This is a beer I tried previously (see entry for November 22) and which did not live up to expectations. I opined at the time that perhaps it was a duff bottle.
Well, I got presented with another bottle. I did not recognise it (it has been 6 months!) but this time it lived up to the billing. It is an amber/gold beer that has hops all the way through. Spice and fruit in the mouth are balanced by bitter and malt undertones , with a cleansing bittersweet finish.
So - definitely worth a try, as long as you get a sound bottle!
Tuesday 4 May 2010
Sunday 2 May 2010
Brakspear Oxford Gold
I came across this in Waitrose. I know Brakspear's bitter well - it is often a guest beer in pubs around here - but I have not come across Oxford Gold before.
Brakspear was originally based in Henley-on-Thames and is one of Britain's oldest breweries, founded before 1700 and run by the Brakspear family since 1779. In 2002, the brewery closed and became a pub company. A company called Refresh UK, owners of the Wychwood brewery in Witney, bought the rights to the Brakspear brands and in 2004 began brewing them again, after moving the Henley equipment, including the famous 'double drop' fermenters to Witney.
The beer is brewed with organically grown ingredients using Target and Goldings hops aiming to provide 'a zesty aroma and fruity flavours'. This it certainly does and it is very much to my taste.
It is 4.6% ABV and not bottle-conditioned.
Brakspear was originally based in Henley-on-Thames and is one of Britain's oldest breweries, founded before 1700 and run by the Brakspear family since 1779. In 2002, the brewery closed and became a pub company. A company called Refresh UK, owners of the Wychwood brewery in Witney, bought the rights to the Brakspear brands and in 2004 began brewing them again, after moving the Henley equipment, including the famous 'double drop' fermenters to Witney.
The beer is brewed with organically grown ingredients using Target and Goldings hops aiming to provide 'a zesty aroma and fruity flavours'. This it certainly does and it is very much to my taste.
It is 4.6% ABV and not bottle-conditioned.
Monday 19 April 2010
Youngs Kew Gold
We went to Kew Gardens recently, and in their gift shop there you can buy Youngs Kew Gold, which is also available in some supermarkets.
I am sure we all know Youngs, who abandoned over a century of tradition when they sold their famous brewery in Wandsworth in 2005, where they merged with Charles Wells & Co.
This beer is inspired by hops grown at the Royal Botanic Gardens and a financial contribution from the sale of each bottle helps to support the work of Kew in helping to secure species and habitats before they are lost forever.
It is a light golden full-flavoured ale with a refreshing bite. Its ingredients are natural mineral water, malted barley, hops and yeast. It is naturally bottle-conditioned and the ABV is 4.8%
I am sure we all know Youngs, who abandoned over a century of tradition when they sold their famous brewery in Wandsworth in 2005, where they merged with Charles Wells & Co.
This beer is inspired by hops grown at the Royal Botanic Gardens and a financial contribution from the sale of each bottle helps to support the work of Kew in helping to secure species and habitats before they are lost forever.
It is a light golden full-flavoured ale with a refreshing bite. Its ingredients are natural mineral water, malted barley, hops and yeast. It is naturally bottle-conditioned and the ABV is 4.8%
Monday 12 April 2010
Chatsworth Gardeners Tap
The life of this blog is being extended once again. The strategem being used this time has come from that fact that we have visited a couple of interesting places recently and they had their own dedicated beers. So we thought it would be legitimate to include beers acquired from such places, provided of course the were proper beers, and interesting.
We went to the Chatsworth stately home, near Bakewell, over the weekend. When we were there, we discovered that there is a brewery on the estate, called the Peak Ales Brewery. It was opened in 2005 in converted formerly derelict farm buildings, with the aid of the DEFRA Rural Enterprises Fund and support from the Chatsworth settlement (who are the owners of the house).
When James Pain, the architect of Chatsworth, built the stables there in the 1760s a brewery was included. Beer was brewed for the main House and also for the staff, for whom it formed part of their wages until 1931. Rather than carry the barrels into the house cellar, a lead pipe was sunk from the brewhouse through the garden to the cellar. When ale had been brewed, it was piped directly into one of the huge oak barrels known as the Twelve Apostles, where the beer was aged, some barrels for several years. The barrels still exist today, but the wood has dried and shrunk and is thus no longer usable. In the 1950s it was decided to uproot the lead pipe for its salvage value. When tracing it through the Duke's greenhouse, it was discovered that the gargeners has tapped into it. Apparently the brewers tippid the wink to the gardeners when the ale was flowing down so they could 'borrow' a pint or two. Hence the name of this beer.
The beer itself is most acceptable. It is an inpressive copper coloured beer with a well balanced malt and hop flavour with bitterness present throughout. It is 5% ABV and is not bottle conditioned. All we know about the ingredients is that it contains water, malted barley, hops and yeast.
We went to the Chatsworth stately home, near Bakewell, over the weekend. When we were there, we discovered that there is a brewery on the estate, called the Peak Ales Brewery. It was opened in 2005 in converted formerly derelict farm buildings, with the aid of the DEFRA Rural Enterprises Fund and support from the Chatsworth settlement (who are the owners of the house).
When James Pain, the architect of Chatsworth, built the stables there in the 1760s a brewery was included. Beer was brewed for the main House and also for the staff, for whom it formed part of their wages until 1931. Rather than carry the barrels into the house cellar, a lead pipe was sunk from the brewhouse through the garden to the cellar. When ale had been brewed, it was piped directly into one of the huge oak barrels known as the Twelve Apostles, where the beer was aged, some barrels for several years. The barrels still exist today, but the wood has dried and shrunk and is thus no longer usable. In the 1950s it was decided to uproot the lead pipe for its salvage value. When tracing it through the Duke's greenhouse, it was discovered that the gargeners has tapped into it. Apparently the brewers tippid the wink to the gardeners when the ale was flowing down so they could 'borrow' a pint or two. Hence the name of this beer.
The beer itself is most acceptable. It is an inpressive copper coloured beer with a well balanced malt and hop flavour with bitterness present throughout. It is 5% ABV and is not bottle conditioned. All we know about the ingredients is that it contains water, malted barley, hops and yeast.
Monday 5 April 2010
Jennings Sneck Lifter
Jennings Brewery needs no introduction - see June 27 if you need information.
The name 'Sneck Lifter' has an interesting origin. For those not coming from the north of England, a sneck is an old fashioned door latch. More precisely, it is the lever device that goes through the door to lift the latch so that you can open the door. A sneck lifter was traditionally a man's last sixpence with which he would lift the latch of the pub door and buy himself a pint, hoping to meet friends there who might treat him to one or two more.
Sneck Lifter is a strong dark brown ale with a complex balance of fruit, malt and roast flavours through to the finish. Its ABV is 5.1% and it is not bottle-conditioned.
The label reveals only that it contains Barley Malt and Wheat. However, we do know that Jennings uses pure Lakeland water, drawn from the brewery's own well , along with Maris Otter barley malt and Fuggles and Goldings hops.
The name 'Sneck Lifter' has an interesting origin. For those not coming from the north of England, a sneck is an old fashioned door latch. More precisely, it is the lever device that goes through the door to lift the latch so that you can open the door. A sneck lifter was traditionally a man's last sixpence with which he would lift the latch of the pub door and buy himself a pint, hoping to meet friends there who might treat him to one or two more.
Sneck Lifter is a strong dark brown ale with a complex balance of fruit, malt and roast flavours through to the finish. Its ABV is 5.1% and it is not bottle-conditioned.
The label reveals only that it contains Barley Malt and Wheat. However, we do know that Jennings uses pure Lakeland water, drawn from the brewery's own well , along with Maris Otter barley malt and Fuggles and Goldings hops.
Sunday 4 April 2010
Badger Stinger
The story of the Badger brand was recounted in my entry on March 20, so I won't go over old ground again.
Stinger announces itself as an Organic Ale that is brewed with organically grown hand picked Dorset nettles! The story begind it is that it is a collaboration between Badger and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall of River Cottage fame. His brief was to work with the Badger team to create a new organic beer. In fact, River Cottage donates to nominated (but undisclosed) charities from the sales of Stinger.
Here's what Hugh has to say about it: "I think we have produced a delicious and refreshing beer with true West Country character and real depth. It's slightly spicy with a light bitterness and a subtle tingle that comes from the nettles..."
I am not sure about the tingle (perhaps too subtle for me) but the rest is true!
All we know about the ingredients (apart from the nettles) is that it contains malted barley. ABV is 4.5% and it is not bottled conditioned.
Stinger announces itself as an Organic Ale that is brewed with organically grown hand picked Dorset nettles! The story begind it is that it is a collaboration between Badger and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall of River Cottage fame. His brief was to work with the Badger team to create a new organic beer. In fact, River Cottage donates to nominated (but undisclosed) charities from the sales of Stinger.
Here's what Hugh has to say about it: "I think we have produced a delicious and refreshing beer with true West Country character and real depth. It's slightly spicy with a light bitterness and a subtle tingle that comes from the nettles..."
I am not sure about the tingle (perhaps too subtle for me) but the rest is true!
All we know about the ingredients (apart from the nettles) is that it contains malted barley. ABV is 4.5% and it is not bottled conditioned.
Sunday 21 March 2010
Caledonian Golden Promise
The Caledonian Brewery was founded by Messrs Lorimer and Clark in 1869 and was sold to Vaux of Sunderland in 1919. In 1987, the brewery was saved from closure by a management buy-out. The brewery site was purchased by Scottish & Newcastle in 2004 and became a wholly owned subsidiary of S&N/Heineken in 2008. A rolling programme of seasonal beers is produced, as well as Deuchars IPA and Caledonian 80/-.
Golden Promise claims to be the first organically brewed beer in Britain. It is named after Scotland's most famous malting barley, which is prized by brewers and distillers for producing a beautiful rounded sweet malt flavour, said to be reminiscent of Ovaltine. Organically grown aroma hops are added to Caledonian's unique direct fired open coppers to create this award winning beer.
The beer is a rich golden colour, full of spicy aromas with hints of cinnamon and vanilla. It has a clean dry crisp taste, lively and thirst quenching, with a noticeable finish that tastes of sherbert lemons.
It uses organic Optic malt together with the addition of organic whole hop flowers First Gold and Hallertau Hersbrucker. The ABV is 5% (but only 4.4% for the draught version apparently). It is not bottle conditioned.
Golden Promise claims to be the first organically brewed beer in Britain. It is named after Scotland's most famous malting barley, which is prized by brewers and distillers for producing a beautiful rounded sweet malt flavour, said to be reminiscent of Ovaltine. Organically grown aroma hops are added to Caledonian's unique direct fired open coppers to create this award winning beer.
The beer is a rich golden colour, full of spicy aromas with hints of cinnamon and vanilla. It has a clean dry crisp taste, lively and thirst quenching, with a noticeable finish that tastes of sherbert lemons.
It uses organic Optic malt together with the addition of organic whole hop flowers First Gold and Hallertau Hersbrucker. The ABV is 5% (but only 4.4% for the draught version apparently). It is not bottle conditioned.
Saturday 20 March 2010
Badger Fursty Ferret
Founded by Charles Hall in 1777, Hall and Woodhouse is an independent family brewer, today run by the fifth generation of the Woodhouse family. The badger logo was adopted in 1875, making it one of the oldest trademarks on record. The company moved from Ansty to its present site at Blandford St Mary in Dorset in 1900 and a new brewery is planned on the current site.
Many would argue that the Gribble Inn at Oving is one of the most attractive pubs in the county of Dorset. For many years it was just a private cottage lived in by a Miss Rose Gribble but in 1980 a local farmer was granted a licence and the inn opened as a free house. It was acquired by Hall and Woodhouse in 1987.
Fursty Ferret was originally brewed at the Gribble Inn, where it proved hugely popular, with demand hugely exceeding supply and the capability of the microbrewery. It is now brewed by Hall and Woodhouse and has become a favourite seasonal cask ale and is one of the best selling bottled ales in UK supermarkets today. The original recipe was researched and updated to meet the expressed needs of the modern day bottled ale consumer.
When in decades past the idyllic country home of Miss Rose Gribble became a local inn, legend has it that the local ferrets frequented the pub's back door on a mission to sample the its own reputed brew. In their honour, it was named Fursty Ferret and it is now brewed in much greater quantities so that beer drinkers across the UK can enjoy the celebrated ale that still eludes the ferrets of Gribble.
Fursty Ferret is a crisp, well balanced premium ale with a malty palate and and a noticeably hoppy aroma. It is a tawny amber ale. The delicate spicy hop aroma has hints of Seville oranges and the sweet, nutty palate has a good sweet bitter balance.
The label tells us that the beer contains malted barley, wheat and sulphites. ABV is 4.4% and it is not bottle conditioned.
Many would argue that the Gribble Inn at Oving is one of the most attractive pubs in the county of Dorset. For many years it was just a private cottage lived in by a Miss Rose Gribble but in 1980 a local farmer was granted a licence and the inn opened as a free house. It was acquired by Hall and Woodhouse in 1987.
Fursty Ferret was originally brewed at the Gribble Inn, where it proved hugely popular, with demand hugely exceeding supply and the capability of the microbrewery. It is now brewed by Hall and Woodhouse and has become a favourite seasonal cask ale and is one of the best selling bottled ales in UK supermarkets today. The original recipe was researched and updated to meet the expressed needs of the modern day bottled ale consumer.
When in decades past the idyllic country home of Miss Rose Gribble became a local inn, legend has it that the local ferrets frequented the pub's back door on a mission to sample the its own reputed brew. In their honour, it was named Fursty Ferret and it is now brewed in much greater quantities so that beer drinkers across the UK can enjoy the celebrated ale that still eludes the ferrets of Gribble.
Fursty Ferret is a crisp, well balanced premium ale with a malty palate and and a noticeably hoppy aroma. It is a tawny amber ale. The delicate spicy hop aroma has hints of Seville oranges and the sweet, nutty palate has a good sweet bitter balance.
The label tells us that the beer contains malted barley, wheat and sulphites. ABV is 4.4% and it is not bottle conditioned.
Tuesday 9 March 2010
Daleside Old Leg Over
The Daleside Brewery opened in 1991 in Harrogate, the Victorian spa town famous for its healing waters, on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. It has expanded several times over the years. It uses the best quality malts, whole leaf hops, Daleside's own yeast and Harrogate water. The adoption of the full traditional brewing process together with the pride and expertise of the family tradition and the quality ingredients are all aimed at securing the high quality of Daleside's beers.
Old Leg Over is a well balanced mid-brown refreshing beer with nutty overtones, followed by an equally well-balanced late fruity bittersweet aftertaste. There appears no explanation for the rather quaint choice of name. It is designed to be an essentially Yorkshire beer with malt tastes slightly more prominent than hoppy flavours, though not so much as to not be well balanced.
As far as ingredients go, all we are told is that it contains malted barley and wheat, though like all Daleside beers it is brewed using quality grain malts from a traditional Yorkshire maltster, an unique yeast strain, full-leafed hops and Yorkshire Dales water. ABV is 4.1% and the beer is not bottle-conditioned.
Trivial factoid - the Daleside Brewery sponsor the Auld Lang Syne Fell Race held every New Years Eve and every entrant gets a bottle of Old Leg Over.
Old Leg Over is a well balanced mid-brown refreshing beer with nutty overtones, followed by an equally well-balanced late fruity bittersweet aftertaste. There appears no explanation for the rather quaint choice of name. It is designed to be an essentially Yorkshire beer with malt tastes slightly more prominent than hoppy flavours, though not so much as to not be well balanced.
As far as ingredients go, all we are told is that it contains malted barley and wheat, though like all Daleside beers it is brewed using quality grain malts from a traditional Yorkshire maltster, an unique yeast strain, full-leafed hops and Yorkshire Dales water. ABV is 4.1% and the beer is not bottle-conditioned.
Trivial factoid - the Daleside Brewery sponsor the Auld Lang Syne Fell Race held every New Years Eve and every entrant gets a bottle of Old Leg Over.
Sunday 7 March 2010
Elgood's Golden Newt
Well, here's a change from all these breweries that were started yesterday. The North Brink Brewery was established in 1795 and was one of the first classic Georgian breweries to be built outside London. In 1878 it came under the control of the Elgood family and it is still run today as one of the few remaining independent family breweries, with the fifth generation of the family currently involved in running the brewery.
Golden Newt is a modern-style light hoppy beer. It is named after the colony of Great Crested Newts residing in the brewery garden lake. It's a golden ale with a floral hops and sulphur aroma. Tastewise, floral hops and a fruity presence on a bittersweet background lead to a short, muted hoppy and fruity finish.
It is brewed from East Anglian malted barley with a blend of malt wheat, amber malt and English Fuggle and Golding hops. The distinctive hop aroma comes from American Cascade hops. ABV is 4.6% and it is not bottled-conditioned.
Golden Newt is a modern-style light hoppy beer. It is named after the colony of Great Crested Newts residing in the brewery garden lake. It's a golden ale with a floral hops and sulphur aroma. Tastewise, floral hops and a fruity presence on a bittersweet background lead to a short, muted hoppy and fruity finish.
It is brewed from East Anglian malted barley with a blend of malt wheat, amber malt and English Fuggle and Golding hops. The distinctive hop aroma comes from American Cascade hops. ABV is 4.6% and it is not bottled-conditioned.
Wold Top Falling Stone
The Wold Top Brewery is an integral part of Hunmanby Grange, the Mellor family farm, which is situated high on the Yorkshire Wolds where gently sloping hills give way to the sea. Brewing commenced in 2003 and uses home grown malted barley, chalk-filtered borehole water and some grown grown hops.
Falling Stone is Wold Top's best bitter. It is named after the 'Wold Cottage Meteorite', which fell on the Yorkshire Wolds in 1795 and now stands in the British Museum. It is a full-bodied, smooth and well-rounded beer with a darker colouring, good but perhaps not quite as special as all the hype might lead you to expect.
Maris Otter together with some chocolate malt form the basis of the beer. It contains Progress and Northdown hops for flavouring and aroma. Its is 4.2% ABV and is not bottle conditioned.
Falling Stone is Wold Top's best bitter. It is named after the 'Wold Cottage Meteorite', which fell on the Yorkshire Wolds in 1795 and now stands in the British Museum. It is a full-bodied, smooth and well-rounded beer with a darker colouring, good but perhaps not quite as special as all the hype might lead you to expect.
Maris Otter together with some chocolate malt form the basis of the beer. It contains Progress and Northdown hops for flavouring and aroma. Its is 4.2% ABV and is not bottle conditioned.
Monday 1 March 2010
Dent Golden Fleece
We have encountered the Dent Brewery, back in March of last year, but the entry then did not say much about the brewery itself so let's make up that deficiency. I know the village of Dent well as I visit it at least once every year, to run the road race they have there each March. Dentdale is in that part of the Yorkshire Dales National Park that is actually in Cumbria. The brewery was originally set up in 1990 in a converted barn to brew beer for the Sun Inn, one of the two pubs in the village. However, its popularity spread as other landlords in the Dales and Lakes cottoned on, and also visitors from the area created demand that resulted in Dent beers being exported to places like Manchester Liverpool and Leeds. Strangely, the beers no longer seem to be available in the Sun, but they are very much in evidence in the George and Dragon, the other pub in the village.
Dent Golden Fleece is named after Jason and the Argonauts who in the mists of antiquity set sail for Colchis in search of the fabled Golden Fleece. After many heroic adventures, the Golden Fleece was captured and taken back to Greece. While Jason's fate was well documented, the Fleece vanished from history...until a chance shaft of golden sunlight revealed that Dent sheep had inherited the gene!
It is a bright (ie not bottle conditioned) golden ale with a well-balance hop flavour. I like a good golden ale and this is an excellent example of one. As the label says, unlike the poor unfortunate Jason, this Golden Fleece will give you a happy ending with a long lasting satisfaction.
All Dent beers are made with waters taken from the local Rise Hill spring. The only information given about ingredients is that this beer contains malted barley. Its ABV is 3.7%.
Dent Golden Fleece is named after Jason and the Argonauts who in the mists of antiquity set sail for Colchis in search of the fabled Golden Fleece. After many heroic adventures, the Golden Fleece was captured and taken back to Greece. While Jason's fate was well documented, the Fleece vanished from history...until a chance shaft of golden sunlight revealed that Dent sheep had inherited the gene!
It is a bright (ie not bottle conditioned) golden ale with a well-balance hop flavour. I like a good golden ale and this is an excellent example of one. As the label says, unlike the poor unfortunate Jason, this Golden Fleece will give you a happy ending with a long lasting satisfaction.
All Dent beers are made with waters taken from the local Rise Hill spring. The only information given about ingredients is that this beer contains malted barley. Its ABV is 3.7%.
Sunday 28 February 2010
Black Sheep Rigg Welter
I have some knowledge of the Black Sheep brewery as Black Sheep Ale is frequently a guest beer in pubs round here and very nice it is too. It is a comparatively young brewery, having been established in 1992, in Masham in Wensleydale, North Yorkshire. The founder of the company was one Paul Theakston, who is a scion on the Theakston family who own an run the eponymous brewery, which is also based in Masham. I am not sure of the reason for the schism, though it might have been linked to the sale of the family company to Scottish and Newcastle (though Theakstons returned to the independent sector in 2003).
Riggwelter is a strong Yorkshire ale. The name derives from the Old Norse rygg meaning 'back' and velte meaning to overturn. When a sheep is on its back and cannot get up without help, local Yorkshire Dales dialect says it is rigged or riggwelted. This name is probably not unconnected with the fact that the ABV is 5.7%.
It is a fruity bitter, with complex underlying tastes and a long dry and bitter finish. It is in my opinion a very good example of a beer of this type and I liked it a lot.
We are told that the ingredient include malted barley, wheat, sugar and hops (varieties not specified). It is not bottle conditioned.
Riggwelter is a strong Yorkshire ale. The name derives from the Old Norse rygg meaning 'back' and velte meaning to overturn. When a sheep is on its back and cannot get up without help, local Yorkshire Dales dialect says it is rigged or riggwelted. This name is probably not unconnected with the fact that the ABV is 5.7%.
It is a fruity bitter, with complex underlying tastes and a long dry and bitter finish. It is in my opinion a very good example of a beer of this type and I liked it a lot.
We are told that the ingredient include malted barley, wheat, sugar and hops (varieties not specified). It is not bottle conditioned.
Saturday 20 February 2010
Ringwood Old Thumper
The Ringwood brewery has quite a chequered history. It is claimed that beer has been brewed in Ringwood for centuries ever since mediaeval man first mixed the crystal water of the River Avon with the malted barley harvested from the surrounding fertile fields of Hampshire. The market town was a magnet for merchants and dusty drovers who needed their thirst slaked and whistles wetted before they could get down to the business of bargaining and bartering and many a deal was sealed over a draught and a noggin in one of the many taverns, inns and ale houses that gave Ringwood one of the highest pubs per head of population in olde England.
The Ringwood Brewery was founded by Peter Austin in 1978, a man who is revered as "the father of British Micro-brewing". Ringwood Brewery's first brewhouse was in a former bakery in the old station yard brewing for a handful of local customers. In 1986, having outgrown the Minty's yard premises, the brewery moved to its present site, ironically the location of the old Tunks' Brewery which ceased trading in 1821. Today the brewery is able to produce circa 40,000 barrels of its renowned and distinctive beers.
In July 2007, David Welsh, the then owner of the Ringwood brewery, decided to retire after nearly 30 years at the brewery and handed the baton over to Marston's Brewery. Marston's say they are determined to continue the Ringwood success story in the premium cask ale market and share the same passion as Ringwood do for real ale. Read more at www.ringwoodbrewery.co.uk.
1979 was the year that saw the first production of Old Thumper, which has since become the brewery's flagship brew. Old Thumper was voted Champion Beer of Britain by CAMRA in 1988. It is a powerful, sweet, copper-coloured beer which is very much to my taste. A fruity aroma precedes a strong sweet malty taste with soft fruit and caramel, which is not cloying, and leads to a surprisingly bittersweet aftertaste.
The New Forest (where the brewery is located) was historically the hunting ground of legendary fierce wild boar, the prize kill of many an English king of the middle ages. Ringwood brewery celebrates this heritage with the beast of a beer that is Old Thumper, a strong ale with a spicy fruit hop aroma and a warming malty finish, a distinctive taste that has made it a champion beer.
All we are told of the ingredients is that it contains barley malts. It is pretty strong, with an ABV of 5.6%
The Ringwood Brewery was founded by Peter Austin in 1978, a man who is revered as "the father of British Micro-brewing". Ringwood Brewery's first brewhouse was in a former bakery in the old station yard brewing for a handful of local customers. In 1986, having outgrown the Minty's yard premises, the brewery moved to its present site, ironically the location of the old Tunks' Brewery which ceased trading in 1821. Today the brewery is able to produce circa 40,000 barrels of its renowned and distinctive beers.
In July 2007, David Welsh, the then owner of the Ringwood brewery, decided to retire after nearly 30 years at the brewery and handed the baton over to Marston's Brewery. Marston's say they are determined to continue the Ringwood success story in the premium cask ale market and share the same passion as Ringwood do for real ale. Read more at www.ringwoodbrewery.co.uk.
1979 was the year that saw the first production of Old Thumper, which has since become the brewery's flagship brew. Old Thumper was voted Champion Beer of Britain by CAMRA in 1988. It is a powerful, sweet, copper-coloured beer which is very much to my taste. A fruity aroma precedes a strong sweet malty taste with soft fruit and caramel, which is not cloying, and leads to a surprisingly bittersweet aftertaste.
The New Forest (where the brewery is located) was historically the hunting ground of legendary fierce wild boar, the prize kill of many an English king of the middle ages. Ringwood brewery celebrates this heritage with the beast of a beer that is Old Thumper, a strong ale with a spicy fruit hop aroma and a warming malty finish, a distinctive taste that has made it a champion beer.
All we are told of the ingredients is that it contains barley malts. It is pretty strong, with an ABV of 5.6%
Friday 5 February 2010
Badger Golden Glory
Badger Ales are brewed by Hall and Woodhouse, an independent brewery based in Blandford St Mary in Dorset. I associate them mainly with beers such as Tanglefoot, which seem to be quite widely available. Researching further has led me to discover that it is owned and run by the fifth generation of the Woodhouse family and is a substantial business - turnover of £90 million and 1500 employees. It has an estate of 250 pubs, extending to the far northern outpost of Hemel Hempstead! More information is available about the company and its heritage at www.hall-woodhouse.co.uk.
As far as the beer is concerned, I should have been warned by the label which says "'An orchard on a warm, late summer's day' was how our brewer described the taste and aroma of this ale, so we named it Golden Glory". The initial reaction is that, from its appearance, it is a standard golden ale, but the first sensations of smell and taste suggest you have encountered a bunch of flowers rather than a beer! It was rather unsettling to start with, though I have to admit that it did grow on me a bit. It uses a floral blend of hops including extract of peach blossom apparently to achieve this effect and it certainly has novelty value but I prefer something more conventional and unadulterated I am afraid. Not everyone agrees with me clearly, as it has won some awards, but not any I notice from CAMRA.
As well as those hops, the label tells us that the ingredients include malted barley, wheat and sulphites. ABV is 4.5% and it is not bottle conditioned.
As far as the beer is concerned, I should have been warned by the label which says "'An orchard on a warm, late summer's day' was how our brewer described the taste and aroma of this ale, so we named it Golden Glory". The initial reaction is that, from its appearance, it is a standard golden ale, but the first sensations of smell and taste suggest you have encountered a bunch of flowers rather than a beer! It was rather unsettling to start with, though I have to admit that it did grow on me a bit. It uses a floral blend of hops including extract of peach blossom apparently to achieve this effect and it certainly has novelty value but I prefer something more conventional and unadulterated I am afraid. Not everyone agrees with me clearly, as it has won some awards, but not any I notice from CAMRA.
As well as those hops, the label tells us that the ingredients include malted barley, wheat and sulphites. ABV is 4.5% and it is not bottle conditioned.
Thursday 4 February 2010
Kelham Island - Pale Rider
Well, the first of my additional beers is Pale Rider, another multi-award winner. This one I know well from Sheffield, where it is brewed (and where bottles are available from Tesco), though I introduced it to Patric and Simon when we discovered it on draught at the Doric Arch at Euston. They agreed with me that it is one of the best beers of its kind and no wonder it won the Supreme Champion Beer of Great Britain at the CAMRA Great British Beer Festival a couple of years ago.
In 1990, Dave Wickett fulfilled his dream of bringing craft brewing back to the city of Sheffield, with the aim of brewing a series of traditional ales that would rival the best of British beers. The Kelham Island Brewery was purpose built in 1990 on land adjoining the renowned Fat Cat pub in Alma Street in Sheffield. The area is known as Kelham Island as the land is on an island formed by a mill race, leaving then running back into the River Don. The brewing equipment was purchased from the Oxford Brewery and Bakehouse and allowed for full mash brewing of approximately twenty barrels a week. The first brew was in September 1990 and it meant that The Kelham Island Brewery was the first new independent brewery in Sheffield this century.
Due to its success in its early years the brewery moved into new, purpose built premises at Kelham Island, very close to the original brewery, in March 1999. The new premises has five times the capacity of the original premises. The original brewhouse has been converted into a visitor centre. Since The Kelham Island Brewery opened, all four of Sheffield's large breweries have closed. leaving The Kelham Island Brewery as Sheffield's largest brewery.
The Kelham Island Brewery is a full mash pure beer brewery which brews beers using only the finest malted barley and wheat, hops, yeast and water. No sugar is used or anything that might compromise the quality of the finished product. It is the policy of the company not to ape the commercially led practices of modern brewing, the sole aim is to produce beers of the highest quality from pure brewing ingredients. The range of beers brewed by the brewery has grown considerably from the early Bitter and Celebration beers and they currently have four beers always available one of which is Pale Rider. See www.kelhambrewery.co.uk for more.
Pale Rider is a full bodied straw pale ale with a good fruity aroma and a strong fruit and hop taste. Its well balanced sweetness and bitterness continue in the finish. It is included in Roger Protz's book 300 Beers To Try Before You Die where he says "The beer has a pungent aroma of perfumey floral hops, tangy citrus fruit and biscuity malt. Hop resins, piny notes, tart fruit and sappy malt fill the mouth. Creamy and juicy malt builds in the long finish, balanced by a continuing citrus note and bitter hop resins."
Not much detail is given away about the ingredients, other than it contains wheat and barley. ABV is 5.2% and it is not bottle condidtioned.
In 1990, Dave Wickett fulfilled his dream of bringing craft brewing back to the city of Sheffield, with the aim of brewing a series of traditional ales that would rival the best of British beers. The Kelham Island Brewery was purpose built in 1990 on land adjoining the renowned Fat Cat pub in Alma Street in Sheffield. The area is known as Kelham Island as the land is on an island formed by a mill race, leaving then running back into the River Don. The brewing equipment was purchased from the Oxford Brewery and Bakehouse and allowed for full mash brewing of approximately twenty barrels a week. The first brew was in September 1990 and it meant that The Kelham Island Brewery was the first new independent brewery in Sheffield this century.
Due to its success in its early years the brewery moved into new, purpose built premises at Kelham Island, very close to the original brewery, in March 1999. The new premises has five times the capacity of the original premises. The original brewhouse has been converted into a visitor centre. Since The Kelham Island Brewery opened, all four of Sheffield's large breweries have closed. leaving The Kelham Island Brewery as Sheffield's largest brewery.
The Kelham Island Brewery is a full mash pure beer brewery which brews beers using only the finest malted barley and wheat, hops, yeast and water. No sugar is used or anything that might compromise the quality of the finished product. It is the policy of the company not to ape the commercially led practices of modern brewing, the sole aim is to produce beers of the highest quality from pure brewing ingredients. The range of beers brewed by the brewery has grown considerably from the early Bitter and Celebration beers and they currently have four beers always available one of which is Pale Rider. See www.kelhambrewery.co.uk for more.
Pale Rider is a full bodied straw pale ale with a good fruity aroma and a strong fruit and hop taste. Its well balanced sweetness and bitterness continue in the finish. It is included in Roger Protz's book 300 Beers To Try Before You Die where he says "The beer has a pungent aroma of perfumey floral hops, tangy citrus fruit and biscuity malt. Hop resins, piny notes, tart fruit and sappy malt fill the mouth. Creamy and juicy malt builds in the long finish, balanced by a continuing citrus note and bitter hop resins."
Not much detail is given away about the ingredients, other than it contains wheat and barley. ABV is 5.2% and it is not bottle condidtioned.
Wednesday 3 February 2010
The blog is dead - long live the blog!
As I mentioned in my previous post, I have now consumed all of my sixty beers. So, you would have thought, this blog has come to the end of its natural life.
However, the more astute of my readers (assuming that they are plural) will have noticed that I started off on this oddessey at the end of January 2009, because that is when my sixtieth birthday was. This means that my birthday has rolled round again and guess what I have been given as presents by various kind souls. - around a dozen different bottles of beer!
As it happens, none of these beers have appeared in the blog so far. So this provides the opportunity for me to prolong the blog's life for another few weeks.
(Any further contributions of beer to enable further extensions would of course be very welcome!)
However, the more astute of my readers (assuming that they are plural) will have noticed that I started off on this oddessey at the end of January 2009, because that is when my sixtieth birthday was. This means that my birthday has rolled round again and guess what I have been given as presents by various kind souls. - around a dozen different bottles of beer!
As it happens, none of these beers have appeared in the blog so far. So this provides the opportunity for me to prolong the blog's life for another few weeks.
(Any further contributions of beer to enable further extensions would of course be very welcome!)
Timothy Taylor Landlord
Well, we have finally reached the end of my sixty beers. A journey which has introduced me to many new acquaintances has, it turns out, culminated in encountering and old and much loved friend. Landlord is frequently a guest beer in pubs around here and if kept well is hard to beat. Also, it has been CAMRA's national champion beer on no fewer than four occasions.
What I did not know much about was the brewers, Timothy Taylor. The story dates back to 1858 when the eponymous founder of the brewery began brewing beer in Cook Lane in the West Riding town of Keighley. He clearly struck upon a successful formula for in 1863 he set up and built a larger brewery at Knowle Spring, where the company has remained ever since. The superb spring water that wells up from deep under the Pennines is still used today to produce the country's best traditional cask ales.The brewery remains in the Taylor family and is now the last independent brewery of its type left in West Yorkshire. This independence enables Taylors to survive as one of the few brewers still brewing true cask ales in the same way it has always done. More can be found at www.timothytaylor.co.uk.
Landlord is a classic pale ale and as its reputation as the beer that has won more awards nationally than any other suggests, it is a full flavoured and well balanced amber beer with a hoppy bitter finish complementing the background malt. The only information given about the ingredients is that it contains, as well as the famous Knowle Hill Pennine water, the finest malt and leaf hops. ABV is 4.1% and it is not bottle conditioned.
What I did not know much about was the brewers, Timothy Taylor. The story dates back to 1858 when the eponymous founder of the brewery began brewing beer in Cook Lane in the West Riding town of Keighley. He clearly struck upon a successful formula for in 1863 he set up and built a larger brewery at Knowle Spring, where the company has remained ever since. The superb spring water that wells up from deep under the Pennines is still used today to produce the country's best traditional cask ales.The brewery remains in the Taylor family and is now the last independent brewery of its type left in West Yorkshire. This independence enables Taylors to survive as one of the few brewers still brewing true cask ales in the same way it has always done. More can be found at www.timothytaylor.co.uk.
Landlord is a classic pale ale and as its reputation as the beer that has won more awards nationally than any other suggests, it is a full flavoured and well balanced amber beer with a hoppy bitter finish complementing the background malt. The only information given about the ingredients is that it contains, as well as the famous Knowle Hill Pennine water, the finest malt and leaf hops. ABV is 4.1% and it is not bottle conditioned.
Saturday 30 January 2010
Moorhouse's Blond Witch
This one is something of an interloper, in that it is not one of my sixty beers. But as it is an interesting beer and I came across it while working my way through the sixty 'official' beers I thought I would include it, as I have done on a couple of other occasions over the past twelve months.
Moorhouses is a brewery we have encountered before, on August 27. The key thing about them is that they are based in Burnley, which is Pendle Witch country, and that it where Helen hails from. And she it is that is responsible for this bottle coming into my possession.
It is described on the label as a light-coloured premium ale with a sweet malt and citrus flavour, leaving a dry after taste, refreshing to the end, and it is exactly as described on the tin. This is my sort of beer.
Ingredients identified are malted barley and fuggle hops. ABV is 4.5%
Moorhouses is a brewery we have encountered before, on August 27. The key thing about them is that they are based in Burnley, which is Pendle Witch country, and that it where Helen hails from. And she it is that is responsible for this bottle coming into my possession.
It is described on the label as a light-coloured premium ale with a sweet malt and citrus flavour, leaving a dry after taste, refreshing to the end, and it is exactly as described on the tin. This is my sort of beer.
Ingredients identified are malted barley and fuggle hops. ABV is 4.5%
Sunday 24 January 2010
Otter Beautiful Daze
Otter is a brewery we have encountered before - on the 19 December in fact. Refer to the entry for that day for details of the brewery, or go to www.otterbrewery.com
Beautiful Daze has an interesting story behind it. It was first brewed for a music festival in 2003. The name was inspired by a song called 'Beautiful Day', written and performed by the Levellers (who in fact also run their own music festival called 'Beautiful Days) . The label references a website called www.beautifuldays.org, which seems to be all about music festivals, but the link to the Otter Brewery does not seem to be explained anywhere.
The beer itself is between gold and amber in colour though the illustration on the label seems to be suggesting that it is a golden ale. It is quite drinkable - the label calls it 'an outstanding session beer' which I feel is overstating the case. It is quite acceptable but nothing fantastic.
On the subject of ingredients, the label tells us that the water used comes from the head of the River Otter, together with selected hops and malted barley. It also warns that it may contain wheat oats rye and spelt, which seems worryingly non-specific. It is a bright beer, rather than bottle-conditioned, and the ABV is 3.6%
Beautiful Daze has an interesting story behind it. It was first brewed for a music festival in 2003. The name was inspired by a song called 'Beautiful Day', written and performed by the Levellers (who in fact also run their own music festival called 'Beautiful Days) . The label references a website called www.beautifuldays.org, which seems to be all about music festivals, but the link to the Otter Brewery does not seem to be explained anywhere.
The beer itself is between gold and amber in colour though the illustration on the label seems to be suggesting that it is a golden ale. It is quite drinkable - the label calls it 'an outstanding session beer' which I feel is overstating the case. It is quite acceptable but nothing fantastic.
On the subject of ingredients, the label tells us that the water used comes from the head of the River Otter, together with selected hops and malted barley. It also warns that it may contain wheat oats rye and spelt, which seems worryingly non-specific. It is a bright beer, rather than bottle-conditioned, and the ABV is 3.6%
Saturday 16 January 2010
Bays Gold
I had not come across Bay's Brewery before, but that appears to be because it is relatively young, as breweries go. Bays Brewery began in March 2007 when Will Freeland, Mark Salmon and Peter Salmon joined forces and signed a lease on an old 5000 square foot steel fabrication unit in Paignton. The transformation into a brewery began towards the end of March that year and by the middle of June, after some considerable construction and installation works, they were running their first brew through their newly installed 20 barrel brew plant.
The first two brews, Best and Gold, were successfully launched into local pubs simultaneously in the first week in July. With Will Freeland’s experience as the head brewer at Skinners Brewery in Truro for ten years Bays Brewery was quickly able to establish an efficient and consistent brewing regime. Bottles were launched in August 2007, the brewery shop was opened in October 2007 and their third ale, Bays Breaker, was made available to drinkers in November 2007. If you want to find out more, go to www.baysbrewery.co.uk
Bays Gold is designed to be an easy drinking light golden ale, though its colour is amber rather than golden. The blend of English and continental hops used is intended to "create lemon citrus overtones that tantalise and refresh the palate". I can't say that my experience actually matched that, as I found it a bit on the bland side and not as hoppy as I expected from the description.
The only information given about ingredients is that it contains wheat and barley. It is bottle conditioned and ABV is 4.5%.
The first two brews, Best and Gold, were successfully launched into local pubs simultaneously in the first week in July. With Will Freeland’s experience as the head brewer at Skinners Brewery in Truro for ten years Bays Brewery was quickly able to establish an efficient and consistent brewing regime. Bottles were launched in August 2007, the brewery shop was opened in October 2007 and their third ale, Bays Breaker, was made available to drinkers in November 2007. If you want to find out more, go to www.baysbrewery.co.uk
Bays Gold is designed to be an easy drinking light golden ale, though its colour is amber rather than golden. The blend of English and continental hops used is intended to "create lemon citrus overtones that tantalise and refresh the palate". I can't say that my experience actually matched that, as I found it a bit on the bland side and not as hoppy as I expected from the description.
The only information given about ingredients is that it contains wheat and barley. It is bottle conditioned and ABV is 4.5%.
Tuesday 12 January 2010
Batham's Best Bitter
Yet another new (to me) brewery, this time from the Black Country. Bathams' Delph Brewery is based at Brierly Hill in the West Midlands and was originally established in 1877. Tim and Matthew Batham represent the fifth generation to run the company. The brewery is located at the site of the Vine, which is apparently one of the Black Country's most famous pubs. The demand for Batham's Bitter is such that it is brewed in 54 gallon hogsheads. If you feel the need to find out more about Bathams, go to www.bathams.co.uk.
Although described as a bitter, this beer is straw coloured, more like a golden ale in appearance, and indeed taste - it is very hoppy. I liked it a lot. Bathams say it is an example of the traditional Black Country style of bitter. If this is so, I would like to try some others too!
Both label and website give away very little about the ingredients used in the brew - actually they say nothing at all. It is not bottle conditioned and the ABV is 4.3%.
Although described as a bitter, this beer is straw coloured, more like a golden ale in appearance, and indeed taste - it is very hoppy. I liked it a lot. Bathams say it is an example of the traditional Black Country style of bitter. If this is so, I would like to try some others too!
Both label and website give away very little about the ingredients used in the brew - actually they say nothing at all. It is not bottle conditioned and the ABV is 4.3%.
Saturday 9 January 2010
Cheddar Ales Gorge Best
This is the second beer from Cheddar Ales in my sixty beers. However, as all the details about the brewery were included in the entry for 27 March, perhaps something of a recap is in order. Cheddar Ales was opened in 2006 by Head Brewer, Jem Ham. The brewery is based at Winchester Farm on the edge of Cheddar village, near the famous Cheddar Gorge.
Cheddar Ales currently has three fermenting vessels, each one capable of holding 20 barrels of beer, or around 5,760 pints. This gives it a weekly brewing capacity of 17,280 pints, which may sound a lot but is certainly 'micro' in terms of the brewing industry. To find our more. go to http://www.cheddarales.co.uk/.
The label tells us that the intricate blend of hops used in this best bitter is aimed a giving a clean bitter taste that complements the warm barley flavours. It is brewed using Maris Otter and Crystal malts and hopped with a blend of English whole hops. It all sounds very exciting, but the reality did not match the expectations created. While it is a perfectly drinkable bitter, it not as special as I was anticipating.
It is bottle-conditioned and has an ABV of 4.2%.
Cheddar Ales currently has three fermenting vessels, each one capable of holding 20 barrels of beer, or around 5,760 pints. This gives it a weekly brewing capacity of 17,280 pints, which may sound a lot but is certainly 'micro' in terms of the brewing industry. To find our more. go to http://www.cheddarales.co.uk/.
The label tells us that the intricate blend of hops used in this best bitter is aimed a giving a clean bitter taste that complements the warm barley flavours. It is brewed using Maris Otter and Crystal malts and hopped with a blend of English whole hops. It all sounds very exciting, but the reality did not match the expectations created. While it is a perfectly drinkable bitter, it not as special as I was anticipating.
It is bottle-conditioned and has an ABV of 4.2%.
Friday 8 January 2010
O'Hanlons Original Port Stout
I don't need to tell you about O'Hanlons Brewery, as this is all contained in the post for January 4. Original Port Stout is one of O'Hanlons core brands, that is produced all year round, while Royal Oak that featured in the earlier post is a special brand, which is brewed only occasionally. This beer gets its name from the fact that it is enriched with Ruby Port.
The O'Hanlons website says that "'This is one of John [O'Hanlon]’s originals. The idea comes from having worked in his aunt Mary’s Feale bar back in Ballybunion. The Dry Stout recipe from which it is drawn had a lower original gravity than now, as it used a lower attenuating strain of yeast. We changed the yeast to allow more of the malt character to come through."
The malt grist then was as now apart from instead of just roast barley it then had a combination of that and chocolate malt and black malt. We took the view that any perceived benefit from having three different but very similar ingredients would be outweighed by having one kept much fresher. It would have taken us months to get through a sack of chocolate malt in those days."
The biggest change was the introduction of an aroma hop, which at the time was completely absent. Styrian Goldings was chosen as I had noted the vinous notes elicited by the marriage with the darker malts in the Red Ale. Finally the original gravity of the Port Stout was upped to 1046 around about 2001 for the bottled market where it has twice won CAMRA Champion bottle-conditioned beer. We have no plans to make any more changes!'
The website also gives some tasting notes, which seem accurate to me but are far more detailed than I would provide, so I thought I would include them too.
Colour: Dark chestnut-brown colour with ruby highlights.
Aroma: mocha coffee, milk chocolate and a hint of roasted malt, with whispers of vanilla, soot, chocolate brownie and chocolate milk.
Palate: mocha coffee, bitter chocolate, roasted malt and in the background the sweetness of the port; there’s also a brief flash mid-palate of hoppy pepperiness and a fruitiness similar to that of currants (vinous), just to make sure all the sweetness doesn’t overwhelm things.
Finish: dry, grainy, malty finish with a whisper of mocha and the return of the fruit.
It all adds up to a very fine drop of stout - I am not surprised that it has won all those awards! Apparently, it was inspired by a traditional 'morning-after' reviver.
It is 4.8% ABV and like all O'Hanlons bottled beers it is bottle conditioned.
Wednesday 6 January 2010
Otley O1
Yet another new brewery, but this time it is from Pontypridd in Wales, rather than the West Country. It was set up in the summer of 2005. The brew plant was originally from the Moor Beer Company in Somerset (the West Country connection?). It originally brewed only draught beer but started producing bottled beers a couple of years ago.
Nick Otley, the brewery's Director, explained the concept behind the business in the following bit of Welsh waffle:
"When we had the idea of producing award winning beers the likes of which had not been done in Wales before, we knew we had to do something new and fresh with the visual aspect of the brand as well as the quality of the product itself. Traditionally Real Ales have suffered from what I call, “the woolly cardigan and beard syndrome”. The way most real ales have been promoted in the market place is like that of an old comfort blanket. Names that express snuggled up feelings, quiet places in the country side, old lost uncles and tired innuendos are too numerous to mention and as much as the responsible brewers think they are being witty, they are only seeming tired, droll, over ripe and worst of all they end up alienating a large portion of the market."
"We had the idea to launch a brand that would appear fresh, modern, simple and a little intriguing. You have to immerse yourself a little in the product to find out a little more about it. The simplicity of the black and white seemed to us an obvious choice, the graphic’s potential is vast and when stacked on a busy shelf with other numerous products it‘s simplicity screams for your attention. The ‘O’ we use from Otley, being our family name has enabled us to compile a range of simple names for the beers, O1, O2, OBB, OG, O8 and even a Dark O stout.
This was simply a way of labelling the products almost like an industrial stamp rather than a
flowery meaningless name and was to prove popular with the new young drinking scene, a sector
of the market not normally associated with Real Ales. Suddenly we had a product that visually did not throw up any barriers to new drinkers, young people and women who we knew were key to our products success."
"The aim of producing a product with serious award winning credentials has to be and has been
backed up with a simple but professional recognisable brand that already after only three years is being recognised on sight as an Otley product. Being a Welsh product we also were very keen on using the welsh language and we did this on the bilingual bottle labels listing the ingredients in Welsh and English and on the bottle cases where we also use bilingual packaging without throwing the Welsh angle in people's faces. Some Welsh as proud as they are of being Welsh can’t actually speak it, so we don’t want to alienate them either."
"We had the idea to launch a brand that would appear fresh, modern, simple and a little intriguing. You have to immerse yourself a little in the product to find out a little more about it. The simplicity of the black and white seemed to us an obvious choice, the graphic’s potential is vast and when stacked on a busy shelf with other numerous products it‘s simplicity screams for your attention. The ‘O’ we use from Otley, being our family name has enabled us to compile a range of simple names for the beers, O1, O2, OBB, OG, O8 and even a Dark O stout.
This was simply a way of labelling the products almost like an industrial stamp rather than a
flowery meaningless name and was to prove popular with the new young drinking scene, a sector
of the market not normally associated with Real Ales. Suddenly we had a product that visually did not throw up any barriers to new drinkers, young people and women who we knew were key to our products success."
"The aim of producing a product with serious award winning credentials has to be and has been
backed up with a simple but professional recognisable brand that already after only three years is being recognised on sight as an Otley product. Being a Welsh product we also were very keen on using the welsh language and we did this on the bilingual bottle labels listing the ingredients in Welsh and English and on the bottle cases where we also use bilingual packaging without throwing the Welsh angle in people's faces. Some Welsh as proud as they are of being Welsh can’t actually speak it, so we don’t want to alienate them either."
You can find more waffle like this at http://www.otleybrewing.co.uk/.
You can see the labelling in the picture. It certainly does not look like a traditional beer label, does it?
O1 is what they describe as their flagship beer. It is a straw coloured pale ale, well hopped and very tasty indeed. I can imagine that it would appeal to beer drinkers and non-beer drinkers alike. It has won the gold medal twice at the CAMRA Welsh Beer Festival and also the bronze medal at the 2007 CAMRA Great British Beer Festival, so Otley have already achieved their goal of producing an award winning beer.
The labelling policy does result on information on the ingredients being a bit sparse. The label (English section) tells us that the beer contains "Brecon Water, Malted Barley, Hops and Yeast". I have managed to establish from other sources that the hops are Styrian Goldings. ABV is 4.0% and it does not appear to be bottle conditioned.
Monday 4 January 2010
O'Hanlons Royal Oak
Another West Country brewery with an interesting history. O’Hanlon’s Brewery started its career - as a pub. Liz and John O’Hanlon ran their “O’Hanlon’s” pub in Clerkenwell, London for several years before they came up with the idea to brew their own beer. The idea was to greatly improve the quality of their ale while at the same time boost their profit margin.
The pub/brewery combination proved a resounding success and regulars would eagerly await the next beer for sampling – a nervous and exciting time for the landlords. It was easy to see which beers would work as locals would happily provide their instant and unremitting feedback. This joyful (or occasionally painful) feedback meant a closeness both to the product and the consumer that laid the foundations for the craft beers they produce today.
The brewery eventually outgrew both the pub and its modest location under railway arches. And by this stage the O’Hanlons had the addition of a young family so that it became necessary in Jan 2000 to relocate everything to Devon. Brewers Alex Bell and Richard also relocated and together they began the task of brewing on a far grander scale. Today, in this tiny corner of Devon just east of Exeter, O’Hanlons produce some of the most well regarded ales in the country. As well as their core products and special brands, they brew a bottle conditioned ale exclusively for Tesco. You can find out more about them at http://www.ohanlonsbeer.com.
Royal Oak is a traditional bitter that was the winner of the 2003 CAMRA Champion Bottle-Conditioned Champion of Britain. If you taste it, you can readily see why - it is a very good example of this type of beer and I would thoroughly recommend it. It is based on an old recipe of 1896, and O'Hanlons were commissioned to recreate it using the the original recipe and method.
The Royal Oak story celebrates King Charles II's escape from the Battle of Worcester, when he hid from the Roundheads in the branches of a great oak. This has inspired many a pub sign, as well as this particular beer.
The brewers say that it is "a celebration of British country brewing". It is a classic amber colour, with rich malts and fragrant hop aromas blending into a soft balanced complexity and a long rewarding bitter finish. No details are provided about ingredients but the ABV is 5%.
The pub/brewery combination proved a resounding success and regulars would eagerly await the next beer for sampling – a nervous and exciting time for the landlords. It was easy to see which beers would work as locals would happily provide their instant and unremitting feedback. This joyful (or occasionally painful) feedback meant a closeness both to the product and the consumer that laid the foundations for the craft beers they produce today.
The brewery eventually outgrew both the pub and its modest location under railway arches. And by this stage the O’Hanlons had the addition of a young family so that it became necessary in Jan 2000 to relocate everything to Devon. Brewers Alex Bell and Richard also relocated and together they began the task of brewing on a far grander scale. Today, in this tiny corner of Devon just east of Exeter, O’Hanlons produce some of the most well regarded ales in the country. As well as their core products and special brands, they brew a bottle conditioned ale exclusively for Tesco. You can find out more about them at http://www.ohanlonsbeer.com.
Royal Oak is a traditional bitter that was the winner of the 2003 CAMRA Champion Bottle-Conditioned Champion of Britain. If you taste it, you can readily see why - it is a very good example of this type of beer and I would thoroughly recommend it. It is based on an old recipe of 1896, and O'Hanlons were commissioned to recreate it using the the original recipe and method.
The Royal Oak story celebrates King Charles II's escape from the Battle of Worcester, when he hid from the Roundheads in the branches of a great oak. This has inspired many a pub sign, as well as this particular beer.
The brewers say that it is "a celebration of British country brewing". It is a classic amber colour, with rich malts and fragrant hop aromas blending into a soft balanced complexity and a long rewarding bitter finish. No details are provided about ingredients but the ABV is 5%.
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