Good for what Ales you

For drinking not goblin

2010-05-08T14:10:00.000+01:00

Hobgoblin Ruby Beer by the Wychwood Brewery, Witney.

Those (two) who have kept an eye on this blog from the start would have seen the Hobgoblin ad I used. I never thought I would have ever got this beer without a trip to the UK or ordering a pile on line.

I went to Centra last Saturday night to get something and I said I'll just have a look at the beers, I stopped as nothing new had come in for ages. Well to my surprise there is stood and wide eyed was I. Good things happen to good people? This isn't a philosophical blog, you'll have to answer that in your own time.

I got the picture from the official website and it seems to have a saucy range of beers, I imagine have their own appeal. Suffice to say this was a delicious beer. A bit cheeky like what a hobgoblin is supposed to be. Legends tell us that hobgoblins are smaller goblins who work in houses while the residents are asleep, I can see these as influences for the House Elves in Harry Potter. They love to play practical jokes. They are described as short hairy and easily angered if provoked or misused, bit like yours truly.

I wonder how good a Hobbit Ale would be? Can't find any online either.

You can keep your fancy ales,
You can drink them by the flagon,
The only brew for the brave and true,
Comes from the Green Dragon.

I'd like to try a pint of that.

The Dark Side

2010-05-07T12:41:00.000+01:00

Samuel Adams Black Lager

Very dark and chocolaty Lager, which to my mind is a stout but maybe infringement by area, I dunno. Bitter but quite drinkable, would be a 3 on the Chingers scale, again a small bottle may not give enough to review adequately, but as I've fallen behind I'm beginning to rush these reviews so it takes a particularly good beer to me to justify a longer response.

Picture: Wanderingfools.com

Young's not Frauds

2010-05-05T09:55:00.002+01:00

Young's London Ale and Young's Bitter

Both are bottled conditioned, and both are really nice, taste characteristics of a wheat beer, citrus flavours. At €3.45 from O'Donovan's I was expecting a bit better than this, both good beers in their own right, but I worry about mALEise, I would recommend them if you are starting out just to try but the stronger flavour Fullers are more likely to make an impact, again over time this attitude may turn on its head, but for now Fullers and Belgian Ales including the Trappist Ales are more to my liking as summer is now here, I will try a few more lagers to refresh.

Thus again does beer prove its quality, if you get tired there are others that are different but good for you.

Terrific Timothy Taylor

2010-05-04T20:00:00.003+01:00

Timothy Taylor Landlord Strong Pale Ale

Another bottle that looked as if it was found somewhere from the 70s and another fantastic surprise. Yes Beer surprises but wine is just sour grapes.

You should hear the joyful glug, glug as its poured. Fresh, sweet and gulpable ale, with the happy chappy on the front. What it must be like when the thirsty man in a desert finds an oasis. Drinking in life.

Pale? I was when it because obvious to me I had only one of these, where do I get another crate? I even asked Maggie in Lombards to begin ordering ale for me and she pointed to the Smithicks tap, I don't think she really understands, if I could get her to taste, not have the bottle mind, she would. Such is the pulling power of Timothy Taylor. I never thought I'd be say goodbye to Innis and Gunn from top 5 but its dog eat dog in the beer world, sadly. That or I've absolute no loyalty whatsoever, might take a poll on that.

Picture: Daily Mail online

Tingle Tangle Beermuda Triangle

2010-05-03T09:21:00.002+01:00

Fuller's Chiswick Bitter

I can't believe it a Fullers I don't like. Again I assume it may be a seasonal thing, like nobody drinks rose in winter.
At only 3.5% it tasted watery. Session strength beer, I don't know if that means you can drink 15 of these rather than 10 of the other before blotto turns up, but I wouldn't be drinking 2 so no chance of that. It is an award winning Bitter but not the 'Good for what Ales you' newcomer award. More sublet than I like maybe in a few years I will but for now, nah!

Picture: Offical Fuller's website

Shepherd Neame Whitstable Bay

Organic ale that left me cold, like the Chiswick and even Smithwick's Kilkenny not for me.

Picture: theindependent online

Fuller's HSB George Gale & Co Ltd

Beautiful deep red and a rebound beer due to Chiswick, now there you go a rescue mission by the HSB to revive the taste buds. Ales I like, summer fruits flavour without the wateriness. With a 4.8% taste.

Picture: tastingsbeers.com

Bottled Kool and the Gang

2010-04-24T10:18:00.000+01:00

Fullers 1845 Celebration Ale 150 years.

A bottled conditioned strong ale for 100 days and 6.3% so watch out furniture. Thicker head, creamy with an aroma that if flowers had men would insist upon. Eye opener first taste, palette opener second taste and so on to the final mind opener last taste.

I could nickname this 'Reverse Beer' because I'm sure 3 bottles in, it would start as mind closer, palette closer and lastly eye closer. I'm unsure if this would get into the top 5 as I doubt I could finish 3, but I'd like to try.

Another piece of Fuller magic, with a reddish/brown hypnotic colour, and if I fell into a vat of this I'd swim to the bottom to drink my way out. A bit sensationalist I agree. I wonder if Fullers are the drinking version of Chinese food with MSG, the ingredient that makes you want more? I'm okay with that. How good is this going to be after the next 150 years? We'll just have to wait.

Picture from Official Website Fantastic Fullers in Chingers Dot Com and get another.

No Diet of Worms.

2010-04-19T17:11:00.000+01:00

Shepherd Neame Early Bird, Spring Hop Ale.

Another fine ale from the Shepherd Neame Brewery who consistenly produce robust ales, which I'm finding have an alternative taste, a bit more traditional than I first thought. Though my leanings are toward sweeter drinks, I confess I do like and enjoy the challenge of drier and bitter beers.

This reminded me of an English version of German Weissbiers, which I've grown a bit tiresome of. But it got me thinking beers and seasons. Even before I read the notes I could tell of the citrus flavours. At 4.5% it has a lovely taste with bite. Again Lidl came up trumps with it knocking out for €1.99.

After drinking Mc Chouffe on saturday night, I had a Spitefire and it didn't taste well, possible due to the sweetness of Mc Chouffe and I wondered if I really like these beers, but I do and realised thankfully it is good to have different beers or whats the point? Although Early Bird sounds like a contradiction you could do worse than having one of these while you are waiting.

Picture: Blog & White Matthieu's black & white blog

Fabrique Belgique

2010-04-18T16:41:00.000+01:00

All information below from Official Website

Description :
The Mc CHOUFFE is an unfiltered dark beer, which is re-fermented in the bottle as well as in the keg. Behind its fruity flavour a slight hint of bitterness may be found.
Packaging :
750ml bottles
20 litre kegs
Alcohol :
8% alc./vol.
Original extract :
16 °Plato
Serving temperature :
84 to 10°C (bottle)

'Oh Hercule how this beer affected my little Grey Cells' It doesn't take a detective to find out what a stunning beer this is. At 8% it increased my fear factor but I continued for you dear reader. Coincedently I was reading about Belgian Ales, earlier in the day and I always wanted to try this thanks to the little happy gnome like a genie jumping out of the bottle. Bottle fermented I could see but not taste the sediment.

What gives me hope with Beer is there are thousands around the world I have to taste. Every mouthful a joy to taste. Very complex flavouring and the only bitterness was when it was all drank. I nearly cried. Honey fruity and glorious. Slightly dry. A beer to celebrate the Lenten Purging.

This beer was almost too good for me. I love that every place brews its own beer, liken to a local personality and community. I would hope in the future to brew my own ale. Fermoy Ale in my shed? Who knows.

Aldi Traditional Irish Ale

2010-04-17T17:05:00.000+01:00

Name: Aldi Tradtional Irish Ale
Brewery: Carlow Brewing Co.
Alc %: 4.3
Type: Trad Ale

Picture: Tale of the ale website

I have to admit this is what I expected ales to taste like before I started this whole beer thing. I've been messing around with beers for years thanks to Centra in Fermoy getting in different beers at different times. I've only drank at home since buying my own home.

I have notes for beers from 5 years ago floating around. Now I really enjoyed this ale, but it is in too small a bottle and you'd need 2 in a glass to review. It is not a sweet as say Fuller's and I wonder are beers being brewed sweeter for modern palates?

Maybe not so good to start your ale career but if you stick with it you will enjoy others. But for a supposed Budget Supermarket there is nothing budget about this ale. As it is brewed in Ireland by the same stable as O'Hara's Irish Red, I am encouraged that the art of brewing is expanding here. I'd hope in the future an alternative ale to Smithwick's will be on sale in our Pubs.

Time for lenten break - see you when I'm purged.

2010-02-16T21:02:00.001Z

Trapped by love

2010-02-16T20:37:00.001Z

Name: La Trappe Dubbel
Brewery: Bierbrouwerij, De Koningshoeven, The Netherlands
Alc %: 7
Type: Dark Trappist Beer
Nose: Gorgeous Bouquet, fruit, caramel. Dark. Too complex for me.
Taste: Takes on the front of the tongue, razzle and numbing. Too gorgeous.

Review: This beer can't wait to get at me, it's almost pushing the cork out. Allowing a small amount of beer to nestle in the crock gives greater clarity. I don't know if I did the right but it looked beautiful. What's a Crock?

2^nd taste is sweet at the back of the throat like honeyish. Sweet, gentle pouring drink. With the percentage I expected it to be liquid nitroglycerine. A beer/wine perhaps. Same complexity of flavouring and swallow. Every mouthful different to the last. Stupefying as I continue, thought it didn't hit me with the wow factor of ESB, it is the most thoughtful and relaxing beer this neck had to enjoy.

Trivia: Traditionally brewed by the monks of Koningshoeven, Holland since 1884.

http://lihoi.ru/images/504.jpg

All the Raj -Bolly Good.

2010-02-16T19:57:00.000Z

Name: Indian Pale Ale
Brewery: Fuller, Smith & Turner PLC, Griffin Brewery, Chiswick, London
Alc %: 5.3
Type: Ale
Nose: Spicy, traditional lemonade. Fragrant really delicious best I've tried.
Taste: Such a characteristic ale, is it natural or designed? Wonderful.
Review: A beer that has fascinated me for years since I found out its name. What the hell was I thinking/drinking when I lived in England, especially Oxford for all those years. Drinking in the Eagle and Child, CS Lewis' Pub and I said who? 'Oh the cartoon where the killed the loin, oh yeah that was good' Now I'm an avid admirer and I live here. Same for the beer.

Gulpy pour with a creamy with head and gently coloured body. 2^nd taste so pleasant, draw so gentle. You would floor a yard of this and go home happy. Mover over Chai Wallah bring in the Beer Wallah. ' Oh Bartender Gee pour another for a poor traveller in this dusty land'

Gandi Gee you may have missed this one, but you did good anyway.

Trivia: This historic style of ale was originally created to refresh the troops at the height of the British Empire in India. The brew has faithfully recreated those traditional characteristics of the superbly refreshing beer.

http://blah.burrp.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/fullers_ipa.JPG

Winter Hibernation

2010-02-12T19:00:00.000Z

Name: Erdinger Schneeweise

Brewery: Erdinger Weissbaru

Alc %: 5.6
Type: Wheat beer
Nose: Candy floss?
1st Taste: Peachy more than orangy.

Review: Tasty but dull.

Trivia: Just trying something new.

Image: http://www.cottingham.com.tw/c/images/stories/08618647a99bf75bbae24d3d6d3818fe_g.jpg

Electricity Supplied Beer

2010-02-12T18:06:00.000Z

Name: Fullers Extra Special ESB

Brewery: Fuller Smith andTurner Plc, Griffin Brewery, Chiswick
Alc %: 5.9
Type: Ale
Nose: Sweet applish, sugary like a perfume.
1st Taste: Blimey! I though typical ale, but it was like a barrel roll wave to the back of the throat. Its too complex, is it toffee, is it what, is it warm/cool?

Review: Straight in at No 1. Voted twice World Champion beer and it is the only simple thing about this beer. If ESP = Extra Sensory Perception then ESB = Extra Sensory Beer because it had the pinball machine effect on me. This after the 1^st taste. 2^nd taste: My God this is how beer is supposed to be!

I read in the notes marmalade and I can taste it. Same everything as other Fuller's and you think 'What? What are you putting in here?' Beautiful absolutely beautiful, almost Spiritual. My only sorry about this beer is that I will never again be able to taste it for the 1^st time and get those reactions.

Its like the first time you see a loved ones face, though you see it a thousand times since you always remember the first time. Like the first time you heard the Stone Roses début album and realised every track was excellent at first listen. You didn't have to get used to it, it was there. That is this beer (for me and no I had no drink before this). No effort. Some kind soul buy me a crate of this and send it on.

Trivia: Read the review again.

Image: http://www.weinstuble.com/Beers.html

Not for the Milky Bar Kid

2010-02-05T20:31:00.000Z

Name: Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier Dunkel
Brewery: The Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan
Alc %: 5.3
Type: Dark Wheat Beer
Nose: Like a citrus wheat beer, raw.
Taste: Sweet and smooth unlike nose
Review: Looks lighter in colour than the Erdinger version. Orange chocolate like a Terry's. Lighter than I thought for a dunkel. German ale? Continuing through the is was like a cool choc milk drink. But nicer. Smooth a lovely all the way to the end of the glass. Enjoyable.

Trivia: Looks as if Weihenstephaner and Samuel Adams are collaborating in some brewing techniques.

Image: Official site

'Please Sir, can I have some more?'

2010-01-23T06:44:00.000Z

Name: Fuller's Old Winter Ale
Brewery: Fuller Smith and Turner Plc, Griffin Brewery, Chiswick
Type: Ale
Alc %: 5.3
Price: A gift
Nose: Hit of sweet apples, beautiful ruby red under creamy head.
1st taste: Straight away warmth, toffee.

Review: I've been reading a few more blogs on beer, it is interesting to read their notes on the aroma like wines. My nose is nowhere near a potent however I try to convey what I feel. I feel fantastic about this beer. Even the pour seemed heavier than other beers, the draw it so smooth and seems thicker like a sweet, sweet soup. Beautiful, delicious and medicinal. A soup I'd possibly drop the the O for, if my name was Kingo. As I was sampling during our worst winter for God knows how long, this ale would get you through any snow drift and if St Bernard's operated in the UK, its it likely they would carry this not brandy. A create of this, the fire, few good dvds or books and if you are inclined cigars then the Winter can go on and on.

Trivia: Available in Cask during the winter of 06/07 for the first time in 8 years, that would be a delight if it were the traditional wooden.

Image:Blog & White Matthieu's black & white blog

USA! USA!

2010-01-16T11:50:00.000Z

Name: Samuel Adams Boston Ale
Brewery: The Boston Beer Company, USA
Alc %: 4.8
Price: A gift
Nose: Fresh ale, hints sticky toffee.
1st Taste: Hints of butterscotch with kick.

Review: Rather lively straight out of the bottle as I opened the cap. Creamy looking head and pleasing amber colour. Toffee flavour with a zing. Courage, courage a revolutionary ale! Nice bite and a truly fine ale. It ain't all Bud - wi - ser in the land of the free.

Trivia: Though it seems this brewery was around for ages, it was set up in 1984, son from a long line of brewers, Jim Koch from an old family recipe. Named after a local firebrand and revolutionary Samuel Adams who was also a brewer.

Nama style Investment

2010-01-03T00:32:00.000Z

Christmas really is a joyful time and none more than the present that keeps on giving. A stack of exotic beers has come in to my possession.

Huzzar!, I hear you cry. But I cry for you also, because at least I get to sample them you can only read about them.

My store of wonderful delights (hopefully) has been magnificently increased by the generosity of my brother Des, if you see him in the street, stop him and shake his hand.

Drinks it, like he means it.

Czech this out

2009-12-15T20:33:00.000Z

Name: Staropramen
Brewery: Staropramen Brewery (Pivovary Staropramen a.s.) is the second largest brewery in the Czech Republic.
Alc%: 5
Type: Lager
Price: €2.49 Tesco
Nose: Sweet and hoppy
1st taste: Strong bite and sweet.

Review: Another conflicted opinion before I started. 'Oh it is imported that is good' to 'it looks like a cheap foreign beer'. Again I was pleasantly surprised. A strong bite and pleasant taste with a bit of a kick. I enjoyed this and more as I ate it with my dinner, so a good accompaniment to food. I began to wonder about reviewing beers in that they can be so similar that it feels you just write the same details about the same types. But I realised I really enjoy mixing the beers so they don't become boring, maybe this is better in a home environment with quality beers and not busy Pubs with differing levels of consistency and preparation.

Trivia: The brewery's flagship product is Staropramen, a "ležák" or premium beer of 12 degrees Plato or 5% abv. Or 10 mm of Aristotle but thats the beer talking. Additional reporting Wikipedia

Cure 'im? Nah

2009-12-14T20:00:00.000Z

Name: Curim Gold Celtic Wheat Beer
Brewery: Carlow Brewing Company
Alc%: 4.3
Type: Wheat Beer
Price: A saucy €2.79 at Tesco.
Nose: Typical Wheat Beer
1st Taste: Lighter bit ale-ish.

Review: Stick to the Ales. Disappointed with a fairly decent effort. More like a Wheat Beer lite.

Trivia: Shortest review ever.

Tyskie Business

2009-12-10T20:32:00.000Z

Name: Tyskie
Brewery: Tyskie Browary Ksiazece AD 1629
Alc%: 5.6
Type: Pale Lager
Price: €1.79 for 500ml Tesco, buttons.
Nose: Sweet, sweet lager.
1st Taste: Beautiful

Review: I must admit I thought this would be rubbish. 'Prejudice is the child of ignorance' so wrote William Hazlitt and so he proved. I presumed this was a cheap Polish lager brought in for the migrant workers like Guinness was for the Irish. I'm delighted to say I was proved wrong and it was worth the chance to taste this. A lovely strong lager taste and decent foam head. It is easy to taste the lovely sweet barley. Thank you for bringing your culture (beer) to Ireland, just like Polish ladies blonde, tasty and intoxicating.

Trivia: Yeah it was in Polish.

Kilkenny Cat

2009-12-05T11:45:00.000Z

Name: Kilkenny Cream Ale
Brewery: St. Francis Abbey Brewery
Alc%: 4.3%
Type: Ale
Price: 2.19 for 500ml Tesco
Nose: Typical Ale sweet
1st Taste: Watery

Review: Widget in the can gives foamy head. When I first drank this unchilled it reminded me of my first bitter in England watery and tasteless. I didn't like this at all. When I chilled it nothing changed. More expensive than most other ales imported from the UK. Maybe it is a subtly my palate is unable to appreciate. I wonder if I'm suffering from Ale/Weissbier fatigue. Has the initial euphoria gone? Its no wonder the hurling team wants to escape out of the county for better beering delights in Dublin. Sorry Mr Kilkenny if you are disappointed with this but so was I.

Trivia: The 'Kilkenny' name was originally used during the 1980s and 1990s to market a stronger version of Smithwick's for the European and Canadian market due to difficulty in pronunciation of the word 'Smithwick's'. It now refers to a similar yet distinct beer. Wikipedia

Geezer Pleezer

2009-12-05T11:17:00.001Z

Name: Fuller's London Pride
Brewery: Griffin Brewerys Chiswick
Alc %: 4.7
Type: Ale
Price: €2.09 Tesco.
Nose: I wish I could describe of fresh and beautiful this smells. It is to the nose what a sweet is to the mouth.
1st Taste: Taste hits straight away, cloves lovely.

Review: Tag 'Outstanding Premium Ale', 'Whatever you do take Pride'. Beautiful light golden amber light frothy head. Like most people in Ireland we may drink more for the effect than the enjoyment of the drink. We or certainly I, tend not to savour. Smooth and tangy. Complex and full tasting, it takes on the whole mouth. I can see way its the most popular ale in the UK. As you go down the fizz reduces and becomes more subtle. It is a warm flavoursome and enjoyable beer.

Trivia: The four major ingredients of beer are water, malt, hops and yeast. An average daily brew of Fuller's flagship brand London Pride uses 750 barrels of water, 13 tonnes of malt, 110 kilograms of hops and 320 kilograms of yeast. All of this produces 640 barrels or 184,320 pints of London Pride - that's enough to give every spectator at a Wembley Cup Final three pints each - possibly not a very good idea, but it does give you some idea of the scale the brewery works on!

Spitfire - Flaming Good.

2009-10-19T20:12:00.000+01:00

Name: Spitfire Kentish Ale
Brewery: Shepherd Neame, Britain's Oldest Brewery.
Alc %: 4.5
Type: Ale
Price: €1.99 to €2.99 Tesco.
Nose: Sweet, sugary and fruit, beautiful.
1st Taste: Kind of watery and cold, but lovely after taste.

Review: The tag goes the Bottle of Britain and maybe so. Though the first taste you would say typical British beer. However is the after taste that really tells of this and possibly every other beer. A lot fruitier and fizzier as your palate accepts the drink, so nice bite and warmth from spice. As I've been reviewing beers it seems the best of it comes from middle to end, a real experience on how to drink beer rather than guzzle it. A beer I'd gladly take on Jerry after. An enjoyable and flavoursome ale.

Not getting into my top 5 which surprised me and I think the O'Hara's is better, may change after I try both again. Spitfire has a very humorous advertising campaign, which adds to the appeal of the drink

Trivia: Was first brewed in 1990 to celebrate the battle of Britain which was fought in the skies above Kent 50 years earlier. The beer is named after the legendary aircraft designed by RJ Mitchell. The versatility of the aircraft and the courage of it pilots were essential to victory and were a key symbol of the spirit of the time. Through our awards winning adverting and fundraising activities for veteran's charities that spirit lives on.

O'Hara's Stout Heart

2009-10-10T09:39:00.000+01:00

Name: O'Hara's Irish Stout
Brewery: Carlow Brewing Company
Alc%: 4.3
Type: Stout
Price: e2.49 Tesco
Nose: Beautiful fruity, hoppy, ould Man's pub.
Taste: Dark chocolate initially to cold cocoa without sugar.
Review: Nice dark foamy head, like bottled Guinness, but it disappears rapidly and we expect our stouts to have heads, don't we? This did disturb me. Not warm, not dry, a creamy milk chocolate after taste by the third taste you get the mix of dark/milk. Very smooth maybe like the Red ale its 4.3% alcohol makes it smoother.
I don't think Guinness and Murphy's have much to worry about in lost sales but its nice to have an alternative and like the one party Finna Fail people sometimes you'd be pleasantly surprised if you drank/voted something else.

Trivia: See O'Hara's Irish Red

Beautiful Irish Mellowing Red

2009-10-08T23:01:00.001+01:00

Name: O'Hara's Irish Red Ale
Brewery: Carlow Brewing Co.
Alc%: 4.3
Price: The nice price of €2.49 from Tesco.
Type: Ale
Nose: So sweet you could smell rather than drink it.
Taste: 1st Sweet, caramel, toffee and dry. 2nd fruity and warm.
Review: Deep ruby red, dark red. Lovely and beautiful are the two words I'd used quite a bit in the notes. Maybe its my inexperience palate but the ales seem more complex than even the wheat beers, the thought 'drink 'em and think 'em', libation for thought? Fair dues to the Carlow Brewing Co. who have given back to the Irish drinker beers of quality rather than a mickey mouse Oirish take on beers.

It has taken the place of Erdinger Kristallklar in my top five. Maybe current is best in my mind it may change over the course of this blog as I descend into alcholic pretensions or not. The way the Noble Peace prize is being handed out these days watch out for this blog's nomination in the near future.

Trivia:

Carlow Brewing Company is an independent Irish Brewery founded by the O’Hara family in 1996, building on a keen interest in the craft of brewing and a desire to revive a tradition once common in every town and village in Ireland but lost since the end of the18th century.

Bravo Bavaria

2009-10-05T20:59:00.000+01:00

Name: Weihenstephaner
Brewery: The Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan
Alc %: 5.4
Type: Wheat Beer
Nose: Sweet, fresh and fruity.
Taste: Similar to Erdinger but lighter.
Review: Though the picture looks like I was drinking it in bed, I can assure you I was drinking it at my desk, while trying to write for the Torres blog. I'm not even getting paid for this and I have on one regular. Thanks Nev. I have to look up the website to understand the German on these bottles however, typical of a Wheat beer, more subtle than Erdinger and that's not a bad thing, a bit marmalade. Very nice and drinkable with a satisfying price of e2.45 from Tesco. I thought this would be a cheap beer but not so. I was quite surprised and thats always enjoyable.

Trivia: You get a 10c refund when you return the bottle in South Africa, and The Bayerische Staatsbrauerei Weihenstephan, founded in the year 1040, is the world’s oldest brewing place still existing. As a publicly owned enterprise belonging to the Free State of Bavaria, it is managed as a modern company. Which seems to be more interesting than my review.

Bishop's Finger points to a Mitre fine beer

2009-09-27T15:07:00.001+01:00

Name: Bishop's Finger
Brewery: Shepard's Neame 1698
Alc %: 5.4
Type: Kentish Strong Ale
Nose: Roasted malt, honey. White head on a deep red body with fizz not unlike cranberry juice.
Taste: Bit bitter, sweet and sour, chewy and toffee.
Review: Oh I have waited this day when I found out this was on sale here. 2nd taste warm and tingle on throat, a man's beer. It is a drink you have to tackle, it squeaks 'don't drink me because I'm easy' and growls 'drink me because I'm tough'. Aroma of roast/toasted sugar. 'Notice me' it proclaims. Worked well with spicy pizza. It starts off giving you a hard time but ends up being friendly as you've gone the distance. A beer that respects you. €1.99 Tesco who says you can't find a bargain in a recession?

Trivia: Bishops Finger is named after an ancient Kentish signpost found on the pilgrims way pointing to Canterbury and the shrine of Thomas A Becket. It was first brewed in 1958 to celebrate the end of the austerity after the war. It was Shepard Neame's first strong ale after over 20 years malt rationing.

Fuller's Organic Honey Dew Refreshing Golden Beer - Pooh Bear's favourite

2009-09-26T17:48:00.000+01:00

Name: Fuller's Organic Honey Dew Refreshing Golden Beer
Brewery: Fuller's of London, son
Alc %: 5
Type: Beer
Nose: Waxy
Taste: Honey, smooth the limited bubble give a little bite.
Review: It states 'Please enjoy this beer responsibly', I will. Colour Golden with a reddish tinge. It looks like a pot of honey in liquid ( ie more viscosity) form. The head is a bit flat to non existent and caused me some distress. Was it my pour? Going on it was like mead to the end of the glass. A beautiful light beer with a high drinkability factor. €3 for 50cl Tesco/Centra. Buzz off and buy one it won't sting you.

Trivia: Approved by the soil association is about the most boring thing I can say of this beer.

Franziskaner Hefe Weissbier Hell - A saintly tipple

2009-09-26T17:31:00.000+01:00

Name: Franziskaner Hefe Weissbier Hell
Brewery: Franziskaner Weissbier Brewery Munich
Alc %: 5
Type: Wheat Beer
Nose: Citrus lemon and hoppy.
Taste: Pungent head, orange juice with a kick.
Review: Lively head similar to Erdinger original cloudy and orangery. Good bite a beer you could chew like the heel of bread. It is a credit to the followers of St. Francis that they pulled off a miraculous beer of wheat and citrus. I didn't know this before reviewing Wheat Beer but they do add orange peel originally to them. Throat massage. To my notes the beer was really having an effect my last entry 'Wheaty, meaty and eaty'. Really love this beer look at the content Friar on the front of the bottle. €2.80 Centra for 500ml

Trivia: Year 719 - Lex Alemannorum In his code of law, the 'Lex Alemannorum', Duke Lantfrit decrees that all bonded peasants must pay tribute in beer to their lords. Courtesy of the Official Website.

The Erdinger Dynasty - Kedinger

2009-09-25T20:34:00.000+01:00

Name: Erdinger Weissbier
Brewery:Erdinger Weissbaru
Alc %:5.3
Type:Wheat beer
Nose: Sweet, orange, citrus.
Taste: Sweet hoppy.
Review: A lovely comfortable beer not difficult to drink. Cloudy and orangery in appearance. The JFK of the family the original but shrouds itself slightly attaching the conspiracies (cloudy) but a life of zest (citrus).

Trivia:It ferments in the bottle like all the Erdinger Beers

Name: Erdinger Weissbier Kristallklar
Brewery:Erdinger Weissbaru
Alc %:5.3
Type:Wheat beer
Nose: Sweet, fresh.
Taste: Sweet, tasty and light.
Review: It is as imagined beer to taste as a kid, sweet like a good lemonade, a lemonade that demands respect! It will seduce you to have another and I like that. Kick off the bubble in the end Kristal just wants to be your best friend a bit like RFK who its claimed was more popular and dynamic than his brother JFK.

Trivia:It is in my top 5 beers easy.

Name: Erdinger Weissbier Dunkel
Brewery:Erdinger Weissbaru
Alc %:5.6
Type: Dark Wheat beer
Nose: Sickly sweet.
Taste: Sweet, stoutly, and chocolatey
Review: Carmel burn - a warm carmel taste, numbs the tongue and lips. Wonderful chocolate tang. TMK, Teddy was much more mysterious than the other Kennedy boys some would say, a guy sweet as you like but capable of going over to the dark side with plenty of kick.

Trivia:Can these beer reviews get more pretentious? In the words of another American president 'Yes we can'

Peroni Nastro Azzurro - Italian Style

2009-09-12T18:11:00.001+01:00

Name: Peroni Nastro Azzurro
Brewery:Birra Peroni
Alc %:5.1
Type: Pale Lager
Nose: Fresh
Taste: Fresh, sweet and light
Review: If Mrs Berlusconi had a few of these in the fridge Silvio may not have decided to go out at all, poor analogy but who would have thought the Italians would have come up with such a good lager. Very light and a very good taste almost contradicts itself. A beer worthy of crossing the Rubicon for. Appox€5 for 660 ml Tesco.

Trivia: Nastro Azzurro means 'Blue Ribbon' and named in honour of the ocean liner SS Rex. Fit for a king indeed.

BeeWyched - I was

2009-09-12T13:37:00.000+01:00

Name: Bee~Wyched Honey'd Ale
Brewery: Wychwood Brewery Co, Witney, Oxfordshire.
Alc %: 5.0
Type: Ale
Nose: Waxy, Honey as you'd expect.
Taste: Waxy, sweet.
Review: Buzzing with flavour goes the tag line. But it is true. First taste of wax and I thought I bought a pup, but it develops the palate as you persevere and you are left thinking 'What a fine beer'. A real surprise and a nostalgic trip back to my early days in Oxford, except I only passed through Witney, maybe if I knew of this I would have hung around. I feel I want to go back now. Nearly not quite in my top 5 but it shows the strength of the opposition. €3-4 Centra for 500ml.

Trivia: Brewed with Fair Trade honey makes it all the sweeter.

Innis & Gunn Oak Aged Beer

2009-09-12T13:19:00.000+01:00

Name: Innis & Gunn Original Oak Aged Beer
Brewery: Innis & Gunn Brewing Co. Edinburgh.
Alc %: 6.6
Type: Oak Aged Beer
Nose: Sweet, Caramelish.
Taste: Sweet, fruity, nutty, medium bodied.
Review: Innis and Gunn set your taste buds to stun, because that is the first tasting I had. A beautifully smooth beer, with head that lasts to the end of the glass. I really enjoyed this beer and most mainline lagers are mainily sugar water in comparison. A long draw and a smile. In my top 5 beers. Approx €5-7 for 75cl Tesco/Centra.

Trivia: First beer in the world to be oak aged.

Leffe Blonde

2009-08-30T18:58:00.000+01:00

Name: Leffe Blonde
Brewery: Abbaye de Abdij van
Alc %: 6.6
Type: Abbey Beer or Ale
Nose: Sweet, hoppy.
Taste: Sweet, fruity, medium bodied.
Review: If only the blondes in my life were as sweet as this I'd be a happily married man today. With such a high % I was expecting a bit more of a kick, however I found it smooth and enjoyable. A bargain in Lidl at €2.99 for 75cl, it gave a long draw.

Trivia: Brewed in Belgium originally by the Premonstratensian (Norbertines) now by Stella Artois.

Website: http://www.leffe.com/en-ir/home.html