a>. It's also on a four for three deal at the moment.<br />
<br />Garethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17859486540598651799noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8977933689640623488.post-15235987396871849092012-10-24T09:00:00.000+01:002012-10-24T09:00:12.543+01:00Arran and ArranWell if you're going to enjoy a whisky with a beer, is there an easier way to come up with a combination than picking a <a href="http://www.arranbrewery.com/" target="_blank">brewery</a> and a <a href="http://www.arranwhisky.com/" target="_blank">distillery</a> that are neighbours?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq7fHZpz5l14WD-fYfBKAjMYfQtTXlS2Q9YjgDB_CzexXAVSNCtjPsmdrXZZ-LELIAigOi43Ktl73T0dO8K1lNpqlDQ7OLeKJwvcc9xh5G29kkBdrZBi7a_aQ5PoxB12BrHZDFByR6BYlF/s1600/Arran+Red+Squirrel.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq7fHZpz5l14WD-fYfBKAjMYfQtTXlS2Q9YjgDB_CzexXAVSNCtjPsmdrXZZ-LELIAigOi43Ktl73T0dO8K1lNpqlDQ7OLeKJwvcc9xh5G29kkBdrZBi7a_aQ5PoxB12BrHZDFByR6BYlF/s200/Arran+Red+Squirrel.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>
I've done a stand-alone tasting note for the Arran whisky over on my <a href="http://wineadviceuk.blogspot.co.uk/">wines and spirits blog</a>. The beer pours a deep mahogany colour but the head disappears really quickly. On the nose it's all about the luxurious malt, with hints of burnt toffee. On the palate it has impressive body for such a low abv (3.9%) which I think is helped by a backbone of yeasty umami and hazelnut flavours which holds everything together. If there is a shortcoming (and it's entirely a matter of opinion if it is one) in the whisky it's that it's a bit underpowered in the malt delivery, and as part of a combination the beer probably highlighted that, but it's certainly a pleasant enough combination.<br />
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It strikes me from the two beers I've tried so far that Arran are a brewery that are stringent in their attention to detail. They may not be producing the sort of beers that are going to cause shock waves on ratings websites but they are really good, solid beers nonetheless.<br />
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£3.50 from The Whisky Shop*, and you're saving a red squirrel if you buy it!<br />
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* The usual disclaimer, I work at the Whisky Shop so I bought this at work.Garethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17859486540598651799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8977933689640623488.post-41408370012704641132012-10-22T12:05:00.000+01:002012-10-22T12:05:46.854+01:00Adnams 'Southwold Winter IPA'I love winter; long evenings staying cosy in the house with a good film, a good beer and a good whisky. Ideally I'd go for an imperial stout with a whisky to match, but <a href="http://adnams.co.uk/" target="_blank">Adnams'</a> idea of a Winter IPA sounds like a rather excellent concept too. When I worked in a London Oddbins next to a video shop we used to try and come up with wine and film combinations, asking people what film they'd rented and trying to recommend an ideal wine. I might branch out and try for a triple combination, the ultimate whisky and film accompaniment to a beer - I'm sure I can put the research in for this one.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSi6iQcoyfM1N7hbdhGpN_VYmNgNZYgDRKHUIx9AFNLF3slI9C9YQ0L0RZpf1VXJyHQCxqbn7VvDPz7jOpUrc8vPIdNZZCiT4en8JnsZ1f1LvKcbm0eKKLPe6tFEHk_MzUxc2lvxqnjzpe/s1600/Adnams+Winter+IPA+Bottle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSi6iQcoyfM1N7hbdhGpN_VYmNgNZYgDRKHUIx9AFNLF3slI9C9YQ0L0RZpf1VXJyHQCxqbn7VvDPz7jOpUrc8vPIdNZZCiT4en8JnsZ1f1LvKcbm0eKKLPe6tFEHk_MzUxc2lvxqnjzpe/s200/Adnams+Winter+IPA+Bottle.JPG" width="150" /></a>Back to the beer. It poured cloudy, I'm not sure if that was my fault but I'm rarely particularly picky about clarity. I loved the brilliant orange colour though. There's a slight soapiness on the nose, but it was potentially a bit cold when I first poured it - a good film beer has to last the length of a film after all. There was plenty of rindy-orange flavours, like mixed peel, and a spicy, perfumed finish. All good, but for me a little understated. I'd love to try a more powerfully-hopped version!<br />
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There was a bit of a danger of expecting too much from this one, as my little self-indulgent opening paragraph suggests. It is, after all, a beer brewed for a supermarket chain so is it fair to expect something so different as I had in mind? Perhaps, but thinking more objectively this is a great beer for the money, and it might well lead to more adventurous offerings in the future. A beer like this with a more powerful spice kick like the <a href="http://beeradvice.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/otley-o-garden.html">Otley O-Garden</a> would be fantastic. The whisky was a <a href="http://wineadviceuk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/smws-3558-glen-moray.html">SMWS Glen Moray</a> and the film was Se7en. Good for a starter but as the nights really draw in I'll be looking for my whisky to have more sherry, smoke or even chocolate orange flavours - like the Ben Nevis from the <a href="http://www.whiskyshop.com/Shop/GlenkeirTreasures.aspx" target="_blank">Glenkeir range</a> - Christmas in a glass.*<br />
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6.7% abv. Expect to pay around £2 (50cl), sorry, lost the receipt. <a href="http://www.marksandspencer.com/" target="_blank">Marks & Spencer</a> exclusive.<br />
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* A bit of a work plug but it's a delicious whisky!Garethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17859486540598651799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8977933689640623488.post-28591589277468635902012-10-13T12:26:00.000+01:002012-10-13T20:41:22.999+01:00Williams Brothers 'Prodigal Son'<a href="http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/sol/index.jsp" target="_blank">Sainsbury's</a> Great British Beer Hunt seemed to me to come and go with barely a whimper. I'm not sure if there were simply far too many exciting things happening for it to register, in the form of <a href="http://beersay.wordpress.com/2012/10/07/indyman-the-beer-festival/" target="_blank">IndyMan</a> and <a href="http://beersay.wordpress.com/2012/09/28/borefts-de-molen-beer-festival/" target="_blank">DeMolen</a>, or whether it was a lack of quality entrants, lack of publicity or maybe I've just been too busy with other things to 'catch the vibe' so to speak.<br />
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It's something that I still think is worth supporting but it might not carry on that way. Tucking the new beers in a seasonal aisle along with Halloween hats and Christmas crackers seems crazy to me - OK the beers might not be part of the permanent range but they're neither are they naturally associated with a holiday. The stock also has to be there; there's no point in allowing an entrant if they don't have the beers to go where they're required and you end up with some of last year's beer coming back into the competition.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqC4cxVSHNtd1RMdlbnysrk_YvBVwdNNBJ79bzt143nGSdWqR0hembxSW-wS5xUU9B95RUY-BHcgjpIKvUfs7C74N0mtYTinlk0hmZiNLLXFIoaE3_P84pj2hguOSnB_PvtRn0mNsvJ-QK/s1600/Williams+Prodigal+Son+Label.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqC4cxVSHNtd1RMdlbnysrk_YvBVwdNNBJ79bzt143nGSdWqR0hembxSW-wS5xUU9B95RUY-BHcgjpIKvUfs7C74N0mtYTinlk0hmZiNLLXFIoaE3_P84pj2hguOSnB_PvtRn0mNsvJ-QK/s200/Williams+Prodigal+Son+Label.JPG" width="150" /></a>On the positive side, beers like the Prodigal Son from <a href="http://www.williamsbrosbrew.com/" target="_blank">Williams</a> and the <a href="http://www.harviestoun.com/" target="_blank">Harviestoun</a> <a href="http://beeradvice.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/harviestoun-wild-hop-gold.html">Wild Hop Gold</a> are bold, experimental, and really make the competition. Even aside from skunked clear bottles and re-entries, too many were, for me, indicative of a section of the beer market that is content to put 'traditional' on their labels and hope the beer sells, possibly as a 'genuine local' product - lots of soapiness and very little thought. Prodigal Son is nothing like this, it's the best I've had although I've not tried everything I got hold of - I've yet to try the winner so maybe there is time for redemption yet. Prodigal Son is a lovely, juicy, mouth-watering drop, the aroma reminded me of leafy blackcurrant and it's got a herbal, medicinal quality with a lovely ginger spiciness in the finish. There's character right across the nose, palate and finish; always a sign of quality.<br />
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Nottingham CAMRA's beer festival is on at Nottingham Castle this weekend. Due to having to commit myself to other things I'm not able to go, which is disappointing because it is a great all-round festival; but with over 1000 different beers there it seems that even for someone with an interest there is a lot of mediocre beer out there to get past before you get to the really stellar performers. My list out of the 500 or so breweries that I was <i>really</i> keen to sample something from only ran to a dozen or so that I'd not tried before. In an ideal world it would be great to try everything once , but with so much choice (and a limited supply of cash and 'constitution') you have to be picky, and not all 'real ales' are are created equal, any more than all beers are.<br />
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Prodigal Son is 4.1% abv and was in a 3 for £4 deal in <a href="http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/sol/index.jsp" target="_blank">Sainsbury's</a>.Garethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17859486540598651799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8977933689640623488.post-39378069228882872882012-10-10T08:00:00.000+01:002012-10-10T08:00:04.023+01:00Otley 'O-Garden'I'm not really a massive wheat beer fan. <a href="http://www.schneider-weisse.de/" target="_blank">Schneider-weisse</a> is an old favourite but too many I've had have had too little flavour to really capture my interest. However, I've wanted to try some of <a href="http://www.otleybrewing.co.uk/" target="_blank">Otley's</a> beers for ages, and so I picked this up when I saw it, the choice being this or the porter. Well, <i>or</i> isn't strictly true, as I'm sure most beer geeks can appreciate. I took both.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEPNciK8nKPDMi3b-9ZdYHbiWtmOguiAL9r18P5nDIjt8gXkiO9Uml8quKm3P88RSK3NQ2aiw-Ng7PeBIrLHWuJ5AP8fSJCiThstG44XB4Droe7V_rgyZgft4Gj7Ks_B6rPgwgv2FKn7aW/s1600/Otley+O-Garden+Bottle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEPNciK8nKPDMi3b-9ZdYHbiWtmOguiAL9r18P5nDIjt8gXkiO9Uml8quKm3P88RSK3NQ2aiw-Ng7PeBIrLHWuJ5AP8fSJCiThstG44XB4Droe7V_rgyZgft4Gj7Ks_B6rPgwgv2FKn7aW/s200/Otley+O-Garden+Bottle.JPG" width="150" /></a>So a brewery I'd heard many great things about making a style of beer that usually leaves me pretty non-plussed - which would win out? This was a beer of two halves really, on first pouring it was clear, and the aromas gently came out, caressing the nose rather than delivering a full on assault. On the palate? Well, earlier on in the day I'd had a sample of a fifteen year old Ben Nevis whisky, which had a beautiful tangy yet sweet orange flavour. When I tried this, it was like the whisky had come back to haunt me. When I poured the second half of the beer the sediment came out more, and as it warmed those initially subtle aromas really came to the fore. The fruit provides enough character to keep the beer interesting, without it ending up like some sort of sickly fruit beer. The whole package is deliciously mouth-watering, and the touch of spice in the finish invites you back for more. It was a revelation, the best wheat beer I remember having tried. If this is what Otley can do with a beer style I'm not particularly a fan of, I'm definitely going to have to get hold of some more!<br />
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4.8% abv. £2.60 from wherever it was in Pembrokeshire I picked it up!Garethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17859486540598651799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8977933689640623488.post-39862042824781367912012-10-08T11:08:00.002+01:002012-10-08T11:08:43.633+01:00Arran Brewery 'Sunset' AleI got this from the new(ish) <a href="http://www.facebook.com/TheWhiskyShopNottingham" target="_blank">Whisky Shop in Nottingham</a>, where I've just started working.* I assumed at the time that the Brewery had a tie-in with the distillery (hence its arrival at a whisky shop) but that doesn't seem to be the case.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv_vgDovZokRD-181F6hPyOTH1PqaxjwQsoD2Af7S117D8E6Z6h0aW1ZG1-eFEksIVm48Pz-9coNPPS8jzRuuxrpJ0Lisi4BFfIORTjol9hXXqCLLH72WE1LKqNJZTjQVEJ6oW-q2oVw7Y/s1600/Arran+Sunset+Label.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv_vgDovZokRD-181F6hPyOTH1PqaxjwQsoD2Af7S117D8E6Z6h0aW1ZG1-eFEksIVm48Pz-9coNPPS8jzRuuxrpJ0Lisi4BFfIORTjol9hXXqCLLH72WE1LKqNJZTjQVEJ6oW-q2oVw7Y/s200/Arran+Sunset+Label.JPG" width="150" /></a>The Sunset pours a light amber colour. It's a little perfumed and soapy on the nose, and generally quite restrained. When you dive in though it's like a comforting malty blanket. It's biscuity, but there is just enough bite from the hops to tease you and keep it interesting. It's one of the smoothest beers I've had in a a long time, impeccably balanced with s lightly spicy finish. Many of the more traditional style lowish alcohol micro-brewed beers I've had recently have been a little rough around the edges, sometimes the malt seems to jar a bit rather than being integrated, but the Sunset has none of these issues. <a href="http://www.arranbrewery.com/pc/mainIndex.asp" target="_blank">Arran</a> have recently won awards with <a href="http://siba.co.uk/" target="_blank">SIBA</a>, the International Beer Challenge and at the World Beer Awards. On the evidence of this they are well deserved, and I look forward to trying the rest of the range.<br />
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Arran look like being a brewery we'll be hearing a lot form in the future, they've got big expansion plans which will be funded off the back of a share offer (see <a href="http://siba.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Arran-Brewery.pdf" target="_blank">this article</a> from the Scottish Herald in June c/o the SIBA website). It'll be interesting to see how they market that in the light of BrewDog's similar scheme. Here's wishing them luck.<br />
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4.4% abv. The only downside to the beer is that at £3.50 for a 50cl bottle it does seem a bit pricy, although it's easy to see where your money goes!<br />
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* Hopefully this doesn't make me any less objective about the beer!Garethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17859486540598651799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8977933689640623488.post-26567687376540794542012-10-05T08:00:00.000+01:002012-10-05T19:11:25.735+01:00Fuller's 'Bengal Lancer' IPABig breweries are much maligned in beer blogs and the like, but just because a brewery is big doesn't mean it can't make interesting beer, even if far too often they don't. <a href="http://beeradvice.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/worthingtons-white-shield-ipa.html">White Shield</a>; 'from the makers of Carling' as the advertising slogan doesn't run, is perhaps the most extreme example of this, but <a href="http://www.fullers.co.uk/" target="_blank">Fuller's</a> seem to me to be one of the bigger British breweries that offer something special. Having lived most of my life north of Watford Gap it's not a brewery I'm actually that familiar with, but what beers of theirs I have tried have put many operations that espouse the virtues of their small size and flexibility as as asset to shame.<br />
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It seems to be a recurring theme of mine that when I try new IPAs I'm actually looking more for how the malt supports the hops flavours and gives the beer structure and backbone. For me far too many beers use hops rather too indiscriminately, almost forgetting that beer is a complex drink, not just a sort of one-dimensional strong hop cordial. There's plenty of leafy hop aroma, all backed up with smoky spices and that all-important biscuity malt spine. If I were to be critical, I found that there was a little too much sweetness, but I realise that's just my taste rather than a fault with the beer, some people will like it more because of that.<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDQNyaNLkQc" target="_blank">Celebrity endorsed</a>, and (rather curiously) made for the Swedish market, but don't let that put you off. 5.3% abv. £1.99 from <a href="http://www.ocado.com/webshop/startWebshop.do" target="_blank">Ocado</a>.<br />
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PS: Apparently it's vegan too, no nasty fish bits required!Garethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17859486540598651799noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8977933689640623488.post-71202248480909734082012-10-03T08:00:00.000+01:002012-10-03T08:00:03.265+01:00Harviestoun 'Wild Hop Gold' This wasn't quite the first of the Sainsbury's 2012 Great British Beer Hunt beers that I tried but it was the first one that was both drinkable and not simply one of last year's entries that had been <a href="http://beeradvice.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/ridgeway-brewing-ivanhoe-pale-ale.html">put back in</a> the competition. Normally I wouldn't usually buy beer in clear glass for obvious reasons, but I fell foul of the 3 for £4 deal and the first bottle I had from the collection was light-struck; serves me right really.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglT-O5DiiR2JuDTL87QLXjfH-HmyqGFW-L06F9vEtsM6TkFVnvqqZAVIWPOPOGH-K5AGPWQTnOiPRsjByYIsF_i-W3XsrcexYrsFLcGUkDCcWDW-ZBp8BSekf_kTKnARP53aSA5-zrv7_3/s1600/Harviestoun+Wild+Hop+Gold+Label.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglT-O5DiiR2JuDTL87QLXjfH-HmyqGFW-L06F9vEtsM6TkFVnvqqZAVIWPOPOGH-K5AGPWQTnOiPRsjByYIsF_i-W3XsrcexYrsFLcGUkDCcWDW-ZBp8BSekf_kTKnARP53aSA5-zrv7_3/s200/Harviestoun+Wild+Hop+Gold+Label.JPG" width="150" /></a>Moving on to more positive things; <a href="http://www.harviestoun.com/" rel="nofollow">Harviestoun's</a> <a href="http://beeradvice.blogspot.co.uk/2011/09/harviestoun-wild-hop-ipa.html">Wild Hop IPA</a> was one of the highlights of last year's competition for me, and so I was looking forward to this one. On the nose it's really floral, bursting with elderflower and orange blossom aromas. What it really reminded me of was an Alsace Gewürztraminer; fruity and dry, but with loads of aromatic floral character with pink grapefruit and spices on the palate. I think this is a well-made beer but it's so different I found it a bit overpowering - I really think it would have been much better with food. Having said that this competition should be about trying different things, and just because it's not necessarily to my tastes doesn't mean it's not a good beer. I would definitely encourage people to give it a try, it's that bold in favour that might just be that it's one of those love it/hate it kind of beers.<br />
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I was at a wedding over the weekend and I got talking to someone about bold fruit flavours in new world wines popping up in some beers, and making people realise that beer really can be more interesting than just a bland commercial lager. The disappointing thing was I'd had Thai curry for dinner earlier; I should have had it with that, it would have been a brilliant match.<br />
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4.4% abv. It's part of <a href="http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/sol/index.jsp" target="_blank">Sainsbury's</a> Great British Beer Hunt range for 2012. I found it in the seasonal food rather than the beer section, priced at 3 for £4 or (I think) £1.89.Garethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17859486540598651799noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8977933689640623488.post-20695843202516395812012-10-02T08:54:00.001+01:002012-10-02T08:54:21.109+01:00Nils Oscar 'Kalasöl'<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUxaCIvoISffvjQNp54IDMTubAc8OB7Y_IXD3Ecw4nCCKM5XP8mQ8AfXs0j2fdmhasJ5U9rruCOKg2UHc6GkwtwkRoNgYB2b7Qc6YAoJpToy1Nm9dfX1qdHDZWvTwJShGNDMN33tEvVN8g/s1600/Nils+Oscar+Kalas%C3%B6l+Label.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUxaCIvoISffvjQNp54IDMTubAc8OB7Y_IXD3Ecw4nCCKM5XP8mQ8AfXs0j2fdmhasJ5U9rruCOKg2UHc6GkwtwkRoNgYB2b7Qc6YAoJpToy1Nm9dfX1qdHDZWvTwJShGNDMN33tEvVN8g/s200/Nils+Oscar+Kalas%C3%B6l+Label.JPG" width="150" /></a>
Due to life being rather busy at the moment this isn't so much a blog post as a quick tasting note - I had this bottle from <a href="http://nilsoscar.se/" target="_blank">Nils Oscar</a> the other day and really enjoyed it - so here it is!<br />
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It pours a dark, burnt red. On the nose there's a touch of malt, and a metallic, almost ferrous aroma, which sounds unpleasant but actually works. There's an oiliness to the texture and the whole brew feels satisfyingly weighty, as befits the name; Kalasöl apparently means 'feast beer' which makes perfect sense in the abundance of rich malts. On the palate there's caramel and chocolate, counterbalanced with dried peel, toasty notes and nuttiness. Overall it's a really complex beer; difficult to pin down but very drinkable. This is one that's go down great with fresh pretzels and a <a href="http://germanfood.about.com/od/vegetarianrecipes/r/obazda.htm" target="_blank">heart-attack inducing cheese dip</a>; it's that time of year.<br />
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5.2% abv. £2.16 from <a href="http://www.beerritz.co.uk/" target="_blank">Beer Ritz</a>. (33cl)Garethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17859486540598651799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8977933689640623488.post-34467989560781999232012-09-25T14:25:00.001+01:002012-09-25T14:25:12.913+01:00Democracy In Action?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtKq3nkB-SJtMUcI8S17ELgVLwUxbg4d_auQ75wrFA3H6lXlXiP3TdU4Bn7AISa3lz35UR_HCQ4G0X4rj18w12P5qpBHq_GUKuVyr1gk99GVj45X27P3ZBYiiqwAecisJrcdOc5kBoKefk/s1600/Beer+duty+escalator+CMYK+300dpi+(high+res+for+print)-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtKq3nkB-SJtMUcI8S17ELgVLwUxbg4d_auQ75wrFA3H6lXlXiP3TdU4Bn7AISa3lz35UR_HCQ4G0X4rj18w12P5qpBHq_GUKuVyr1gk99GVj45X27P3ZBYiiqwAecisJrcdOc5kBoKefk/s200/Beer+duty+escalator+CMYK+300dpi+(high+res+for+print)-12.jpg" width="200" /></a>When the beer duty escalator petition hit the one hundred thousand mark the other day, some people were justifiably happy about it. Others were a little more cautious. I feel that it is now that the campaign ought to be stepped up. If you agree then it's probably a good idea to see if you can encourage your MP to get on board, in the hope that if the debate happens it will be worthy of the term and not something that is read to an empty House. It's a bit ambitious to suggest it will turn into a three line whip issue, but hopefully if enough noise is made some people might pay attention.<br />
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When I wrote to my MP (via email) I quoted from his April newsletter, something I <a href="http://beeradvice.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/good-news.html">blogged</a> about not long after.<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
We need to keep an eye on how the beer duty system is structured, so that it does not advantage the mass production end over the bespoke and higher quality smaller brewers who we need to support as much as possible.</blockquote>
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By way of a follow-up, I'll quote from the letter he sent me that I received today:<br />
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I certainly think we need to keep an eye on how the beer duty system is structured, so that it does not advantage mass production and supermarket-loss leading over bespoke and higher quality smaller brewers who we need to support as much as possible.</blockquote>
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Rather more encouraging was:<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I'll continue to press the Government to look at ways of supporting the brewing industry and community pubs, including addressing the Beer Duty Escalator. </blockquote>
Make of that what you will. I'd be interested to hear what other MPs have to say on the issue if anyone else has been in touch.<br />
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PS: The escalator image came from the <a href="http://www.summerwinebrewery.co.uk/" target="_blank">Summer Wine Brewery</a>'s <a href="http://raisethebeerbar.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/beer-duty-time-to-stop-escalator.html" target="_blank">Blog</a> (well, originally somewhere else but the link on that post isn't working) who had a bit of bad news this morning in the form of someone breaking into and trashing the brewery. If you get a chance, have one of their beers this week. It's bad enough the government making things difficult without things like that happening. I wish them all the best with getting things sorted!<br />
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Garethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17859486540598651799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8977933689640623488.post-53448346620665543702012-09-23T17:33:00.000+01:002012-09-23T17:33:49.473+01:00Meantime IPA75cl bottles of beer, a truly fantastic idea. They're great for sharing, and in the case of both the Punk IPA I had the other week (which I am pleased to say was back in tip-top form) and this one, they're even better to share with someone who wasn't that keen and so let me drink it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUB4bkNgvFXG-aW1O5F0BMuLeIqG6IynqM_Z6vbZ_Egq53BxdDzU-xBSJ_Q_qYVUMQD6GOfX0s1YRnYT9qRRa4sQl_RjzDP2Jy8hGtXjZqUYsycEk5bxIfxzzRfZ7QSOufR7pG6Y9eNBOM/s1600/Meantime+IPA+Bottle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUB4bkNgvFXG-aW1O5F0BMuLeIqG6IynqM_Z6vbZ_Egq53BxdDzU-xBSJ_Q_qYVUMQD6GOfX0s1YRnYT9qRRa4sQl_RjzDP2Jy8hGtXjZqUYsycEk5bxIfxzzRfZ7QSOufR7pG6Y9eNBOM/s200/Meantime+IPA+Bottle.JPG" width="150" /></a>For me <a href="http://www.meantimebrewing.com/" target="_blank">Meantime</a> brewery are ticking all the boxes. They're making good, well-packaged beer, which is widely available. I love reading about the weird, the wonderful, the eye-wateringly expensive, and the hard-to-find, but unfortunately that's often as close as I get. However it's reassuring to know that even in those monuments to mediocrity, the British supermarkets; decent, flavourful beer is getting a look in.<br />
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The IPA pours a coppery-orange colour. On the nose the Meantime IPA's fruit was restrained at first; grassy nuances of tropical and citrus fruit were there, but I served it pretty cold which I think subdued things a little. The punch came on the palate in the form of an explosion of pithy bitterness. For me some IPA can end up with so much forward tropical fruit that they end up being a bit cloying, more like pop than beer - or maybe <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Um_Bongo" target="_blank">Um Bongo</a>? This has far more complexity, the biscuity malt doesn't just feel like an afterthought, although taking away some of the sweetness does seem to make it moreish and disguise the alcohol. Ah well, that's what Friday evenings in front of the rugby are for.<br />
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7.4% abv (75cl). I got this from <a href="http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/sol/index.jsp" target="_blank">Sainsbury's</a>, I think I paid about £5.50 for it.Garethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17859486540598651799noreply@blogger.com0