London Fields Brewery Love Not War

London Fields Brewery Love Not War

Style: Red Ale

Alcohol Content: 4.2%

From: Hackney, London, United Kingdom

Purchased from: Nobel Green Wines, Hampton Hill, United Kingdom

http://londonfieldsbrewery.co.uk/

London Fields brewery is a brewery based in the London Fields area of Hackney East London. The brewery was founded by Julian de Vere Whiteway Wilkinson (longest name ever!) and Ian Burgess around the same time of the devastating London Riots of 2011. Like most London based craft breweries, they set up home in some railway arches (either these arches are extremely cheap to rent or the brewers are secret train spotters I can't tell). The brewery has flourished during the past four years thanks to the success of their six core beers and array of seasonal offerings. However, clouds seem to be gathering on the horizon as in late 2014, co-owner Julian was arrested for suspected tax evasion. Fingers crossed this all gets straighten out and the brewery can look forward to a bright future. 

Here I will review one of London Fields Core beers called Love Not War. This beverage has an interesting story behind it as it was initially first brewed whilst the brewers where barricaded in due to the London riots. With those steamy, danger driven days behind them, the team at London Fields emerged with a peace offering to the people of Hackney. A hoppy red ale which they aptly named Love Not War. Let's see if it will calm my nerves after a difficult day at work shall we?

Colour: Pours a warming reddish brown topped off with a off white head. The head soon dies down to a generous dusting of foam that lingers for the duration of this beer. 

Aroma: As soon as you pop the cap your nostrils will be bombarded with heady notes of pine and sweet caramel toast. As the aromas settle, hints of summer fruits and crush hob nob biscuit begin to shine though. All smells very tempting I must admit.

Body: This beer is surprisingly deceptive. The level of sweetness provided by the taste should translate to a relatively thick mouthfeel. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Love Not War feels rather thin in the mouth and is more thirst quenching rather than full bodied. Perfect, after a long summers day at work, but not one for those short, cold nights in January. 

Taste: As soon as this beer hits your tongue, the upfront notes of caramel malts will provide a moorish sweetness which begs you to drink more. As the beer slides towards the back of your palate, hints of pine, grass and pineapple begin to shine though eventually leaving you with a finish that is oily on the tongue and mildly bitter. As a fan of Meantime's Yakima Red, I was hoping this beer would match the perfect blend of malts and hops that Yakima Red provides. Sadly, this beer does not quite meet these standards as I personally feel it's a little to thin on mouthfeel. However, that being said the low ABV allows Love Not War to fall into the category of a session beer which I would certainly return to before the next Arsenal game. 

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/wild-beer-company-scarlet-fever.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/anderson-valley-barney-flats-oatmeal.html

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Fourpure IPA

Fourpure IPA

Style: IPA

Alcohol Content: 6.5%

From: Bermondsey, London, United Kingdom

Purchased from: Corbetts Real Ale Shop, Dorking, Surrey
http://www.fourpure.com/

As time goes by I have learnt that life is full of ups and downs. After finally booking our holiday to Chicago, Emma and I decided to watch the Oscar nominated; The Theory of Everything. After being blown away by Eddie Redmond's performance as the Stephen Hawkings, I was promptly brought down to earth by the news that my beloved Nan had past away. Saddened, I shut myself away for a few days to mourn and reflect on her truly remarkable life. If I'm being honest with myself, she was one of the main drivers of me writing this blog. She could see the passion in my eyes when it came to all things craft and she encouraged me to keep on writing even when I didn't feel like it. I certainly owe a lot to that beautiful women, so I dedicate this blog to her. Cheers Nan. Gone but never forgotten.

Fourpure is a London (Bermondsey) based family brewery founded in 2013 by brother Dan and Tom Lowe (no relation to Rob Lowe I hasten to add). They currently offer a range of six core beers including an Oatmeal Stout and a session IPA. As of 2014 they were the first UK based craft brewery to start canning their core range. Fourpure cites the enhanced protection from light, superior seal and lower environmental impact as the reason for this decision. Personally, I feel that canning helps to keep the beer fresher for longer, ensuring you get brewery fresh beer wherever you are. The subject of this review is this canned IPA.

Colour: Pours a light copper or light orange colour complete with a bubbly white head that's around three finger digits deep. As the beer settles, the remaining foam lingers and clings to the glass perfectly.

Aroma: Imagine, walking though a Scandinavian pine forest after a spring shower. Now if you could bottle those aromas, you would not be to far away from the perfume this beer provides. Heady notes of pine and freshly cut grass dominate. These notes blend perfectly to ensure the nose is extremely well balance.

Body: For me this beer verges on becoming a double IPA due to its alcohol content and its sweetness. This sugariness helps to add a real depth to the mouthfeel, coating your tongue with sweet resin on every sip. From start to finish this IPA drinks incredibly smoothly. Tip top stuff.

Taste: Your first sip will reveal notes of juicy pineapple and mango, promptly followed by a rich, sticky caramel that lingers from start to finish. As the drink warms, hints of tart blackberries begin to appear, which helps to cut though the caramel sweetness. The finish is very dry and you can really taste the hop oils from the Cascade, Chinook and Centennial hops. Personally, this IPA verges to close to the sweet side for my taste. Perhaps the addition of a the Citra hop might cut though the sweetness but that's just my opinion.

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/the-celt-brewing-experience-seven.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/pressure-drop-strictly-roots.html

For the latest news on reviews follow me on twitter @beefsbrewery or like me on Facebook at Beefsbrewery 

Renaissance Brewing Voyager

Renaissance Brewing Voyager
Style: India Pale Ale

Alcohol Content: 6%

From: Blenheim, New Zealand

Purchased From: Purchased from: A birthday gift

http://www.renaissancebrewing.co.nz/

Renaissance brewing was founded in 2005 by Andy Deuchars and Brian Thiel. Andy and Brian, both natives of Southern California, decided to produce stunning beer in a region more renowned for wine, Marlborough New Zealand. After purchasing the lease on the historic Grove Mill in Blenheim and suffering a few teething problems (such as a delayed dispatch of their bottling machine due to Italy winning the World Cup in 2006), the brewery has grown into something of cult status in New Zealand. Scoping multiple awards over the past 9 years (including the prestigious champion New Zealand brewery in 2013), the brewery now produces a core range of 12 beers at their 400,000 litre bottling plant in Blenheim.

Colour: Pours a murky light brown with a dusting of foam which unfortunately does not linger around for very long in the glass (somewhat similar to the Brewdog Old World India Pale Ale I reviewed back in May). Not the best looking IPA, but looks can be deceiving.

Aroma: As soon as you pop the cap, a rich sweetness of honey will flood your nostrils. This only dissipates slightly once in the glass to help reveal notes of brown bread and perhaps sweet kiwi/mango/lychee (it's pretty hard to work out what it actually could be).

Body: The honey like sweetness also translates into the body of this beer. Unlike it's starship namesake, Voyager is not a drink to enjoy at "warp speed". The sticky body coats your tongue and your mouth so much you could be mistaken in thinking you are drinking a pint of honey. If slightly more carbonation was added to this beer, it would be a pleasure to drink, but quite frankly, I found this pint extremely hard work.

Taste: Very, very sweet for an IPA. The sweet honey dominates the palate with very subtle hints of mangos and kiwis lurking in the background. As the drink warms, the honey flavour dulls slightly allowing very delicate notes of burnt toffee to appear. With not a hint of bitterness in sight, I feel extremely let down by this IPA. It's sickly sweet and really lacks any depth of the flavour. At least I did not waste my own money on this beer.

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/brewdog-old-world-india-pale-ale.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/sierra-nevada-brewing-narwhal-imperial.html

For the latest news on reviews follow me on twitter @beefsbrewery or like me on Facebook at Beefsbrewery

New Holland Brewing Dragon's Milk

New Holland Brewing Dragon's Milk
Style: Bourbon Barrel Stout 

Alcohol Content: 10%

From: Holland, Michigan, United States

Purchased from: Great British Beer Festival

http://newhollandbrew.com/

Being deeply in love with someone means that you take on a little bit of them, and in my case, their interests and love of craft beer. And this is how I now find myself, spending my rainy bank holiday Monday getting rather excited about cracking open a bottle of bourbon barrel stout. It's certainly not something that I would of caught myself doing a year ago, I can tell you!

Just over a week ago, we spent a boozy (yet well-paced) day at the Great British Beer Festival. We sampled many a delicious beverage and I decided to bring back little treat for myself for later. Having a particular penchant for the darker, more alcoholic varieties of beer, I settled on a bourbon aged stout called 'Dragons milk' from New Holland Brewing. I squeezed the little bottle into my purse and dreamed of day i would enjoy the beverage. Yum!

However, upon delving a little deeper into the secrets of this Dragons Milk- it turns out that I haven't brought back an authentic Dutch beer at all, but a US beer from Holland in Michigan State! Kevin always said I never was any good with geography! This little beauty has been brewed by a couple of American chaps who first met in college and had a passion for their own home-brewed beer. After graduating, they formulated a solid business plan which attached the attention of some investors which eventually led to the opening of New Holland Brewing in 1996. The site now includes the microbrewery, along with a distillery, speciality brew house, restaurant and a pub! Sounds like our kind of place Kev! Nudge nudge wink wink!

Colour: This drink pours jet black complete with a deep tan coloured head that dissipates in a flash. It's thick and dark, with deep claret shades when held up to the light.

Aroma: As a lady with a vast collection of perfumes, ill tackle this question like I would any scent. Top note: Cloves. Middle notes: Vanilla, milk, a tumbler full of grandad's scotch whiskey Christmas 2002. Base notes: Marmite.

Body: This beer is every bit as dark and delicious as I had hoped! Unlike other stouts, this one has a full bodied mouth feel and coats the back of the tongue nicely. Hmmmmm! A wave of alcohol comes through on the aftertaste, giving that warming feeling that is nice when you're tucked up indoors and its all grey and misty outside (like today). The beer has that pleasant champagne-like effervescence to it which helps it slide down nicely!

Taste: With a smoky and spicy depth to it, this beer is a real winner. Every sip should be savoured as to really appreciate that bourbon edge. Flavours of cloves and cinnamon combine with a more delicate and floral note when I swill it around my mouth. I couldn't help but think that this beer is a perfect match for GU chocolate soufflé - both of which would just melt in your mouth. Soon after polishing off about half the bottle, the marmitey richness tends to sharpen and the alcohol content becomes more apparent. This is a drink that you only need one bottle of, or maybe that's just me. It's density and richness puts it up there with one of the hits of this years Beer Festival! Fullers Vintage 2014.

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/weird-beard-brewing-company-chinook.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/gambrinus-excellent-11.html

For the latest news on reviews follow me on twitter @beefsbrewery or like me on Facebook at Beefsbrewery

Redchurch Brewery Soreditch Blonde

Redchurch Brewery Soreditch Blonde
Style: Blonde

Alcohol Content: 4.2%

From: Bethnal Green, London, United Kingdom

Purchased From: Beer Boutique, Putney

https://theredchurchbrewery.com/

Everyone loves a good blonde. Both literally and figuratively.

Redchurch brewery started life back in August 2011 after being founded by ex solicitor Gary Wood (I'm starting to see a rising trend of ex legal employees entering the brewing trade here). Based in Bethnal Green, East London, this small brewery currently brews three times a week and spends the other two hand bottling. Like many London based breweries, red church have a small tap room which opens every Thursday evening at 6.30pm.

Colour: Pours a bright sun bright yellow complimented with a brilliant white head. This head will fizz down to a light dusting after five minutes but it will linger in your glass for the entire duration of the beer. If you hold the beer to the light, you will notice that there is a slight hazing as the yeast slowly settles in the glass.

Aroma: I generally find that blondes are very delicately scented, so I was pleasantly surprised to find that Soreditch Blonde bucks this trend by launching a full frontal assault on your nostrils. A light infantry of grassy notes land early on the palate to help capture the key taste buds. Soon after, the howitzers of oranges and lemons open up to pummel the beaches until the earthy GI notes storm forward to relieve the bridgeheads. Top stuff!

Body: Just like a game of  football; this is a beer of two halves. Firstly this beer is extremely light and refreshing due to the soft carbonation that tickles the back of your throat on every sip. However, as the drink rises to room temperature, the body begins to develop into something slightly creamy, almost akin to a Weiss beer. This morphing causes the drink to clog slightly on the tongue and eventually leaves your mouth feeling as dry as the Sahara desert.

Taste: Full of fresh lemon which are perfectly complimented by soft delicate elderflower. The lemon flavouring adds a tart, sour edge to the after taste which dries your mouth out. As I eluded to above, the characteristics of this beer change as the drink warms. Hints of creamy cereal and spicy coriander begin to reveal themselves encouraging you to drink more. What I find most remarkable about this beer is that all of these complex flavours come from the use of Warminster maltings paired with the Classic European Saaz hop and the US Chinook hop. Sometimes it's simple ingredients that can provide remarkable flavours. A real surprise (just like Everton signing Romelu Lukaku for £28 million. Chelsea, what are you thinking!!!)

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/nogne-o-blonde.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/sambrooks-brewery-no5-barleywine.html

For the latest news on reviews follow me on twitter @beefsbrewery or like me on Facebook at Beefsbrewery

Oakham Ales JHB

Oakham Ales JHB
Style: Bitter

Alcohol Content: 4.2%

From: Peterborough, England, United Kingdom

Purchased From: Beer Boutique, Putney

http://www.oakhamales.com/home.html

In the words of the immortal Eminem; "Guess Who's back, back again!"

So after a amazing two week holiday to Croatia, I'm back blogging again. As some of you maybe aware, the World Cup has finally started and already England have been knocked out of the completion. Whilst most people will be crying into their pints of Fosters over Gerard's "back pass", I am using this opportunity to abuse the fantastic beer deals on offer in most major supermarkets. So far I have picked up a bottle of the brilliant DNA (a delightful collaboration between Wells and Dogfish head), the potent Boilermaker by Brains and the subject of this review; the intriguing Oakham JHB.

Producing quality cask beers since 1993, Oakham Ales originally opened in Oakham, Rutland before moving production to Peterborough in 1998. In the subsequent 14 years they have dramatically increased production and opened Europe’s biggest brewpub. To keep up with demand in 2006, Oakham pulled open the shutters on a 75 barrel brew house.  The  padlock and chain was cut by John Wood, the original owner and brewer, who left Oakham Ales back in 1995. Oakham currently brew a range of five permanent ales but also produce seasonal ales such as Endless Summer.  

They have a rich pedigree, and picked up the 2009 CAMRA Supreme Champion Winter Beer of Britain for Attila! And they're not one to shy away from innovation either. Oakham were the first brewer in the UK to use the Citra hop back in 2009. This drink is the result of that innovation. Last year, Citra was awarded a Gold at the International Beer Challenge.

Who is Jeffrey Hudson?

Colour: If my girlfriend saw me pouring this beer, I have no doubt she would scream "Blimey o'Reilly!". Having drunk numerous pints of bitter during my lifetime, the colour of this beer was not what I was expecting. Pouring a straw yellow with a thin white head, this has to be one of the palest bitter I have ever seen. Perhaps this drink is a wolf in sheep's clothing (much like Costa Rica World Cup performances). The thin white head laces the glass perfectly pulling you further under the spell of this intriguing drink.

Aroma: A bouquet of zesty lemon and delicately soft elderflower rise to greet you from the glass. These aromas do die away quite quickly after just a few minutes in the glass. Personally, I would of preferred the nose to linger longer as I love a good smelling ale.

Body: Perhaps one the lightest bitters to grace the planet, the soft carbonation playfully tickles your throat leaving you feeling refreshed and gagging for more. This beer is so delicate that you could quite easily pair this with grilled sea bass or plaice.

Taste: From your first sip, you could be forgiven in thinking that you are drinking a thirst quenching pale ale. Your palate is instantly bombarded with heady notes of sharp citrus fruits promptly followed by a crisp, dry bitterness that cleanses your palate after every sip. As the drink warms, a slight sour edge appears in the aftertaste which, in my opinion, rounds the drink out perfectly. As I mentioned previously, this is totally not what I was expecting from this style. An absolutely glorious beer that that makes a refreshing change to the established norm. Now pass me another one before Luis Suarez bites another Italian!

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/east-london-brewing-foundation-bitter.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/wild-beer-company-scarlet-fever.html

For the latest news on reviews follow me on twitter @beefsbrewery or like me on Facebook at Beefsbrewery

Sierra Nevada Brewing Narwhal Imperial Stout

Sierra Nevada Brewing Narwhal Imperial Stout

Style: Imperial Stout

Alcohol Content: 10.2%

From: Chico, California, USA

Purchased From: Beer Boutique, Putney
http://www.sierranevada.com/ 

Located in Chico, California, Sierra Nevada Brewing is one of the top craft breweries currently operating in the United States. Sierra Nevada's Pale Ale is the second best-selling craft beer in the United States, behind the Boston Beer Company Samuel Adams Boston Lager. It is currently the sixth-largest brewing company in the United States.The brewery produced 786,000 barrels of beer in 2010.

The brewery was named "Green Business of the Year" by the United States Environmental Protection Agency in 2010 for its practices in sustainability.

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. was founded in 1979, with founders Ken Grossman and Paul Camusi expanding their homebrewing hobby into a brewery in Chico, California. Along with the brewery's location, Grossman claims the company's name comes from his love of hiking in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.With $50,000 in loans from friends and family, Grossman & Camusi rented a 3,000-square-foot (280 m2) warehouse and pieced together discarded dairy equipment and scrap yard metal to create their brewing equipment.They later were able to acquire second-hand copper brewing kettles from Germany before moving to their larger, current brewing facility in 1989.

Colour: Pours a jet fuel black with a densely packed, tan coloured foam. It looks so thick in the glass you could mistake it for tar. The head will slowly die away after a few minutes in the glass but what's left will cling to the glass as if it's life depends on it. So far, so good.

Aroma: Rich, dark cocoa notes present themselves as soon as you pop the cap. Subtle notes of yeast or beefy marmite are also present and add a real sense of depth to the aroma profile. You certainly will love or hate the perfume that's for sure.

Body: As I eluded to in my above colour description, this drink is as thick as Paris Hilton. As soon as you take a gulp, your mouth will be flooded like an oil slick. Every crevasse of your palate will be covered like a bird near the Exxon oil slip. Luckily, this sensation is surprisingly brief as due to the lack of bitterness and lack of any clogging sensation at all. Very smooth and a true pleasure to drink.

Taste: Subtlety is the name of the game with this beer. There are no big, bold flavours in this beer, just a subtle yet complex set of tastes that have been blended perfectly together. A real melting pot of coffee, dark chocolate, liquorice and marmite are all present. The ABV is masked beautifully by both these flavours and a pleasant sweetness I have yet to come across in an imperial stout. For me, this is one of the best imperial stouts I have ever tasted. A true sipper without a hint of bitterness in the aftertaste. Well worth a repeat visit.

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/anderson-valley-barney-flats-oatmeal.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/nogne-o-blonde.html

For the latest news on reviews follow me on twitter @beefsbrewery or like me on Facebook at Beefsbrewery

Truman Brewery Tom Ditto IPA

Truman Brewery Tom Ditto IPA

Style: IPA

Alcohol Content: 5%

From: Hackney Wick, London, England
Purchased from: Direct from the Brewery

http://www.trumansbeer.co.uk/

After just over a year of penning beer reviews, I received my first sample beer direct from a brewery. The nice folks at Truman's kindly sent me a bottle of their new IPA. Working with Danny Wallace – a champion of the traditional British pub - to celebrate the forthcoming launch of his book Who Is Tom Ditto? , Truman’s brewery created Tom Ditto IPA just in time for the Nicholson Spring Beer festival. If you managed to catch this beer on draft you should consider yourself lucky as my spy's told me that it often sold out rapidly. So does this beer live up to the hype once bottled? Let's pour a glass and put some Steely Dan on shall we?

The original Truman brewery has often been described as one of the first true powerhouses of the London brewing scene. Founded around 1666, the Black Eagle Brewery was established on a plot of land next to what is now Brick Lane in London, E1. It grew steadily until the 18th century when, under the management of Benjamin Truman, and driven by the demand for Porter, it expanded rapidly and became one of the largest brewers in London. In 1873, it purchased Phillips Brewery in Burton and became the largest brewery in the world. However, as with most things in life, nothing lasts forever. By the middle of the 20th century Truman’s struggled to come to terms with the rise of lager, cheaper competition from imports and the consolidation of the biggest names in British brewing through mergers. The brewery was eventually sold to Grand Metropolitan in 1971 and by 1989 the decision was made to retire the Truman brand and shut the Black Eagle Brewery site.

In 2010, the Truman's brand was purchased from Scottish and Newcastle by two London businessmen. After several years of planning, with trial brews produced under contract by Everards Brewery in Leicester and Nethergate Brewery in Essex, a new brewery in Hackney Wick was completed in August 2013. The eagle will soar again? I sure hope so.

Colour: Pours a deep amber with a brilliant white head, which will eventually dissipate down to a heavy dusting of foam in the glass. This foam helps to provide excellent lacing throughout the duration of your drinking experience.

Aroma: Full of juicy, tropical pineapple mixed with an ever so subtle hint of delicate elderflower. As the drink warms, the aroma matures into notes of sweet apricot and zesty lime.

Body: Extremely soft carbonation helps to ensure a very pleasurable drinking experience. This beer will fill your mouth and tingle the back of your throat on every sip. This carbonation helps to ensure no clogging on the back of the throat, lovely!

Taste: Just like the nose, the taste begins full of juicy pineapples. This is then playfully intertwined with subtle notes of caramel and a earthy malt base. Resisting the popular tend to hop IPA's to death, Truman's use a subtle blend of three hops in this beer; Challenger, Centennial and a new experimental hop called Wallex. These three hop musketeers impart a relatively low level of bitterness and create a smooth citrus aftertaste to cleanse your palate. I must be honest, this beer was a hell of better than I was expecting. If you managed to try some of this beer at the Nicholson Spring Beer Festival, congratulations you have backed a winner. Hopefully this beer will make a reappearance very, very soon for the masses to enjoy. Top work all round guys!

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/odell-brewing-company-ipa.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/sly-fox-brewing-pikeland-pils.html

For the latest news on reviews follow me on twitter @beefsbrewery or like me on Facebook at Beefsbrewery

Brewdog Old World India Pale Ale

Brewdog Old World India Pale Ale

Style: IPA

Alcohol Content: 7.5%

From: Ellon, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, UK

Purchased From: Beer Boutique, Putney
http://www.brewdog.com/

Sorry, its been awhile. My real job seems to be monopolising my life at the moment.

Brewdog was founded in 2007 by James Watt and Martin Dickie. The brewery at the Kessock Industrial Estate in Fraserburgh produced its first brew in April 2007. It claims to be Scotland's largest independently owned brewery producing about 120,000 bottles per month for export all over the world. The company moved premises to nearby Ellon in the Autumn of 2012, however it has been announced that the Fraserburgh site will be used as a brewing laboratory for experimental beers.

Brewdog's provocative marketing has been a key aspect of the business, and has gained them substantial international coverage.

In late 2013 Brewdog decided to revisit the Old World, by producing two beers based on a bygone era. These being a Old World Imperial Stout and the subject of this review, an Old World India Pale Ale. Both of these beers have beautifully hand drawn labels by Johanna Basford which intricately depict the story and heritage of each beer style.

Beautiful label

Colour: Pours a light chestnut with a slight warming orange hue. A small sprinkling of foam is present in the glass but this dissipates down to nothing as fast as you can say IPA. For me this is most disappointing, as I love a dense head on my IPA's. A sizeable head helps to provided a perfumed nose, which in turn helps to enhance the drinking experience. As the drink warms, the chestnut colour starts to deepen into a rich mahogany.

Aroma: As mentioned above, the lack of a head on this beer leads to a very faint aroma profile. The slight hints of the roasted malts create a sensation of brown bread, whilst the English hops help to provide a faint floral note in the background.

Body: First thing you will notice is the this beer is slightly denser than most IPA's on the market. The mouthfeel is very reminiscent of a Green King IPA, slightly thick and malty. The soft carbonation helps to add to this dense texture and the English hops help to create a mild clogging on the back of the throat. Very easy to drink and the perfect match for a roast beef supper.

Taste: Notes of roasted malts dominate the palate right from the get go. The bread like sensation is quickly cleansed away by a soft, almost delicate hoppy bitterness that is not unpleasant at all. To me the drink tastes rather bland and reminds me more of a mass produced bitter than an IPA. In my opinion, the beer's one redeeming feature really comes to the fore as it warms in the glass. Sweet notes of heather honey appear to add a pleasurable depth of sweetness. So my advice to you all would be to serve this beer at room temperature, rather than straight from the refrigerator. Once again it seems that my love/hate relationship with Brewdog beers is set to continue. For all their pomp and marketing, I find some of their beer extremely uninspiring. Unfortunately, their Old World India Pale Ale falls into this category.

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/emelisse-blond.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/mikkeller-koppi.html

For the latest news on reviews follow me on twitter @beefsbrewery or like me on Facebook at Beefsbrewery

Sly Fox Brewing Pikeland Pils

Sly Fox Brewing Pikeland Pils

Style: Pilsner

Alcohol Content: 4.7%

From: Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, USA

Purchased from: Beer Boutique, Putney 

http://www.slyfoxbeer.com/

Finally after months of flooding it appears that the UK is finally drying out. Near tropical temperatures of 15 degrees centigrade have been recorded in London this week prompting the daffodils to awaken and bloom. To many daffodil sightings are the first signs of Spring and people begin planning for their summer holidays. I am no exception to this as I have recently booked a two week holiday to Croatia. The winter has however played havoc on my body and I am rather out off shape. So as the weathers improved, I have decided to start running again. After running just over three miles yesterday, I was in need of some light refreshment. I have often seen runners turn to beer after their gruelling exploits so I decided to do some research and find out more.

The answer is surprisingly uncomplicated. Beer is made up from 99.5% water with the rest being made up from malted barley, hops and yeast which are all rich in vitamins and minerals. Researchers suspect that sugar, salts and carbonation in beer combine to help people absorb the fluid more quickly. Faster hydration after exertion helps you to recover quicker. So next time you run home from work, grab a cheeky pint to recharge, doctors orders!

Sly Fox Brewery hails from Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. The company was founded in December 1995 by the Giannopoulos family as the Sly Fox Brewhouse and Eatery. When off-premise sales increased beyond the Phoenixville location’s ability to keep up, Sly Fox opened a 20-barrel production brewery and accompanying restaurant in nearby Royersford, in November 2004. However this was not enough for Sly Fox as in 2012, they choose to open a third site in  Pottstown to take their annual production up to 3,600 barrels. The subject of this review is their Pikeland Pils, a Pilsner style lager.  

Colour: Pours a lemon yellow with a thick white head that reminds me more of a Weiss beer than a pilsner. It's so thick that you could mistake it for a Mr Whippy (minus the flake of course). This dies down after a few minutes but coats the side of the glass beautifully. Unlike every other pilsner I've ever drunk, the beer is very opaque. So much so, you almost can't see the bottom of the glass.

Aroma: Not the most perfumed beer in the world but you can certainly smell aromas of freshly cut grass and subtle hints of lemon.

Body: Very light and refreshing as every good pilsner should be. This beer will help refresh you after a hard day at work or a long run like the one I undertook earlier today. There is no clogging on the back of throat and sips down a treat.

Taste: On the first sip you will be presented with notes of freshly cut grass and subtle hints of lemon and honey in the background. As the drink warms slightly, a slight wheat note comes to the fore. This changes the character of the beer some what to become very reminiscent of a Weiss beer minus the banana and cloves. Very different to the soft perfumed pilsners from Czech Republic and Germany that I am used to but very nice all the same. A twist on a modern classic style some may say. The finish is mildly bitter but very crisp. The perfect refresher.

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/victory-prima-pils.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/maui-brewing-company-aloha-baktun.html

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Oskar Blues Brewing Dale's Pale Ale

Oskar Blues Brewing Dale's Pale Ale

Style: Pale Ale

Alcohol Content: 6.5%

From: Longmont, Colorado, USA

Purchased from: Beer Boutique, Putney 

http://brew.oskarblues.com/ob-beers/

For many years, the use of cans in the craft beer world has been a bit taboo subject. For many, beer cans are associated with dull, mass produced lagers that dominate every supermarket. Independent brewers generally tend to use glass bottles and shy away from their aluminium alternatives. However, a major sea change appear to be on the horizon. Last year, the worlds largest craft brewery, Sam Adams, announced their intention to sell their famous Boston lager in cans. To many this came as a shock, however over the past few months more and more breweries have been ditching the bottle and moving to the can. Recently, London based Beavertown announced their intention to can four of their product.

Look great don't they?

Its well documented that cans offer better protection against light and air damage and are cheaper to produce as they do not require a separate labelling machine. However, cans often have to bought in bulk and are more subject to ambient temperature fluctuations, so there are pros and cons. Personally, i have no preference as long as the beer tastes great. But wherever you stand on this debate, the rise of the can is likely to continue for the foreseeable future.

So how does this relate to this review I hear you cry. Well my beery chums, Oskar Blues have been canning all their beers since 2002. In fact some go even further and credit Oskar with being the very first brewery to offer canned craft beer. Here is the result of that first; Dale's Pale Ale.

Oskar Blues hail from Longmont Colorado and began life as a basement brewery in the restaurant of the same name. A few years later owner Dick Dale Katechis decided it was time for the brewer to strike out on its own and move into a purpose built brewery. By 2012 Oskar Blues began experimenting with re-sealable aluminium containers for some of their larger cans. Personally, I would love to see how these work so if any knows where I can get one in the UK give me a shout. Producing on average 59,000 barrels per year, this is likely to keep rising and rising to cope with demand.

Colour: Pours a dark copper brown with a minimal head, which provides excellent lacing throughout the life of the beer. I must say this has to be the darkest pale ale I have ever seen. It reminds me more of an IPA to be honest.

Aroma: Beautiful aromas of freshly cut grass and dropped pine needles dominate the aroma profile. Very subtle hints of caramel follow but do not linger in the nostrils.

Body: Rather dense for a pale ale but it will certainly refresh you on every sip. Given the the can suggests that this beer is a"A huge voluminously hopped mutha of a pale ale", I am pleasantly surprised to find that their is hardly any clogging on the back of the thoart. I find beers that have been heavily hopped to have a extremely sticky resin quality which this drink lacks. Good stuff guys!

Taste: Just like the nose, the taste of big bold pine needles dominate followed by a light, zesty citrus note. The drink will then come alive revealing hints of sweet sugary molasses, finally finishing with refreshing dry bitterness from the hops. At a punchy 6.5% ABV, you maybe thinking that the alcohol will steal the show like Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania. Luckily for us Oskar have hidden the ABV so well that you are rewarded with an extremely pleasurable drinking experience.

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/camden-brewery-pale-ale.html

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Emelisse Blond

Emelisse Blond

Style: IPA

Alcohol Content: 6.8%

From: Kamperland, The Netherlands

Purchased from: Real Ale Shop, Richmond-Upon-Thames

http://www.emelisse.nl/

I love stumbling across new breweries. Every time I visit a bottle shop I will always try and buy a range of different styles from range of breweries across the globe. So upon my visit to the Real Ale shop in Richmond last February, I realised that my shopping basket was lacking a Golden Ale or Blonde. Whilst scouring the shelves I came across a beer called Emelisse Blond. Naturally with the word blond in the title I thought I was on to a winner. A few months later it was Emelisse turn to have its time to shine in my glass. As soon as I popped the cap, I realised that all was not as it seems. Rather than being a blond, this drink turned out to be a dark potent IPA. A brunette rather a blond so to speak. So let's see what this wolf in sheep's clothing has to offer. First some notes on the brewery itself.

Back in 1998, A keen home brewer by the name of Fre Buizze formed the Emelisse foundation. The foundation had one simple goal, brew a beer using locally grown malting barley. Fre approached De Halve Mann brewery in Hulst to help him in his quest. The beer was such a roaring success that by 2004 the foundation decided to strike out on its own and move to their own premises in Kamperland, Holland. Head brewmaster, Kees Bubberman is a keen innovator and often visits other brewery to share experiences and gain valuable insights. One of these successful visits to Manchester based Marble, produced a Earl Grey IPA, which I had the pleasure of trying a couple of years ago. Currently the brewery outputs around 2000 hectolitres per annum with some of their production outsourced to Proefbrouwerij in Hijfte.

Are you wearing a wig?

Colour: Pours a light chestnut brown with a thick head of foam. The foam will dissipate slightly as you drink but the remnants lace the glass beautifully. It was here that I thought to myself this is definitely not a Blond beer. This looks more like an archetypal IPA.

Aroma: Big bold tropical notes of mango, pineapple and citrus will fill your nostrils straight away. An underlining sour citrus note follows, which will initially take you back but eventually mellows as the drink warms. After a few minutes in the glass, the sourness resembles notes of blackberries mixed with a sensation of sweet caramel and crumbled biscuits. These notes are very faint and took a lot of sniffing to get to the bottom of.

Body: This beer is hopped heavily with the Nelson Sauvin hop. To me, this hop helps to create a wine like mouthfeel to every drink it's added to. It coats the back of your throat and can be quite unpleasant if you don't like wine. After you swallow the drink, your mouth will feel very sticky and dry.

Taste: After a pleasant start of notes of smooth, sweet caramel, a brutal hit of almost pure alcohol will knock you off your feet. This IPA holds no punches nor makes no attempt to mask the high ABV. The drink feels so potent that it unfortunately takes away some of the character after of this beer. My advice would be to let the drink warm in the glass for a while as this seems to mellow the alcohol slightly. The warming also changes the character slightly, as the beer becomes more Sauvignon Blanc like. Not my favourite beer, but worth trying if you want something different.

   

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/rogue-juniper-pale-ale.html

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Thornbridge Halcyon

Thornbridge Halcyon

Style: Imperial IPA

Alcohol Content: 7.4%

From: Bakewell, Derbyshire, England, UK

Purchased from: Beer Boutique, Putney
http://www.thornbridgebrewery.co.uk/

The subject of this review is Thronbridge's Halcyon which first came to my attention via twitter earlier this year. Two beery twitter characters i follow,(@femtobrewster and @natedawg27) recently purchased a case direct from Thornbridge and raved about it for days. So to my shame i decided to jump on the bandwagon and try some for myself. Upon my visit to the Beer Boutique last week, i snapped up a bottle quicker that you can say "I love IPA". Its see if all the fuss was justified shall we.

The Thornbridge Brewery is an independent brewery formerly situated in the grounds of Thornbridge Hall near Bakewell, Derbyshire, England. Its first beers went on sale in February 2005. Thornbridge's beers were originally brewed by Martin Dickie, a graduate of the International Center for Distilling and Brewing at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, and Stefano Cossi, a graduate in Food Science and Technology at Udine University, Italy. In 2007, Dickie left to start Brew Dog however the brewery has not suffered from this loss.

More than 130 awards have been won by Thornbridge's brews since its opening, including the Silver Medal (Strong Ales) at the Great British Beer Festival (August 2006) for Jaipur IPA (and for Kipling in August 2009), the Gold Medal in August 2008 in the same category, and a Bronze Medal in the Bitters category in August 2009 also.

Colour: Pours a very, very pale yellow which is more reminiscent of a larger than an IPA. A thick brilliant white head tops this beer off perfectly and will stay with you throughout your drinking experience. A very sexy looking pint I must say.

Aroma: Like all good IPAs, this beer is heavily hopped which helps to produce an incredibly deep and complex nose. Big bold notes of tropical pineapple and mango are blended perfectly against a backdrop of oily, bitter orange hop aromas. Very inviting and in courageous you to sip more and more.

Body: Just like the colour, this drink is extremely light to drink which is incredible given the high ABV. This drink goes down a treat with a slight sweet clogging on the back of the throat.

Taste: A rich sweetness awaits you on every sip. Beautiful hints of sweet mango will fill your palate which will then give way to an unique blend of caramel and dry biscuit or hobnob. The finish is very long and complex. The high ABV warms the palate slowly melting the hop bitterness away to help return the original mango flavour rolled in juicy malt. A remarkable beer from one of the UK's leading craft breweries. I now understand what the fuss is all about, so if you see this beer for sale, buy it! Twitter will guide the way!! Follow the birdy.

Similar to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/partizan-brewing-ipa-bobek-amarillo.html

Different to: http://beefsbrewery.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/flying-dog-gonzo-porter.html

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