Sharp's Atlantic IPA

The background about Sharp's Brewery in Rock, Cornwall was given in yesterday's post. IPA, or Indian Pale Ale, was first brewed in the nineteenth century. Naturally preserved by high alcohol content and strong hops, the beer was well set to survive the long and hot journey under sail to India. With Atlantic IPA, Sharp's say that they have taken the essence of the original IPA and modernised it to create a crisp beer with a superb dry finish and a light golden colour.

The brewery sits on Cornwall's Atlantic coast and so they say the naming of the beer came naturally. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution's commitment to saving lives at sea is legendary and so the brewery support their cause by donating a proportion of all sales of Atlantic IPA to the RNLI.

After the disappointment of Doom Bar, I was not expecting much of this beer. However, I was agreeably surprised. the CAMRA Good Beer Guide describes it as 'Lightly sweet and fruity, the finish is sweet and first then dry and lingering.' Exactly - very nice. ABV is 4.8% but no details provided on ingredients. Not bottle conditioned.

Sharp's Doom Bar

Yet another brewery that was unknown to me. My research has uncovered that Sharp's Brewery describes itself as a modern brewer of cask conditioned beer. Since its foundation in 1994 at Rock in Cornwall it has grown rapidly to become the largest brewer of cask beer in the South West and brewer of Doom Bar, one of the UK's fastest growing beer brands. Read more at http://www.sharpsbrewery.co.uk/.

Doombar is apparently named after the infamous sandbank at the mouth of the Camel estuary in North Cornwall. There is much legend surrounding the sandbank's origin but the Doom Bank's notoriety is built on the wrecks of a countless number of ships that over the centuries came to grief within its reach.

Doom Bar is described by the brewer as being 'an exceptional with a fine balance of spicy resinous hop, inviting sweet malt and delicate roasted notes. Just like its namesake, the beer is firmly part of Cornish legend.'

Well, I was really looking forward to this - it should be something rather special. Only it wasn't! It was actually very ordinary indeed. What a let down.

Skinners Cornish Knocker

Skinners, another brewery unknown to me, was founded by Steve and Sarah Skinner in 1997 in Truro.. The brewery moved to bigger premises in 2003 and now employs 25 people. It has enjoyed success with its beers winning awards at both CAMRA and SIBA festivals, indeed more than any other brewery in the South West it is claimed. More details at http://www.skinnersbrewery.com/.

Cornish Knockers are I understand tin mine fairies who used to guide the miners to the rich veins of ore by knocking. With the demise of tin mining in Cornwall in recent years, many of them have 'returned to grass, where, in disguise, they help with the brewing of ales.

This beer is apparently one of Skinners award winners. The CAMRA Guide says that it is "a refreshing golden beer full of life with hops all the way through. Flowery and fruity hops in the mouth and malt undertones, with a clean and lasting malty bitter sweet finished." Unfortunately, this did not accord with my experience. I found it bland and not tasting of very much at all. Perhaps I just got a duff bottle.

Not much detail is given about ingredients, other than it contains Cornish malted barley and wheat. It is 4.5% ABV and does not appear to be bottle conditioned.